Mix Buss Compress for Dance/Pop Music

[krh]

Everybody: I've been reading this site with quite a bit of interest and for guys/gals with experience on the following Mix-Buss compressors, I would care for your opinion.

I primarily produce dance/pop music and am considering getting a mix-buss compressor that will bring me up that extra step. Now, I am going for that polished FM radio sound. I understand much of that comes from mastering, but I am trying to get my mixes sounding polished to the point before it is mastered.

My setup

Protools TDM Mix 3 --> 2xRosetta 800's 24/96 @ 44.1 (16 outs) --> Dangerous bus LT ---> Mix compressor?? --> back into protools

From reviews here I am looking at the following compressors:

Crane Song STC-8
Neve 33609J
Alan Smart C2

For my setup, and type of music and what I am going for, what do you think. Also, can I split the the outs of the Mix-Buss compressor where one is going to PT and the other going to my Mackie 1202?

Thanks everyone.

[doug_hti]

I can only comment on the C2 and 33609J. I would go for the c2(out of the two) if you want to get excitement. If you want something smooth that sounds good maybe check the 33609, but I couldn't get things as exciting IME and it's a lot of scratch. With vocals however, it's great, really great...and for bringing levels up and glueing things...But for excitment and getting things to hit in a controlled sort of way, the c2.

[ron florentine]

i just finished a dance mix with the Smart C2 on the 2 and it had serious attitude!!!

Ron Florentine
Soundswest Studio

[Lord Marbury]

I think the most used compressors for pop productions are the C2 or the SSL 384. Good punchy sound. Also, great for strapping over a pop kit.

[genericperson]

the SSL comp is frequently used as a mix buss. But typically as a sub-mix buss (over the entire drumset, for example). Since you have multiple outs, you can send all your drum audio stems out to a stereo pair into the outboard compressor.

The Alan Smart C2 was pretty much the way to go to get this SSL sound in an outboard piece. But now SSL themselves have a whole line of 9000 series rackmount outboard on the market.

[Jules]

Dont discount the Focusrite Red compressor.

An engineer chum of mine was set up in a fancy studio and asked me to come along for moral support (and to bring some hire gear) as it was a big day for him. I helped him audition a few buss compressors. To my surprize we found on that day and on that (dance) tune - the Foucusrite Red sounded far better than the SSL he was borrowing from me.

Anyhow, see what the dance cats here recomend, I'm a rocker myself...

[TML]

There's nothing like that punch the ssl 384 gives yah with just a couple of db of reduction.....killer on drum kit and I like it on kik and as a second vocal comp in a chain.....The piece I think a ton of people are reachin' for these days is the ST-C. Seems to have transparent reduction. never used one but it seems to be really popular.

[toledo3]

Originally posted by Jules
Dont discount the Focusrite Red compressor.

An engineer chum of mine was set up in a fancy studio and asked me to come along for moral support (and to bring some hire gear) as it was a big day for him. I helped him audition a few buss compressors. To my surprize we found on that day and on that (dance) tune - the Foucusrite Red sounded far better than the SSL he was borrowing from me.

Anyhow, see what the dance cats here recomend, I'm a rocker myself...

I use focusrite red for that QOTSA sound.

[EJolson]

I've owned both the C2 and the STC-8 out of those listed above.

C2 is my #1 choice for 2mix. Be warned though, it is definitely a color piece and may not be to everyone's liking. For me personally, that "SSL spank" is the magic touch for about 85% of my mixes. The rest of the time, I'm using a Drawmer 1969, or running compressorless.

I sold the STC not too long ago - just couldn't seem to get the "grab" out of it that I wanted. Yeah I know, it's supposed to be a more "transparent" type of piece anyways. Not my style.

Originally posted by toledo3
I use focusrite red for that QOTSA sound.

QOTSA? ...In English, please?

[jazzius II]

I'd be interested to know how the new SSL XLogic comp sounds compared to the standard (?) built in SSL comp's. We've got 3 SSL boards here, and IMHO, they all sound horrible, including the 9k's. I dunno, maybe it's just that the engineers are overdoing it or something......i'm always trying to subtly encourage people to dis-engage the SSL comp and strap on the focusrite red 3 instead which sounds 50x better to me. Can anyone comment on how the smart C2 compares to the master comp built into the 9k?

re: the STC-8, i think it is best suited to delicate music such as jazz, acoustic, ballads and some pop. Where you want in-audible smoothing.....it's absolutely useless if you want to add aggressive rock pumping a la QOTSA/foo fighters/nickelback etc...it can be cool on very produced/polished rap/RnB where you want a pump but want to keep the tone intact.

Anyone got an opinion on the API 2500 compared to any of the above?.......i NEED a pumpy comp but don't want the SSL sound.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jazzius II
I'd be interested to know how the new SSL XLogic comp sounds compared to the standard (?) built in SSL comp's. We've got 3 SSL boards here, and IMHO, they all sound horrible, including the 9k's. I dunno, maybe it's just that the engineers are overdoing it or something......i'm always trying to subtly encourage people to dis-engage the SSL comp and strap on the focusrite red 3 instead which sounds 50x better to me. Can anyone comment on how the smart C2 compares to the master comp built into the 9k?

re: the STC-8, i think it is best suited to delicate music such as jazz, acoustic, ballads and some pop. Where you want in-audible smoothing.....it's absolutely useless if you want to add aggressive rock pumping a la QOTSA/foo fighters/nickelback etc...it can be cool on very produced/polished rap/RnB where you want a pump but want to keep the tone intact.

Anyone got an opinion on the API 2500 compared to any of the above?.......i NEED a pumpy comp but don't want the SSL sound.

Jazzius,

The 9000J compressor is a different design than the older 4000 mix buss comp. This is one of the weaknesses to the console(the other is the bass changes when you fill up all of the inputs).

It sounds different and most guys i know(including myself) use either the outboard SSL FX comp, Smart C2 or something else.

The Smart C2 is more hifi(less balls) than the outboard SSL comp.

I like it better on drums and the occasional vocal.

Cause its a little more hifi it would probably make a good addition to your mastering rack.

[jazzius II]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Jazzius,

The 9000J compressor is a different design than the older 4000 mix buss comp. This is one of the weaknesses to the console(the other is the bass changes when you fill up all of the inputs).

It sounds different and most guys i know(including myself) use either the outboard SSL FX comp, Smart C2 or something else.

.

Yeah, if anything, the 2 comp in the 9 sounds worse then in the 4's, which is strange!

[Syki]

How does the Chandler TG1, stack up to the Red3 or Smartc2, on the mix bus? STC is a little too transprent, which might not be a bad thing for some folks.

[jason]

[i]

QOTSA? ...In English, please? [/B]

Queens of the Stone Age. The last Album Dave Growl drummed for them....pretty cool album...

[Mark_X]

i would leave that headroom for the mastering engineer. if you start compressing the mix buss then there is hardly anything that can be done if you went too far. also mastering suites usually have better gear. also you would prolly need to eq first, then compress. otherwise you compress your resonance freqs which you might not hear that wee in your room.

everybody with a waves bundle seems to go into diy mastering these days. but the results of a decent mastering engineer/studio speak for themselves.