What's a fantastic hardware expander for pro voiceover?

[mountainkh]

I do professional VO's... all hardware, no software processing crap.
Have a Rosetta 200 and an LA2A in the mix, along with a bunch of other goodies.
Got a Drawmer DS201 to handle the noise floor, but it ain't cutting it. Want a downward expander... but a great one. Have all the WAVES and other software expanders... so just don't go there.
Been talking with SiliconAudioLabs, he's got recommendations... said to ask you guys as well.
Hey Fletch - any recommendations? Something with a good mojo blast from the past that doesn't pop or click when open??

[SiliconAudioLab]

Come on slutz, nobody uses a great gate/expander in hardware anymore!?! Pshhhhhhhaw...

I’ve got an LA2A as well, and it’s got a noise floor that needs tamping down a bit, you guys gotta be running across this too.

So I'm looking into this exact same issue as well. Luckily I stumbled across my Sony DMX-100 channel dynamics (expander) and have been using that, as it works fantastically, but like my dBx 900 de-essers, I'd like a crystal clean, smooth operating hardware downward expander to place in the chain.

I've heard the dbx stuff sux in the gate expander dept. Even though that Drawmer DS201 seems to more suited to drums don't the Drawmer guys rock in this area? Like maybe one of their older ones?

[Fajita]

Aphex 622 or 661


thumbsup

[SiliconAudioLab]

Thanks fajita, only problem with the 662 is: Noise and hum at unity gain = -87 dBu

[Fajita]

I have also used a Symetrix 528E in TV Voice Over booths. not pretty but it works.