having only one tracking compressor - *Purple MC77 or Distressor?*

[thethrillfactor]

Personally i would say neither. They are both a little too over stated around here in terms of some kind of magic tone they impart. Don't get me wrong they are useful tools in the studio but i wouldn't call either "gelling like magellan'".

If you want tools that helps things gel better i would look more at tracking & mixing on a great sounding console and track to tape. Avoid digital tracks like the plague and mix down to analog.

[amd]

I'll go for the Distressor with the brit mode if I can only have one or the other. It's flexible and can be clean, dirty or somewhere in between if you want.

[Grizzly]

I rarely use a limiter/comp for tracking, but when I do, the MC-77 is the one I choose (drums room mics mainly)...

[syra]

The Distressor is transparent as far as a "sound" goes. The MC77 has a specific color that works magic on some things and just doesn't work on others. For tracking if you had to have one unit the Distressor is it. Btw I have 3 Dists and 2 MC77s...I love them both but for your application its a no-brainer.

[mtstudios@charter]

Distressor. The purple is a good compressor but I prefer the Urei 1176LN over it. The Purple is much too clean in comparison. The distressor on the other hand is a whole different beast. Even out those harsh vx, bring an acoustic to life, snap a snare.

Blue Thumb Productions-Audio Production Facilities

[Shaman]

Having & using both distressor + 1176 (new one).
Both are great tools.

I love the 1176 on vocals with a very fast attack.
I have the feeling it gives things a bit more "pound" than the distressor due to its transformer.

On the other hand the distressor is more versatile.

None of both gives you LOTS of colour, what they do is subtle.
I found out that what REALLY makes a difference in tone is which pre I´m using before my compressor.

A neve pre followed by a 1176 radically changes the sound of your signal especially in the transients.
I guess its two transformers in the signal path doing their magic...

[not_so_new]

Trakker.... hands down.

[Alex Wyler]

The distressor seems to be the clear winner



Most of my recording is electric guitar based. Which compressor of these two is better to have for just that application?

[Sammy]

I never used a Distressor, but for electric guitar 1176 like comps really kill...

[TonyBelmont]

Distressor. But, you posted this in the High End forum, so why aren't you buying both?

[markk]

If i could only have 1? The Distressor.

[Alex Wyler]

I'm going to order an Empirical Labs Distressor tomorrow then.

Thanks everyone for your generous help!

[robot gigante]

Hmmm, you don't need to shout!

Both are good, I use the Purple a lot more, fwiw.

[herecomesyourman]

I prefer the Germanium comp by chandler to both...

But either one would be great...I'd probably say Distressor for the flexibility...

[stevep]

Youl wish you got the MC77




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