Snare compressor

[mac black]

Hi Guys,

any ideas for a wicked snare comp ? (I like it punchy)

mac

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by mac black
Hi Guys,

any ideas for a wicked snare comp ? (I like it punchy)

mac

Punchy snares aren't made with compression alone.

Actually compression can eat the "punchiness".

What EQ's you use make more of a difference with snares.

[mac black]

In the studio where Im at they've got GML 8200 II "Trident" (MTA) red eq and a couple of....Orams and the SSL 4056 G+
Also a few plugins (oxford and the rest, no URS).
They are doing an upgrade and so far getting a couple of 1176,manley vari mu, massive passive/ear 825 and I have the STC-8 and a pheonix valve.
So let me rephrase and ask :
Any favorite EQ & compressor chain to get a punchy snare sound ?

Thanks

mac

[Nevelicious]

Distressor....... PERIOD!

+ Massive Passive for bite

[Steffmo]

The original DBX 160 sounds great on snare if you just touch it.

[Tim L]

Distressor's killer... dbx 160x works a treat as well...

The Aphex Expressor and the RNC also work really well depending...

I have to say... more times then not... the RNC usualy lands the job for me. Of course, that "mileage" thing applies here in a big way!

[Kestral]

For kick and snare I personally don't compress them very much, imo using the right preamp is more important.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by mac black
In the studio where Im at they've got GML 8200 II "Trident" (MTA) red eq and a couple of....Orams and the SSL 4056 G+
Also a few plugins (oxford and the rest, no URS).
They are doing an upgrade and so far getting a couple of 1176,manley vari mu, massive passive/ear 825 and I have the STC-8 and a pheonix valve.
So let me rephrase and ask :
Any favorite EQ & compressor chain to get a punchy snare sound ?

Thanks

mac

Are we talking live or samples?

Are we talking about a sound you already like or something that needs to be either processed,enhanced or replaced?

All of those are factors to be considered.

If you like the sound already, than the SSL dynamics and EQ should get you there pretty well.

I like the SSL dynamics and EQ's on just about all drums.

If you are not happy with what's down on tape, than things start to change.

[NathanEldred]

Distressors are nice. Lots of color and grab. Trakkers are good too for a more natural sound, less overt than a Distressor. Those are the only two I use...other than a consistent player and/or tape.

[Screws]

Transient Designer

[dillweed]

the ssl compressor rules for snare. just pull the release knob for fast attack, and crank up the thresold and ratio. also the gate can be used to reduce the hi-hat chatter you get with the massive squashing...adjust the range so it sounds natural.

i also like the urei la-4.

distressors and dbx160's work well.

[picksail]

Regardless of which compressors I have at my disposal I always gravitate towards the dbx 160A. I wish this weren't true but....

Just turn the ratio knob to 6:1 and away you go!!

Perhaps having less control over attack and release times is why I tend to enoy this unit on a snare drum.

Who the hell knows?! It just does exactly what I want it to do and I can always pick it out in a mix.

It must be pyschological.

Of course the SSL should perform similarly.

[mac black]

ok, it seems like i need the distressor .

Thanks people

mac

[mac black]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Are we talking live or samples?

Are we talking about a sound you already like or something that needs to be either processed,enhanced or replaced?

All of those are factors to be considered.

If you like the sound already, than the SSL dynamics and EQ should get you there pretty well.

I like the SSL dynamics and EQ's on just about all drums.

If you are not happy with what's down on tape, than things start to change.

all this factors really. today i was mixing this girl punk band (they actually all play live) and was lookin for a tight punchy snare comp.

ssl dynamics are cool but another color doesnt hurt

[bing81]

Eventide Omnipressor. You even get to comp and lift up the level of the grace notes at the same time.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by mac black
all this factors really. today i was mixing this girl punk band (they actually all play live) and was lookin for a tight punchy snare comp.

ssl dynamics are cool but another color doesnt hurt

For a live snare a combination mult of SSL dynamcis/EQ,Neve 32264a on limit(hopefully with variable release) for the attack or Electrodyne comp on stun, a Summit TLA-100 for decay, a cool reverb for sustain/release and some MAssive Passive EQ(mostly mids) for some tone shaping.

Also if recorded very badly, mix in some samples for where the snare is weakest(either attack,decay or release).

[mac black]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
For a live snare a combination mult of SSL dynamcis/EQ,Neve 32264a on limit(hopefully with variable release) for the attack or Electrodyne comp on stun, a Summit TLA-100 for decay, a cool reverb for sustain/release and some MAssive Passive EQ(mostly mids) for some tone shaping.

Also if recorded very badly, mix in some samples for where the snare is weakest(either attack,decay or release).

Thats great , thanks.

mac

[drundall]

I was gonna say the 2264 but Thrill got to it. Also the little Aphex comps can be cool, I forget the model. Also try a dynamite, but that's kinda doing the SSL thing.

[studjo]

I like my Daking eq and comp for snare - dunno but I fear it's because I don't own a SSL



Jo

[chrisso]

I'd agree with a lot of the previous suggestions, but the best snare compressor I've used is the Spectrasonics 610.
It's cheap ($800 - $1000), grainy and very punchy. It's one of the most in yer face processors for dums, but it can be more subtle than you think if you only introduce a smidge of the clean signal into the box.

[Musiclab]

I use a Musgrave modded Neve V compressor with a daking 52270b eq.

[jazzius II]

Mac, you got a Transient Designer?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jazzius II
Mac, you got a Transient Designer?

Believe it or nor in my opinion the Transient Designer doesn't work as well on snares as you would think.

Its a little glossy sounding and when Eq'd can get too edgy.

[LittleDogAudio]

Distressor.

Chris

[mac black]

Originally posted by jazzius II
Mac, you got a Transient Designer?

No bro, but another room in our facility has one. very interesting too.

[Prince Alsihad]

We've had great success with the API 7600 on snare.

[DirkB]

Distressor if you want an upfront grab without the transient peaking out of the mix level-wise...

Greetings,
Dirk

[PaRaNoId]

hi-end--> distressor, 1176
my studio---> FMR RNC (can we say "crrrrack"!)
Presonus Blue Max (more like "bam/pop")
PLus a little bit of clipping or tape distortion always helps....

[lucey]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Believe it or nor in my opinion the Transient Designer doesn't work as well on snares as you would think.

Its a little glossy sounding and when Eq'd can get too edgy.

I agree it can be glossy, but using tape it's fine. I've used it on snare with less attack and more sustain instead of parallel comp and/or in addition to a buss comp. Kick through the TD is awesome, a must for my lame tracking room.

[theother]

Originally posted by dillweed
the ssl compressor rules for snare. just pull the release knob for fast attack, and crank up the thresold and ratio.

Really? If I want something punchy I never pull the release knob for fast attack. If I'm looking for punch I find the auto attack on SSL channels almost unbeatable.

but what do I know.....