ULTIMATE MIX BUS COMPRESSOR AND EQ?

[Tetness]

List your favorite ones, the ones that you can't live without, or the ones you can't wait to buy, once you have the cash.

[thethrillfactor]

Oh man here we go again.

I don't mean to be facetious but this topic has been covered adnaseum already.

If you do a search i am sure you will find tons of stuff on the subject.

But just to be different i will say the big 1" 2 track machine.

[Tetness]

I know, I know. And I've read 'em. But I still hope to learn something from this before I make a rather large purchase. Your suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[drundall]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Oh man here we go again.

I don't mean to be facetious but this topic has been covered adnaseum already.

If you do a search i am sure you will find tons of stuff on the subject.

But just to be different i will say the big 1" 2 track machine.

Or maybe whatever is the next step past ad nauseum.

Just to be different I'm gonna say Red 3.

[alnico]

I'm gonna demo the STC-8 soon and I already have an SSL 8K plus the Smart C2. The SSL sound definitely has a cool thing that I love about it but will the Cranesong be too clean????

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Tetness

I know, I know. And I've read 'em. But I still hope to learn something from this before I make a rather large purchase. Your suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The Mixbuss stuff is a personal thing kinda like monitors.

Me personally i have different comps for different syles of music and different songs, just like i have different monitors.

I rarely use EQ on the mixbuss cause my personal opinion is that its a crutch for a bad mix or a bad production.

To me its the last resort, the final bullet in the old gun.

If i am down to my last bullet, i prefer to give it to the ME and give him a crack for some salvation.

And i was serious on the 1"machine.

Since i don't have one(and don't really plan on getting one any time soon) it be cool to see how hard you can push it and to see what kinda sounds you get.

But if i had a wish on an EQ since i mix on an old gritty SSL with a Blue 230 on the mixbuss, i would love a pair of vintage kept in a vacuumed vault pair of Pultecs.

[Tetness]

1" tape machine would be very cool. Also, there's a lot of new toys out there; I was hoping that I would hear about some cutting edge stuff.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Tetness

Also, there's a lot of new toys out there; I was hoping that I would hear about some cutting edge stuff.

Really?

Like what kinda toys were you thinking of?

I haven't really seen any new compressors that have raised my eyebrows and made me rethink the mixbuss chain.

Even on the solo individual stuff i haven't seen anything i would want to check out.

With the exception of the new Fearn comp which is super expensive, there really hasn't been anything new or earth shaking going on in the compressor world.

I do eventually want to hear Geoff Tanners new offering also.

[Tim Farrant]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

...I haven't really seen any new compressors that have raised my eyebrows and made me rethink the mixbuss chain. Even on the solo individual stuff i haven't seen anything i would want to check out....

STANDBY.......

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Tim Farrant

STANDBY.......

Wow you peaked our interest.

Will it be a clean offering?(i hope not we have plenty of those) or something totally new and musical with some kinda sonic signature?(I hope)

[Tim Farrant]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Wow you peaked our interest.

Will it be a clean offering?(i hope not we have plenty of those) or something totally new and musical with some kinda sonic signature?(I hope)

When you say "clean" do you mean that just passing a signal thru the box with no compression you should hear the "sonic signature" or do you mean when you have gain reduction happening, that's when you hear the signature?

Tim

[Aearth]

Originally Posted by Tim Farrant

When you say "clean" do you mean that just passing a signal thru the box with no compression you should hear the "sonic signature" or do you mean when you have gain reduction happening, that's when you hear the signature?

Tim

Man, STOP teasing.

Nick

[Jules]

I Have

SSL comp
Cranesong STC - 8

I want

GML EQ
Buzz Soc
Stereo Fairchild (!!!!)
Massive Passive
etc etc

[Darius van H]

Originally Posted by Tetness

List your favorite ones, the ones that you can't live without, or the ones you can't wait to buy, once you have the cash.

There are so many different sounds available.

Why don't you tell us:

what style/s of music you're doing...?

....what you hope to achieve from 2-buss processing?

maybe a few albums you like the sound of?

what mixers you like?

Then peeps might have a clue what sort of gear to suggest.

Otherwise you'll just get a list of gear, all sounding different and useful in different applications.

[duaneadam]

The only one I would never give up even at gunpoint is the Weiss DS1-MK2. It's the only compressor/limiter I've ever used that sounds superb on every type of music. It's digital and making multiple passes thru it for different processes produces remarkably transparent results. You can de-ess in one pass, compress for loudness in another, use the band speciific function in another, parallel compress in another and the mix stays pristine. Brutally expensive, but worth every penny.

[Tetness]

Originally Posted by Darius van H

There are so many different sounds available.

what style/s of music you're doing...?

....what you hope to achieve from 2-buss processing?

...what albums do you like?

Mainly pop, rock. What I want to achieve is a phat, punchy, warm, sparkly sound. Currently, I'm using plug-ins. But my ears can't stand the digital sound. I want the real deal (like we all do.) I like the fairchild sound, but I don't want to spend that kind of cash. Instead I'll be using two M-66s (half as much). However, I know that I will also need another compressor to get me all the way there. Smart C2, Crane Song ST-8, Hedd, GML 9500, Weiss...? And I also find that I like some EQ at the very end. Maybe a couple of Pultecs would be nice. I've been pretty happy with the Mercury Stuff. Possibley another EQ-P would save me the headache of vintage Pultecs that can vary in quality. I know if my mix is right, I shouldn't need EQ, but a lot of the time, my mixes need some help. I like to do quick (in house) mastering on reference mixes. I will be using the gear for that as well. When I send out my stuff for real mastering, I take all this stuff off and let the mastering engineer have full control.

Albums I like. Wow, so many... I think most the stuff I like was recorded on tape. I'm not ready to by a tape machine, although it would be nice. Dylan - Freewheelin' LP - Sundazed

Times...Changin' LP - Sundazed
Slow Train Coming
Neil Young - Hawks and Doves LP
Beck - Sea Change
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold LP - Simply Vinyl
Led Zeppelin - I - LP - Classic
Presence LP - Classic
AC/DC - Back In Black
Beatles - Abbey Road
Magical Mystery Tour
Rubber Soul LP - UK stereo (goofy mix, but sound is amazing)
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
CSN
Elton John - Greatest Hits CD - DCC
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Rush - Moving Pictures LP - US Mercury
Pink Floyd - The Wall

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Tetness

Mainly pop, rock. What I want to achieve is a phat, punchy, warm, sparkly sound. Currently, I'm using plug-ins. But my ears can't stand the digital sound. I want the real deal (like we all do.) I like the fairchild sound, but I don't want to spend that kind of cash. Instead I'll be using two M-66s (half as much). However, I know that I will also need another compressor to get me all the way there. Smart C2, Crane Song ST-8, Hedd, GML 9500, Weiss...? And I also find that I like some EQ at the very end. Maybe a couple of Pultecs would be nice. I've been pretty happy with the Mercury Stuff. Possibley another EQ-P would save me the headache of vintage Pultecs that can vary in quality. I know if my mix is right, I shouldn't need EQ, but a lot of the time, my mixes need some help. I like to do quick (in house) mastering on reference mixes. I will be using the gear for that as well. When I send out my stuff for real mastering, I take all this stuff off and let the mastering engineer have full control.

Albums I like. Wow, so many... I think most the stuff I like was recorded on tape. I'm not ready to by a tape machine, although it would be nice. Dylan - Freewheelin' LP - Sundazed

Times...Changin' LP - Sundazed
Slow Train Coming
Neil Young - Hawks and Doves LP
Beck - Sea Change
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold LP - Simply Vinyl
Led Zeppelin - I - LP - Classic
Presence LP - Classic
AC/DC - Back In Black
Beatles - Abbey Road
Magical Mystery Tour
Rubber Soul LP - UK stereo (goofy mix, but sound is amazing)
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
CSN
Elton John - Greatest Hits CD - DCC
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Rush - Moving Pictures LP - US Mercury
Pink Floyd - The Wall

From your list i would recommend a Neve 33609 followed by a pair of Pultecs for the mixbuss.

But i think the biggest impact would be to track to analog and mix on an analog console to an analog machine.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Tim Farrant

When you say "clean" do you mean that just passing a signal thru the box with no compression you should hear the "sonic signature" or do you mean when you have gain reduction happening, that's when you hear the signature?

Tim

Tim,

In an ideal world i mean both.

For example the Neve 2254 sounds great when there is compression engaged and there isn't.

Now mind you with no compression its basically running through a pair of Neve 1272's which will definitely give any sound color.

But its cool nonetheless.

[retrograde]

I keep going back to the SSL at 2:1 with Auto release and the needle barely moving. Kinda pulls everything together. For compression as a sonic signature on rock stuff I sometimes go to the 2254s. For ballads and softer stuff, the Demeter VCL2 does a nice job.

Geoff

[Tetness]

I don't mind adding a little "color" to the mix. In the digital world, things can get sterile for me. I used to own a Neve 33609J, maybe I should have sold it. It was a new AMS 33609. I liked it. Hmmm.

[midnightsun]

This topic always elicits excitment and again demonstrates that good is a matter of personal taste. Here is what I do and I am happy with the result.

1. 50% of the time I don't want any Compression nor EQ. I am not going to strap in a piece of gear just because I paid good money to have it it my studio.

2. EQ-- Massive Passive is a great tone shaping tool but should be avoided if the tone doesn't need shaping. Pendulum SPS-1 has a parametric EQ that is great for surgical strikes and dealing with sonic problems or issues.

3. Compression/Limiting-- my all time favorite is the Pendulum ES-8. Manley also makes a variable mu type compressor limiter.

4. For grouping background tracks so they hang together and don't compete with the features or out front tracks I like to go through the Massive Passive then the Pendulum ES-8 variable mu

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Tetness

I don't mind adding a little "color" to the mix. In the digital world, things can get sterile for me. I used to own a Neve 33609J, maybe I should have sold it. It was a new AMS 33609. I liked it. Hmmm.

Or even better look for the original.

Of course you will want to overhaul it, but its a big favorite for traditional rock and roll.

[wwittman]

Originally Posted by Tetness

Times...Changin' LP - Sundazed
Slow Train Coming
Neil Young - Hawks and Doves LP
Beck - Sea Change
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Dire Straits - Love Over Gold LP - Simply Vinyl
Led Zeppelin - I - LP - Classic
Presence LP - Classic
AC/DC - Back In Black
Beatles - Abbey Road
Magical Mystery Tour
Rubber Soul LP - UK stereo (goofy mix, but sound is amazing)
Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
CSN
Elton John - Greatest Hits CD - DCC
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
Rush - Moving Pictures LP - US Mercury
Pink Floyd - The Wall

Well, you realise that most of those didn't use ANY "buss" EQ or compression... perhaps in mastering.

I use either the Dakings (most of the time) or the Smart C2 (when i really want to hear that 'modern' sound) .. and followed by the GML 8200.

[Reptil]

the eqs on the Behringer MX3242X and for compression dbx 266xl


sorry couldn't resist posting this

[Tim Farrant]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Tim,

In an ideal world i mean both.

For example the Neve 2254 sounds great when there is compression engaged and there isn't.

Now mind you with no compression its basically running through a pair of Neve 1272's which will definitely give any sound color.

But its cool nonetheless.

Duly noted, thanks Thrill.

[everglass]

Hey thethrillfactor,

I have never tried my 2254's on the mix buss - any suggestions for a starting point on the settings?

Thanks also for the info about the 1272's! Very interesting!

Anyone else had success using the 2254's on the mix buss?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by everglass

Hey thethrillfactor,

I have never tried my 2254's on the mix buss - any suggestions for a starting point on the settings?

Thanks also for the info about the 1272's! Very interesting!

Anyone else had success using the 2254's on the mix buss?

I don't use the 2254's on the mixbuss.

I do use them on other places.

[Tetness]

Thethrillfactor,

I noticed (previous posts) that you have had some experience with the Fairman line. Do you think the TMEQ and the TMC would be an ultimate combination for the mix buss? And if so, could you explain why?

[MarkS]

avalon 747 with no needle movement and everything switched off except the TSP thing. jep, i think it's really decadent, but i like it. learned that from an michael brauer interview

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Tetness

Thethrillfactor,

I noticed (previous posts) that you have had some experience with the Fairman line. Do you think the TMEQ and the TMC would be an ultimate combination for the mix buss? And if so, could you explain why?

Tetness,

I personally would pass on the TMC(and did).

TMEQ is bananas!!!

In my opinion it was better for mastering though.

Again there is no one ultimate mixbuss combo.

Its based on genre,song and what will it take to make the song special.

I work in different genres so 1 combination just doesn't do it for me all the time.

The way it works for me these days is whatever is left over and not being used in the mix gets thrown on the mixbuss!!

These days i strap the Blue 230 first, but sometimes i am forced to use it the mix so i go to my next choices in line the SSL buss comp(which i normally use on the drumsub or piano) or the Vari-MU(which i use sometimes on backgrounds,drumsub,piano).

Once in a blue moon it maybe something Neve.