Crane Song: STC-8 or Pair of Trakkers?

[88fingerz]

I'm about to purchase the STC-8 to add to my PT DAW setup. It will be used in both tracking (vocals, guitars, etc...) and stereo buss application.

Would the Trakkers offer any advantage for these uses?

Anyone use the Trakkers for Stereo buss work?

Thanks for any insight, Dean

[Redi Knight]

hey, trakkers rock for stereo bus work. they're capable of more colors than the stc8. i i leant them to a friend ,who is also a mstering engineer, and he was gushing about them for weeks. the stc8 rocks, but i think trakkers rock harder. they're definitely worth the price difference and can bring your mixes to life in more ways than the stc8 imo. i can't imagine life without a pair of trakkers-i'll shut up now.

[Brad Blackwood]

FWIW, the STC-8 is cleaner than the Trakker, so depending on your usage, may be better or worse. For mastering, I can't imagine not using an STC-8...

[MASSIVE Master]

I'm with Brad... I've only been using the STC-8 for (several months?), and I'm already hooked. It "disappears" better than just about any unit I've ever tried.

[88fingerz]

Thanks for the replies. What about the STC-8 for tracking vocals @ acoustic guitars (mono as well as stereo)?

I intend using it this way as well as "mastering". Any experience in this application? Could things get a bit "funny" if used on the same project, tracking AND mastering?

Thanks, Dean

[edIT]

I've got an STC-8 and I absolutely love it. It is all that it is hyped up to be as a 2 Bus comp. KI switch is killer for a little bit more vibe. In tracking it's great too. If you don't want to fiddle with the attack and release and want some instant fool proof compressor settings, you can just dial in one of the presets and adjust the threshold. The "KI" switch also especially kicks ass for stuff like bass, etc....

[lucey]

Originally Posted by 88fingerz

Thanks for the replies. What about the STC-8 for tracking vocals @ acoustic guitars (mono as well as stereo)?

I intend using it this way as well as "mastering". Any experience in this application? Could things get a bit "funny" if used on the same project, tracking AND mastering?

Thanks, Dean

I've had both ... I prefer the STC-8 for tracking and for 2 buss.

Vocals and bass and acoustics are all great on the STC-8 and in a digital world it adds a bit of low end and a warm top that's perfect.

My records are 2" and I dont track with much compression, yet I still use it on 2 buss if going to 24 bits.

[theother]

I had both and sold the STC-8.

I do recording and mixing (mostly drum/sub buss) with the Trakkers now.

As said before I found the Trakkers to be more coloured and flexible for recording/mixing which suited me.

I thought I leave the STC-8 stuff for the mastering guys!

[jdunn]

I owned an STC-8 for years. It's a great mastering compressor, but it really didn't do much for me on the mix buss. It's much more of a transparent leveling control to me than a 'gluey' mix compressor. The KI switch mostly sounds like a mid boost IMHO. I would be interested to try a pair of Trakkers for mixing though.

Also, the guy I sold my STC-8 to commented that it actually seemed to suck some bass out of the program. He sold it too. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to buy an old Focusrite Blue 230 right now. Should I pull the trigger?

[lucey]

Originally Posted by jdunn

It's much more of a transparent leveling control to me than a 'gluey' mix compressor.

Wow, I would say the opposite ... great glue!

The KI switch mostly sounds like a mid boost IMHO.

Odd order harmonics ... a bit cold and mid emphasising in that regard, yea.

Also, the guy I sold my STC-8 to commented that it actually seemed to suck some bass out of the program. He sold it too.

Wow ... again, I hear more bass.

[jdunn]

Flame war, aaaahhhh!

Just kidding!

I'm probably just trying to convince myself that I'm not a total idiot for selling my STC-8! It was the guy who bought it that pointed out the bass sucking. When he said that, I was like "You know, I noticed that".

Anyway, I think the STC-8 is a very nice tracking compressor. It's not going to add much color to a signal, but if you want some hi-fi ultra smooth compression, for sure!

I've never owned a Distressor, so I may try the new EL8X, which just has the British mode and stereo link mods stock. Lil Freq looks way cool too! Oh yeah, Crane Song compressors. Back on topic.



I never heard all that much difference when twiddling knobs on the STC-8. I think I like compressors with a little more character for mix buss. Maybe it was the range on the attack times too, who knows? Could that be why they came up with a 'Bob Katz Attack Mod'? He sold his in favor of a pair of Trakkers too.

With the STC-8, it's like I might as well just mix with it off and run through it during mastering. Not much difference, because it doesn't do a whole lot to the balance of your mix, IMHO.

I also liked it a lot as a drum sub group compressor. You can push the make up gain amps for some color, but it mostly just adds a gritty sound to my ears when pushed. Maybe very cool for parallel compression effects though.

Oh well, I sold it. On the up side, I actually made a decent profit on it (price jumped considerably), and was given a free Bradley power supply for my Neumann U64s. I almost felt guilty, but I do miss the STC-8.

[cuby]

Originally Posted by jdunn

Flame war, aaaahhhh!

Just kidding!

I'm probably just trying to convince myself that I'm not a total idiot for selling my STC-8! It was the guy who bought it that pointed out the bass sucking. When he said that, I was like "You know, I noticed that".

Anyway, I think the STC-8 is a very nice tracking compressor. It's not going to add much color to a signal, but if you want some hi-fi ultra smooth compression, for sure!

Is there anything you would recommend over the Trakker or the STC-8, for both tracking and mastering?

thanks!

[theother]

Originally Posted by cuby

Is there anything you would recommend over the Trakker or the STC-8, for both tracking and mastering?

thanks!

The Trakker is the only stereo compressor left in my rack. Pretty much sold everything else.

Mono comp's left are:

Distressor EL8-X
UA 1176LN
UA LA-2A
DBX160A

Wait! There's also a stereo Ridge Farm Boiler, but I guess you wouldn't use that for mastering!

For mixing I like the UAD-1 a lot, and than there are still the channel compressors in the SSL G+ I use plus the infamous SSL Quad compressor.

[jdunn]

Originally Posted by cuby

Is there anything you would recommend over the Trakker or the STC-8, for both tracking and mastering?

thanks!

From what I've heard and used personally, the answer is no! There is nothing I have used that is better. I've owned the innerTube Atomic Squeezebox (though not a stereo one), a FATSO, Millennia Twincom, Requisite PALs, a custom opto tube unit (Messenger), and the STC-8. The STC-8 was probably my favorite compressor. I'm still baffled as to why I sold it.

Oh yeah. The folks who build the custom tube ones are working on a transformerless vari mu style comp, and I already own one of their 75 lb tube power supplies. So, I needed money and figured I'd replace the Crane Song with that. They're still not finished with the prototype though, and it's been over a year!

FWIW, I was reading some posts over at Pro Sound Web. Bob Katz sold his STC-8 because he can get that ultra clean sound with the Weiss already. He seems to really be loving the Trakkers though, recommending them for mastering and stereo bus work.

I kind of had the same feeling about the STC-8. It just doesn't have much personality IMHO. The Trakkers apparently do. But it's still a hi fi character I bet. BK did say you can do all kinds of cool stuff with the attack and release on the Trakkers, messing with the envelope of the track, etc...

Plus the Trakkers have cool colored LEDs, different colors for different sections. It's sluttier looking than the STC-8. Go for the Trakkers! Unless you like distortion. Crane Song has color, not distortion.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by jdunn

FWIW, I was reading some posts over at Pro Sound Web. Bob Katz sold his STC-8 because he can get that ultra clean sound with the Weiss already. He seems to really be loving the Trakkers though, recommending them for mastering and stereo bus work.

I kind of had the same feeling about the STC-8. It just doesn't have much personality IMHO. The Trakkers apparently do. But it's still a hi fi character I bet. BK did say you can do all kinds of cool stuff with the attack and release on the Trakkers, messing with the envelope of the track, etc...

Bob uses his Trakkers for color.

The STC-8 is not super clean a la digital compression like a Weiss, it has a sound. Slight low end warmth and overall sweet/clean. Very subtle but adds musicality.

The Trakkers have lots of bells and whistles but I, and others I know, ended up in limiter mode all the time.

For color I want COLOR! For clean the STC-8 is more euphonic than digital but still clean.