Drum buss: API 2500 VS Drawmer 1968

[solidstate]

Hey Slutz,
Once again i need your help

Here is deal.. I have an xrack with a G stereo compressor for the 2buss.. I'm looking for a character compressor to strap on the drum buss. I mainly work with rap/Pop/RnB. Which one would you pick and why?

Here are my thoughts:

The api has NO auto release. I tend to favor gear that is easy to set up/operate.
Do you guys find the 2500 hard to dial or the lack of out release a problem?

The 1968 seems a better deal(it's also 1k less). Though I've heard that it might be more on the clean side. No inputs/outputs transformers?

The last thing i was concerned about is to sound over compressed.. Is it a good idea to use a compressor on the drum buss and the 2 buss as well?

I'd like to ear your opinions,
Thanks in advance

[surflounge]

2500 = rock and roll
1968 = clean yet tube-gluey

[Dirty Halo]

If you already have the SSL G-series (which I would think you'd like for RnB, etc), but I would then say the Drawmer is more "character" opposite the SSL.

The API would be closer to what you already have, best to get a more varied set of tools, IMO.



-andrews

[solidstate]

Yeah i love my G stereo comp for rap/rnB. The 1968 has a great price point and i'm glad that it has the 'gearslutz stamp of approval'

keep it coming

[oudplayer]

I like the 1968 for drum submixes... I'm not so sure I'd call it "clean," but it does the job and is a great deal these days (low $1000s). The sidechain thingy is useful.

[solidstate]

Originally Posted by oudplayer

I like the 1968 for drum submixes... I'm not so sure I'd call it "clean," but it does the job and is a great deal these days (low $1000s). The sidechain thingy is useful.

Really? The best deal i could find was @ VK for around 1500$..Can you please give me the name of the shop?

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

i love my 1968ME, but it doesnt do that agressive in your face sound, like the api...its pretty smooth.

[Knox]

personally, I was underwhelmed with the 1968 we had

[strewnshank]

Originally Posted by Knox

personally, I was underwhelmed with the 1968 we had

agreed

[espen askelad]

I like the Drawmer on guitars, BGs, room/OH mics, but the 2500 kills it on the drum bus. The sort of energy the 2500 pulls from the kick and snare without making the cymbals pump horrifically is really great.

[dhiltonlittle]

the 2500 is great on any kind of buss. i use it on drums, vocals, guitar, bass, 2mix, whatever. it is different enough from your ssl to warrent having both. i think you'll find that it is much more flexible also.

[solidstate]

Hey dhiltonlittle,

i dig the flexibility on the api.. but i wish they had an auto release settings instead of continuously variable. Do you find use the 5 fixed release settings to work most of the times on drums?

[solidstate]

Originally Posted by Knox

personally, I was underwhelmed with the 1968 we had

so you wish the 1968 had more control? I actually prefer gear with few controls. Look at the La2a

[solidstate]

So far:

API- Aggressive 'n in ya face

1968- Smooth 'n Gluey

[dhiltonlittle]

Originally Posted by solidstate

Hey dhiltonlittle,

i dig the flexibility on the api.. but i wish they had an auto release settings instead of continuously variable. Do you find use the 5 fixed release settings to work most of the times on drums?

lets just say you will have no problems at all getting the 2500 to work on drums. imo that is one of the areas it shines the most.

i don't use auto release even on my ssl comp or alan smart c2. but yeah most of the time i'm using the variable on the api. i can just get right in with the tempo better that way. not that the fixed don't work. i use those quite often if it is the release that is called for.

[NoEgo]

I think the 1968 is a little bit of warm but transparent (not in your face) compressor. That is why it is great on the two buss or a cool stereo track you don't want to crush but warm up and bring forth a little and yeah glue a bit. It also has the cool big switch which ignores the lows so they don't trip the rest of the program all the time. . It's a pretty thing. Even the Smart I find more agressive sounding, even though it's colorless .If you are looking for all syrup then I think the Manley VariMu. Although pricier it has a beautiful warm tone to it. I haven't tried the API stuff, but I am not a rocker as much as folk rock acoustic/electric stuff . My two cents.

[Kingtone]

i use the 1968ME on drums or the 2buss all the time..
like someone earlier said.. its flexible.. and great price
push it and it gives some nice mojo

[strewnshank]

I think there is a world of difference between the makeup gains on these units, and that is one thing that I really appreciate about the 2500. I like the 1968ME, but it got fuzzy too quickly for me if I was beating the crap out of a parallel buss.

[Strobian]

Originally Posted by dhiltonlittle

the 2500 is great on any kind of buss. i use it on drums, vocals, guitar, bass, 2mix, whatever. it is different enough from your ssl to warrent having both. i think you'll find that it is much more flexible also.

Agreed.

[turk sanchez]

Originally Posted by strewnshank

I think there is a world of difference between the makeup gains on these units, and that is one thing that I really appreciate about the 2500. I like the 1968ME, but it got fuzzy too quickly for me if I was beating the crap out of a parallel buss.

I know what you are saying. I run my 1968 pretty clean on the mix buss because It does break up before it yields a lot of output. It does not bother me as I like leaving a lot of headroom so I just set it for tone. If I need a loud mix I can put a limiter downstream.

The 1968 is the only unit where I had sellers remorse so bad that I had to go out and re-buy the thing. I really like it. It's great for tracking too.

[JQ127]

I just traded my two Komits for a 1968 so I'm happy to hear the good reports about it. The 2500 isn't far behind though!

Komits may be loved here but I didn't care for them at all. Glad to see them go.

[Coldsnow]

I haven't tried the 2500 but have a 1968. It is my favorite piece on all kinds of guitars. On drums it does it's job but not aggressive like has been said. The Portico is great on drum imho. I'm sure you couldn't go wrong with the 2500 as much as people rave about it. If you got the 68 you may want to move the SSL to drums when you want aggression and the 68 to overall buss mix.

[strewnshank]

Originally Posted by waffle waitress

I know what you are saying. I run my 1968 pretty clean on the mix buss because It does break up before it yields a lot of output. It does not bother me as I like leaving a lot of headroom so I just set it for tone. If I need a loud mix I can put a limiter downstream.

The 1968 is the only unit where I had sellers remorse so bad that I had to go out and re-buy the thing. I really like it. It's great for tracking too.

Makes sense on the mix buss, for sure. I noticed a similar thing as well, but tended to use it more on parallel busses, where I was squashing things pretty hard and blending back in. In that regard, the makeup gain was important to me, and I couldn't push it above "+8" before it changed the tone too much for me. A sweet comp none the less, I may feel that buyers remorse before too long myself.

[tapehiss]

bizzzumpppp!!!!!!!!