Aurora GTC2 Users

[Hal]

How is it for 2buss duties on rock and metal stuff?

[Stevedresser83]

only used on 1 song and only messed for a few minutes but it sounded great. Only thing I compared it to was the waves ssl plugin at work we have a ssl g console so ill compare it to that to.

[NoEgo]

Originally Posted by Stevedresser83

only used on 1 song and only messed for a few minutes but it sounded great. Only thing I compared it to was the waves ssl plugin at work we have a ssl g console so ill compare it to that to.

Can you give a description of the sound? And if you used the Fet or Optical or both?
Thanks

[Stevedresser83]

I hesitate to describe what type of sound or color it gives i dont have enough use with it. On the 2 bus i did opto. I used it on guitars and bass in fet mode. Haven't done comb mode. Its pretty transparent at least the way Ive been using it but still colors it you just dont hear the compression, if that makes sense.

[Upfront2K]

Originally Posted by NoEgo

Can you give a description of the sound? And if you used the Fet or Optical or both?
Thanks

Yes I can give you an idea of what the machine sounds like. I spent an evening with the unit in my studio where I was able to make a direct comparison with my Focusrite Red 3 which I've been using for yrs on my mix buss. I've commented in the past that I have not found anything to unseat it from the mix. I tried the GTC in opto mode where I found it sounds incredible no doubt on a mix. Upon listening I realized that I loved it instantly because it's tone was very similiar to the my
Red 3. Could I have finally found a unit to take over the Red 3s duty?????????
The answer a resounding No. Upon switching back to the Red 3 the difference in the sound was clearly defined as I found the Red 3 had a thicker, more dense, or should I say weight to it's sound. More refined is how I would described it more polished. Both are clear with incredible depth in the stereo field. While I wouldn't replace my Red 3 with the GTC I can say that if for some reason I didn't have the Red 3 any longer than it would definitely be the GTC. I tried the GTC briefly on the drum buss and again it was a killer. Didn't get a chance to try it on much more but enough to know I will definitely be buying one in the not to distant future as it's an incredible sounding unit. I think it's only fair to mention I demoed the UA 2-1176 also during that evening an ended up buying it.

Hope that Helps

Best of Luck

[danchi]

Originally Posted by Hal

How is it for 2buss duties on rock and metal stuff?

Questions for GTC2 users.

I was wondering to use GTC2 on master out for mixdown. Why? I don't want that will GTC2 grab low freq. Given the fact that GTC2 has no filter for low frequencys, I was wondering if it is possible GTC2 connect with GTQ2 to use filter from there, for mixdown purpose?
Is there option to use Sidechain High Pass filter cables from Alan Smart on GTC2 for mixdown purpose ? (I don't know how they using them with C2...I just heard that there are Sidechain High Pass filter cables, that's all I know).

thanx

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by danchi

Questions for GTC2 users.

I was wondering to use GTC2 on master out for mixdown. Why? I don't want that will GTC2 grab low freq. Given the fact that GTC2 has no filter for low frequencys, I was wondering if it is possible GTC2 connect with GTQ2 to use filter from there, for mixdown purpose?
Is there option to use Sidechain High Pass filter cables from Alan Smart on GTC2 for mixdown purpose ? (I don't know how they using them with C2...I just heard that there are Sidechain High Pass filter cables, that's all I know).

thanx

Hi

In the original design of the compressor I tailored a gentle high pass filter into the side chain buffer amp circuit. You won't need extra cables. It won't crunch your very low frequencies.

[danchi]

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

Hi

In the original design of the compressor I tailored a gentle high pass filter into the side chain buffer amp circuit. You won't need extra cables. It won't crunch your very low frequencies.

thats awsome!
thanx Geoff. Now you don't neen to answer my questions on you site.

[NoEgo]

I am new to this unit. I was lucky to find someone unloading the GTC2 because they were scaling down. Always been curious.

First off...I did buy a new GTQ2 MKIII a while back and I am really happy with it. Maybe it's Geoff's ear but the GTC2 has that sound .. It is like a light smokey tone that isn't smothering. I can't say I have had a lot of time with it yet to justify my findings but it just has a real unique sound that is hard to describe unless you have it in the inserts. I am not sure how it can warm up so much but still leave the top end natural and transparent...just like the GTQ2. Same deal.. Gotta be his ears..

I have a lot of comps...Manley, UA, Buzz Audio, Chandler, DBX, TubeTech, Smart, and nothing sounds like this. It kind of gives you the 70's vibe maybe but more dimension...like sizzle turn to powder.. what ever the hell that means...edgy to round....That's what I hear. I like the combo mode it really gives a nice warm breath.
The opto is close to the Buzz I would say more than an LA2A or the like... The Fet walks on the 2-1176. Sorry for the above poster...but what were you thinking? kidding...
The UA is a standard of course, but this unit in FET mode does it warmer, cleaner and clearer all at the same time..

[skybluerental]

i have been wanting to hear this comp for ages.

are there any more users out there who can chime in with their experiences?

i have the GTQ2 and it is wonderful.

[NoEgo]

Well that was a year ago, ( I can't believe it) but to let you know....I am recording a lot of acosutic music and for drums ..real drums and hand drums... I pretty much leave it on the buss. It has a lot of jam this comp and would guess it would be good for anything in the hard category. I like the Manyley MU on mix buss more but the GTC2 can do better duty on drums and the like in my opinion. Smokin!

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by NoEgo

Well that was a year ago, ( I can't believe it) but to let you know....I am recording a lot of acosutic music and for drums ..real drums and hand drums... I pretty much leave it on the buss. It has a lot of jam this comp and would guess it would be good for anything in the hard category. I like the Manyley MU on mix buss more but the GTC2 can do better duty on drums and the like in my opinion. Smokin!

I have had great results with the GTC2 on the mix buss. Never really liked the Vari-Mu much in that role. I don't use the GTC2 on the drum buss, but it's good to hear others are having good results there with it.

[NoEgo]

Well if hip hop or the like is your thing then I can see it on the mix buss. Do you not find it lacking transparency in that situation? Just my opinion. I do love the unit.
I am not fond of it however on string instruments or vocals so much, but I suppose if they were in your face vocals. It depends on the genre.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by NoEgo

Well if hip hop or the like is your thing then I can see it on the mix buss. Do you not find it lacking transparency in that situation? Just my opinion. I do love the unit.
I am not fond of it however on string instruments or vocals so much, but I suppose if they were in your face vocals. It depends on the genre.

I find I like it on vocals and mix buss a lot (and it's incredible on acoustic guitar and piano as well).

With vocals in the opto setting, and with just a little bit of gain reduction.... it's smooth and sounds great... or put the Fet on and get a more aggressive sound.

Most of the mixes I've done for the last couple of years are either hip hop, pop or R&B... with a little bit of reggae and some rock thrown in there. It hasn't left my mix buss in all of these scenarios.

[Red 7]

I'm very proud owner of GCT2. I love the color and that distortion when you push it hard. I've just found it little bit slow for voice application. Am I doing something wrong or is there someone else with the same experience? I also have Purple MC77 and that's relly fast, but it does some middle boosting which I don't want always. That's why I love GTC2.

[DONNX]

One thing I like about Aurora's compressor. Is the tone and sound. You can run a mix through it with no compression. And it enhances the overall sound.

That has stuck out for me when I owned it. The tone was more pleasing to my ear more so than my API 2500 on the mix bus.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Red 7

I'm very proud owner of GCT2. I love the color and that distortion when you push it hard. I've just found it little bit slow for voice application. Am I doing something wrong or is there someone else with the same experience? I also have Purple MC77 and that's relly fast, but it does some middle boosting which I don't want always. That's why I love GTC2.

Don't use the same settings as your MC77, because the GTC2 has a much wider range of attack time capabilities. Just use a faster setting in FET mode and you should be able to get a similarly quick attack. Unless you use some super crazy fast attack on the MC77 (which I couldn't EVER imagine using on vocals).

[Red 7]

I'm using it in opto with the voice and it act as my old RED 7 compressor, which was slow. I don't think I need super fast attack but in this mode it is slow. I'll try to use it in FET mode. I'm really curious. Will let you know the difference.

[schmuck]

Originally Posted by DONNX

One thing I like about Aurora's compressor. Is the tone and sound. You can run a mix through it with no compression. And it enhances the overall sound.

Would the "tone" of this unit be comparable with the "basic sound" of the GTQ2? I just received a GTC2 and was (positively) surprised about the amount of colour it gives by just running audio through. I will surely track through it but actually had planned to get another box for this. Still not decided whether it should be an EQ or a preamp. I wonder if a GTQ2 would bring anything new colour-wise? (I do not need the pre-amp as a mic amplifier it is just to colour synths and stuff). thx

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by schmuck

Would the "tone" of this unit be comparable with the "basic sound" of the GTQ2? I just received a GTC2 and was (positively) surprised about the amount of colour it gives by just running audio through. I will surely track through it but actually had planned to get another box for this. Still not decided whether it should be an EQ or a preamp. I wonder if a GTQ2 would bring anything new colour-wise? (I do not need the pre-amp as a mic amplifier it is just to colour synths and stuff). thx

It has its own vibe, which is not identical to the GTQ2 to my ears (I have both here). But it complements it well. So... comparable? - maybe. At least equally desirable.

[Grandma]

DONNX
Lives for gear



Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 5,165


One thing I like about Aurora's compressor. Is the tone and sound. You can run a mix through it with no compression. And it enhances the overall sound.


Another happy GTC2 user herethumbsup - first time posting...I've had mine almost a year, and it mostly lives on the mix buss. I have some caveats to my experience: My cave has an older school setup, with the PTHD rig coming out 24ch (192) into a Trident 80 (A!), and almost always mixing to 1/4". The Trident has the Firlotte summing amps, which really open up the sound of everything going through the console. I have a good pile of vintage stuff - Neve, API, VacRac, Daking, Lang, and Telefunken eqs and Urei, Tubetech, Manley, Chandler, DBX, Altec, Spectrasonics, etc. compressors. I'm about 18 years in so far at my studio and work with mostly indie songwriters and bands, as well as acoustic music of all kinds.
Recently, I have been doing some mixes back to digital (budgets...) to experiment, and this has been where the GTC2 really shines for me. It imparts a solid, big, all the way down tone that helps with the weight of the mix, with a similar result to hitting the RMG. I keep the GR very light - just a twitch, and it really helps add size and punch at the same time.
I also did a Zydeco mix last year, where we decided to not hit the mix buss with it, so I experimented using the GTC2 on individual instruments. Tenor and Bari sax were a particularly good result, as well as Guitars and Bass, and the occasional snare. I have 5 channels of 1176 - 2 Ds, a silver (H), and an 1178 - they are all obviously very different animals, each with their own uses. The FET setting on the GTC2 does do the 1176-ish thing - closest to the oldies (D), but with a cleaner and wider spectrum, and a little less distortion. The Opto sounds great as well - thick and big. The combo of each circuit together is really interesting - almost like the D into a tube circuit with a little grit thrown in. It is a very cool sound, especially on Electric Guitars, Bass, and Snares.
So...overall, a wonderful box, and I will concur with DONNX that the tone is simply really really nice - big and warm and punchy. My only gripe is the attack time, which doesn't go any slower than 5ms. It's okay, but I would love to have a 10 or 20ms option and slam the thing a little harder. I had an C2 for a minute, and it pretty much lived at 10 or 30 ms when on the mix buss. I am more partial to the size and tone of the GTC2, but I would love to convince Geoff to do a quick mod on the attack time, if he might consider it - I know that's a tall order...we'll see what happens.
Anyway - two thumbs up for this comp!!

Grandma

[nicpope]

I bought a gtc2, a gtp8, and a gtq8 at the same time. All around phenomenal pieces of gear. I had a spot of trouble with the eq and got on the phone with Geoff to discuss. great service, great build quality, great sounding versatile stuff.

[NoEgo]

Originally Posted by Grandma

DONNX
Lives for gear



Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 5,165


One thing I like about Aurora's compressor. Is the tone and sound. You can run a mix through it with no compression. And it enhances the overall sound.


Another happy GTC2 user herethumbsup - first time posting...I've had mine almost a year, and it mostly lives on the mix buss. I have some caveats to my experience: My cave has an older school setup, with the PTHD rig coming out 24ch (192) into a Trident 80 (A!), and almost always mixing to 1/4". The Trident has the Firlotte summing amps, which really open up the sound of everything going through the console. I have a good pile of vintage stuff - Neve, API, VacRac, Daking, Lang, and Telefunken eqs and Urei, Tubetech, Manley, Chandler, DBX, Altec, Spectrasonics, etc. compressors. I'm about 18 years in so far at my studio and work with mostly indie songwriters and bands, as well as acoustic music of all kinds.
Recently, I have been doing some mixes back to digital (budgets...) to experiment, and this has been where the GTC2 really shines for me. It imparts a solid, big, all the way down tone that helps with the weight of the mix, with a similar result to hitting the RMG. I keep the GR very light - just a twitch, and it really helps add size and punch at the same time.
I also did a Zydeco mix last year, where we decided to not hit the mix buss with it, so I experimented using the GTC2 on individual instruments. Tenor and Bari sax were a particularly good result, as well as Guitars and Bass, and the occasional snare. I have 5 channels of 1176 - 2 Ds, a silver (H), and an 1178 - they are all obviously very different animals, each with their own uses. The FET setting on the GTC2 does do the 1176-ish thing - closest to the oldies (D), but with a cleaner and wider spectrum, and a little less distortion. The Opto sounds great as well - thick and big. The combo of each circuit together is really interesting - almost like the D into a tube circuit with a little grit thrown in. It is a very cool sound, especially on Electric Guitars, Bass, and Snares.
So...overall, a wonderful box, and I will concur with DONNX that the tone is simply really really nice - big and warm and punchy. My only gripe is the attack time, which doesn't go any slower than 5ms. It's okay, but I would love to have a 10 or 20ms option and slam the thing a little harder. I had an C2 for a minute, and it pretty much lived at 10 or 30 ms when on the mix buss. I am more partial to the size and tone of the GTC2, but I would love to convince Geoff to do a quick mod on the attack time, if he might consider it - I know that's a tall order...we'll see what happens.
Anyway - two thumbs up for this comp!!

Grandma

Hey, you say you use the GTC2 for acoustic music? I have trouble liking mine with acoustic stuff. What is it that you like about it? Are you using just the opt or both fet and opt? Curious. I think its a wonderful comp but I find it too effecting for acoustic music. I like to use more see through stuff for this. Like C2 or even Manley Vari MU, even LA2A or Tubetech. . Unless you are talking about acoustic loops you want to punch up.
Thanks
Lou

[Apollo Soul]

hmmm... bummer about the 5 ms attack time. Some comps seem to take longer to ramp once they begin, though...

... but I can't imagine using shorter than 10 ms attack time on mb... that's where I've liked it on smart, api, etc...

[steveschizoid]

I've never found the GTC2 to be excessively grabby - at least not inherently, of course you can make it misbehave if you try - but I've never found myself wishing I could slow down the attack time more than the unit allows.

That being said, when it comes down to mixing - after the overdubs and whatever bouncing I might do - it usually ends up on my overhead/room/cymbal buss, while the whole mix goes through The Nail.

I just haven't gotten around to trying the GTC2 on the 2 buss because The Nail works so well. It's also a workflow issue. I've put the GTC2 is in an easier spot to reach in the rack because it has a wider range of color options, and hence, gets more tracking/overdubbing use. Whereas, while The Nail can be versatile, it's quite difficult to precisely recall a setting - so if I'm in the middle of mixing a project, I'm reluctant to disturb it once it's dialed in for the 2 buss.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Apollo Soul

hmmm... bummer about the 5 ms attack time. Some comps seem to take longer to ramp once they begin, though...

... but I can't imagine using shorter than 10 ms attack time on mb... that's where I've liked it on smart, api, etc...

Don't pay attention to the numbers... I use the GTC2 on the mixbuss. It is WAY less grabby than the SSL/ Smart style compressors (even at twice the attack time). The 10ms setting on the SSL is the typical attack time used throughout the years on that unit... I think the GTC2 would compare similarly at around it's midpoint on the attack knob.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by steveschizoid

I just haven't gotten around to trying the GTC2 on the 2 buss because The Nail works so well. It's also a workflow issue. I've put the GTC2 is in an easier spot to reach in the rack because it has a wider range of color options, and hence, gets more tracking/overdubbing use. Whereas, while The Nail can be versatile, it's quite difficult to precisely recall a setting - so if I'm in the middle of mixing a project, I'm reluctant to disturb it once it's dialed in for the 2 buss.

You haven't used it on the mix buss yet?

It's the best two buss compressor on the market... mine has lived there for a few years now. Try the opto circuit/ mode with a medium attack/ release and a little make up gain... I'm sure it will supplant the Nail immediately after you try it there.