A Pet Trick for the 2500 Fans out there

[u b k]

Someone was asking me about the l/r link on the 2500 in another thread, and my ramblings reminded me of a trick I use all the time and figured I'd share here, I imagine some guys will find this as cool as I do.

The 2500 has one set of controls, but there's a very cool way to use the two channels serially and have separate control over the amount of GR you get on each channel.

This is how you set it up:

1) Patch channel 1 into channel 2

2) Set L/R to Independent

3) Engage Feed Back mode

4) Engage Manual Output Gain, set to 0

5) Set your meters to view Gain Reduction


The combination of #2 & #3, coupled with the way #4 feeds the energy back into the detector, is the secret spice here.

Try this:

1) Send a mono drum buss, a good balance of kick snare and room, into channel 1. Out of 1 into 2.

2) Set your ratio low, start with 2:1. Set your attack to 10ms and your release wherever you like it. Maybe 50, maybe 400, maybe 1.5, depends on the thickness/distortion factor you want (or don't).

3) Use the threshold to get some squeeze on channel 1. Note how at some point channel 2 starts reacting too, but probably less.

4) Goose the output gain knob; what should happen is the GR in channel 2 will increase at a greater rate than channel 1.

This is where the fun begins. Essentially the Threshold is threshold control for channel 1, and Gain is the threshold control for #2 (that's not actually what's going on, but the effect is roughly the same).

So grab both the threshold and gain knobs, and move them around simultaneously, one up the other down, or both up, or both down. Listen to the ways that the transient gets shaped differently by having the different channels do their thing in greater and lesser proportions.

The amount of control you have over the sound here is phenomenal. Don't forget to play with attack and ratio's.

Serial compression rules, especially on vocals. thumbsup


Gregory Scott - ubk
.

[Ledge Studio]

Thanks for this one !

[Everbeatz]

Thnx, don't have 2500, but I always like to read compression tips/tricks by UBK

[T. Gundersen]

What an inspiring post! Thanx mane.

[AntillesSound]

Very cool! This is thinking outside of the box. Or more in the box in this case!

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by u b k

Serial compression rules, especially on vocals. thumbsup

[strewnshank]

Sweet trick!

[DarkSky Media]

I do something similar with the 2500 at times. A double dose can really amp (or rather... comp) things up.

Secret spice is an apt description!!

[grantlandau]

wicked. now i need a 2500 ! got anything of the like for distressors?

thanks greg!!

[malgfunk]

Gotta try that one.

[Umlaaat]

Hey Greg,

How would you do something like this in Logic?

I set up a drum loop in ch. 1, out to aux 1, set up a mono 2500 in each, but can't really seem to hear what I'm supposed to (?)

[Reptil]

thumbsup

[u b k]

Originally Posted by Umlaaat

How would you do something like this in Logic?

As far as I know, you can't. This trick relies on the fact that you are physically feeding the energy of channel 2 back into the detector of channel 1 (but not the other way around) using the output gain knob.

I've essentially exploited the fact that you can unlink the detectors but still make them controllably interactive. I don't know of any way to do that kind of voltage-routing wierdness with the plugin.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[blex]

in regards to the logic question, what about parallel comp back into the master?

as in you parallel comp your final mix to a seperate (parallel) buss, adjust your mix accordingly, and buss that back into the final mix output.

you'd have to play with it and it probably wont sound very good, but i believe its the same idea, phattening up the mix by continuously feeding "energy".

[Nick A.]

niiice

[u b k]

Originally Posted by blex

you'd have to play with it and it probably wont sound very good, but i believe its the same idea, phattening up the mix by continuously feeding "energy".

Not for nothing, but the original idea here isn't to fatten anything up, it's to give you the ability to use both channels of the hardware 2500 in series and have their thresholds be individually controllable.

It's basically a cheat that exploits the design's peculiarities (the way the output amp feeds energy back into the detector) such that you get some semblence of dual-mono functionality in a true stereo comp.

That's all.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[Eganmedia]

I just suggested to Jules that he include the original post in the Tips and Techniques section. Good stuff! Thanks for sharing! Certainly beats the usual PT/ No PT threads! This is what GS is all about!

Thanks again!

(gotta go twiddle)