oh my gawd...the fatso.

[thearnicasync]

After lots of himming and hawing about getting a new piece of gear, I finally bought a fatso from someone here at gearslutz. I needed a compressor, and heck, two channels sounded fantastic for the used price I paid.

This is a dumb thread about how much I love the Fatso, so hit your back button if not interested.

I do most everything at home, with a few nice pieces. Not particularly nice compared to the stuff thrown around in the high end, but nice for a middle class white kid: soundelux u195, hamptone tube pre, seventhcircle neve/api kits, stapes omni's, and the usual assortment of '57s and what not.

So, from my reading here, I had the impression that the fatso was...neat, but not entirely versatile (especially the compressors). I guess if I was recording lots of different people/instruments, I might need that but I'm BLOWN AWAY by how good the compressors sound.

On kick drum, the thing sound HUGE. Like "She's a jar", Wilco huge. Lots of ambience and no crap around it. No more waves plug ins. Ever.

On snare, with 5-7 db reduction, it just perfectly imparts a neat pop and smooths it out, without making it sound thin. No more waves plug ins. Ever.

On guitars, well, I now enjoy recording elelctric guitars again. A little compression/"warmth" and holy shat. No more waves plug ins. Ever.

On the whole mix, it sounds amazing. No more Renaissance compressor. Well, maybe a little.

Basically, I'm eq'ing about 10 percent of what I used to have to. And not using any plug in compressors at all. It's goddamn ridiculous.

I just want to post this for someone looking for more impressions about this thing, espcially if they're not finding much good to say about the compressors. I don't see how you can go wrong with them if you're just trying to bring things forward a little, smooth them out. Seriously, I could go on and on.

There have been a very few gear things that have represented quantum leaps in sound to my ears:

1. difference between porta studio pre's and a mackie. (1996).
2. difference between mackie-type pre and hamptone tube pre (2000)
3. seventh circle api/neve pres.
4. soundelux u195 compared to at 4033.
5. EL FATSO!!

Take care...

[Jules]

Dont forget with NO "Warmth" selected it is STILL taming the HF..

(this is cool, just took me about a year to figure out)

Great for the subtle HF nastness 'shave off' thang...

[proxy]

Congrats on your purchase. Same thing when I got my SSL comp for the 2bus - like you said, no more plugs (at least across the 2bus)!!! Someday I'd love to have another nice pre (other than my Avalon737sp), but I still remember that feeling when I upgraded from an ART TubeMP. Night and Day.

- proxy

[cdog]

It doesn't seem like you've even gotten into using the "warmth" much, it might be the best feature of the unit - it does things to the high end no other box or plug in can do.

Its always been a mystery to me why the units are not more popular.

[thearnicasync]

re: warmth....

I've toyed with it, using it lightly and then out of control, just to hear it.

It's interesting, I didn't really know just how important the input gain was until I had it. REALLY important for setting it up...

I'm in Fatso heaven...off to do more drums!!

kelly

[zarembo]

just wanted to chime in on the merits of the fatso for my first post--

last night as an experiment I recorded the studio kit with a pair of 57's OH and an R121 fok with a windscreen, all through api 3124-

decent sounds off tape, but then--
bussed all three through the fatso and as you say, my gawd.

usually do 8 or 9 mics on the kit but I love the fullness with just 3 mics and the fatso.

and using warmth to tame highs is a beautiful thing

does anybody ever use SPANK?

when, on what?

cheers->

[pigpen]

Me luvs it tooooo thumbsup
Use it religiously. I am perplexed as to why it isn't more popular as well. It sees as much use as my Disrtessors.

Spank that room mic baby...she likes it like that!

[thearnicasync]

Interesting, I mean it's hard to market. It's not simple, but neither is The Force...and that's what the fatso is! I think it'd fly off the shelves if there were more opportunity to hear what it does...like if there were more places stocking them and doing demos or something.

It just simplifies everything for me. So much less to do on the computer. So much less eq.

Maybe I'll get over it, but for now every single thing sounds better though the fatso...and show what other piece of gear offers that? And then, when the whole mix is together, it all pays off again when it sounds balanced and mixed...before you even mix it!

I'll now take it down a notch.

kb

[raal]

'nother vote for fatso thumbsup

[khai]

I like my Fatso as well. I'm curious, guys, do you use the tranny much?


I think the reason the Fatso hasn't had much praise (at least not enough), is because it does sound great but not exactly like tape as such (which the name referred to), and it takes some time to know how interactevely all the features work and how to set it up for each application. It's not like " plug it for everything and forget about it" like a tape would be.

I'm still very curious about Portico 5042...

[raal]

Originally Posted by khai

I like my Fatso as well. I'm curious, guys, do you use the tranny much?

using it now on drum sub with mucho tranny - love it!

I think the reason the Fatso hasn't had much praise (at least not enough), is because it does sound great but not exactly like tape as such (which the name referred to), and it takes some time to know how interactevely all the features work and how to set it up for each application. It's not like " plug it for everything and forget about it" like a tape would be.

haven't ever compared it to real tape, but when dave derr gave me a demo at AES awhile back i bought it on the spot - it's great at adding color, and versatile IMHO for that application. have 2 distressors, but at least for this drum track the comps on the fatso do a fine job.

I'm still very curious about Portico 5042...

makes two of us.

[anotherslut]

would anyone replace their smart c1 or 348 with a fatso?

[scott petito]

Try warth as a vocal desser.....best there is...

cheers
SP

[pigpen]

Originally Posted by scott petito

Try warth as a vocal desser.....best there is...

cheers
SP

thumbsup
thumbsup
thumbsup

[pigpen]

Originally Posted by anotherslut

would anyone replace their smart c1 or 348 with a fatso?

I have not heard either, but I know I wouldn't sell my Fatso for them.
(By that I mean, I wouldn't take the risk when I know I already love the Fatso!)

So stop twistin gmy arm...no I won't trade you!

[anotherslut]

Originally Posted by pigpen

So stop twistin gmy arm...no I won't trade you!

hey hey now

i just want to know which one to go deeper in debt with- hoping the sluts don't insist you need all 3 before heaven lets you in

anybody own both a fatso and the smart c1 (or ssl equivalent)? why reach for one over the other?

peace

[Tom VDH]

I often use the Tranny for tracking and mixing. Works great.
Last bass I tracked was set-up as follows: U5->ADL1500 (no comp)->Fatso just Tranny->Fatso GP on 2nd channel for 2-3 dbs of GR.
It came out huge!! It sounded very organic, as if it was recorded with an amp, but with the DI tightness...

Spank? Yeaaaah! Used in parallel compression...I like the edge, the "urgency" it gives to the source....

A very underestimated unit without which recording wouldn't be as rewarding!

Cheers,

Tom VDH

[smk]

Did you know about the new Fatso? Looks and sounds pretty...well, fat. Here's a sneak peek:

(copyright photo - (of Sumo wrestler) with photographers email address clearly visible!!! Removed by moderator tutt )

[henryrobinett]

Just curious - I've never used one. Does it SOUND like a Distressor? I'm the only person I know of who really dislikes the sound of that thing.

[smk]

Originally Posted by smk

Did you know about the new Fatso? Looks and sounds pretty...well, fat. Here's a sneak peek:

(copyright photo - (of Sumo wrestler) with photographers email address clearly visible!!! Removed by moderator tutt )

Sorry, my bad...just couldn't resist...Know better next time...

[Tom VDH]

Well, it's definitely the same family, but its other features (tranny/ Warmth) give you different sonic flavors...Hope this helps...

Best,

Tom VDH

[raal]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

Just curious - I've never used one. Does it SOUND like a Distressor? I'm the only person I know of who really dislikes the sound of that thing.

there's a definite family resemblance, but distressor is alot more versatile as a comp/limiter -- fatso is very cool for what it does - warm/fatten, and can double as a compressor - both very good investments IMO - wouldn't sell either.

[scott petito]

henry,
I prefer the general sound of the fatso to my distressors it's not as aggressive ...works great when you just need some light compression....I use the buss compressor for vocals more often then I use the distressor.....but some things the distressor does are just too good not to have both.....
cheers
SP

[Exsanguis]

I agree wholeheartedly with everyone praising the Fatso. I recently had my first session with one(don't have the pleasure of owning one YET), and absolutely adored it. It's now my official overhead treatment. Warms it up without taking away any of the detail. I love it.

[thearnicasync]

Originally Posted by Exsanguis

Warms it up without taking away any of the detail. I love it.

This worried me pre purchase, and I'm glad it wasn't an issue. Since everything goes through the saturation cirucuit, I thought it might dull things. On the contrary, it gives things more presence and bite.

Anything I track without the Fatso (bypassed for comparison) sounds anemic. I've finished a couple of songs tracking EVERYTHING through the fatso, and there no sparkle missing AT ALL...

[Mazaga]

Originally Posted by zarembo

just wanted to chime in on the merits of the fatso for my first post--



does anybody ever use SPANK?

when, on what?

cheers->

Spank on 2-bus sound interesting sometimes.
I always try this way ...sometime it works ...sometime don't..
I'll upload a piece I've used it acros trhe master...soon

...
M.

[EngineEars]

I'm a pretty big Fatso fan for a skinny guy. Every track and every mix I do has it on it. For mono overdub sessions it's perfect in a 2U rack with a mic pre/EQ. One side is my compressor with the input knob as the threshold, while the other side is a coloring unit with the tranny, warmth and saturation set to taste.

If I could change one thing it would be to adjust the threshold of the comp and tape level separately. I thought I read somewhere also that future mods might allow you to change attack times. I hope this unit gets the 2.0 treatment like the Distressor did.

There are few engineers I've talked to that didn't like the unit. I think those who haven't tried it just don't know what packed under the hood for it's price point. If you don't get all caught up in the tape machine comparisons you'd find the unit quite useful.

If I could afford 3 more I'd put one on the drum buss, one on the vocal buss, one on acoustic guitars and one on the two buss. If Dave Derr was a lady I'd marry her and we'd make love on our Emprical Labs mixer.

P.S. They come with rca jacks on them now, is that to beef up your iPod

[pigpen]

For shits and giggles I put it on my CD player at the studio and listened to what I thought was already one of the greatest rock records...The Cult's Sonic Temple....It made Bob Rock sound even cooler! And here I was wondering what the hell Dave was talking about in the manual!? Silly me!

[Mystical]

Ya in regards to the rca's I remeber reading that they were there for anyone who wanted to warm up there cd listening experience. I was tempted to buy one just for that! Acouple more projects and I will be close to getting one.

[Fredrik]

I haven´t tried this one yet just the distressor wich I thought sounded fine but a bit to "nice" if you know what I mean. Would the fatso give a simmilar effect as the tapesaturation plugs that are around but with an all analog sound?

I like tapesaturation/compression on drums and bass, is it possible to get the sound of a totally missused 2" in an authentic way?

P.S It would be cool if someone could post an audiosample of the fatso on the 2buss and bypass it hafway through.