Best Stereo Buss Compressor Under 1200

[Djgus]

Hi im looking to add to my all digital studio a stereo buss comp, can u guys suggest the best one under 1200. Thanks. Ill b using it for mixing and mastering.

[warhead]

In that price range I would consider the TK Audio BC1 specifically for mix buss.

War

[rogerbrain]

I have and like the portico comp.. have heard great things about (but not used) the BLA comp

[sdd17]

Jim Williams modded aphex Xpressor
or jim williams modded 163x for rock

[jordanvoth]

regularjohnrecording.com mine cost $1100.

I also hear excellent things about the Overstayer Fet comp.

OR if you're good with a soldering iron you can build a clone of the SSL bus comp for well under 1200.

Chameleon Labs makes a couple of them for under $1200

Used I'm sure you could get deals, but you never know what to expect there regarding price. I'm sure someone else can give you an idea.

[muziekschuur]

At 1400 you can grab a Elysia Xpressor

[Olivaffair]

The Drawmer 1968 works well at binding the mix together on the master buss

Drawmer - 1968 Dual Channel Tube Compressor

[Blues10]

+1 on the 1968ME. I love mine on mix. If you wanna go on something smooth and gently rounding the transients, it's the one...

[Djgus]

Originally Posted by Blues10

+1 on the 1968ME. I love mine on mix. If you wanna go on something smooth and gently rounding the transients, it's the one...

Read great things on this one, can u guys send me a sample w and w out.

[Fletcher]

A pair of FMR PBC-6A's... better HPF options than a 1968 - far more linking options [choice of "linked dual mono" or "true stereo"] and much better sonic varieties as you can play with the "slick" or "thick" tonal options as well as "drive" vs. "knee" [the 1968 is "variable knee"... but you can't vary that knee from the front panel - only by how much level you send to the input] -- and while its less than $1000- for the pair - it sounds every bit of $2k or more.

Peace

[Olivaffair]

Originally Posted by Djgus

Read great things on this one, can u guys send me a sample w and w out.

I'll try and get some up for you - mixing some tracks down at some point this week.

[Faderjockey]

Stereo VCA from Overstayer..

[Joshua Estock]

Originally Posted by muziekschuur

At 1400 you can grab a Elysia Xpressor

[narcoman]

$ £ or Euro?

[kpbenoit]

I'll second the vote for the FMR PBC-6As. When I got my pair, I had to crank out a handful of reference mixes for client so the first duty they saw was on the mix bus. Very versatile pieces. Amazing the options he managed to get into suck a small box with the variable HPF and linking...I dig it.

[Klangarchitekten]

Overstayer VCA (SSL Style BusCompressor)

[Ganglion]

easy -- overstayer vca

[ToneRexx]

what is the flavour of the Overstayer??? similar to which bus compressor?

[kafka]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

I have and like the portico comp..

The RND 5043 is an easy choice for 2buss, and you can probably find one in your price range without looking too hard. I have one and would like another.

[Bopkit]

Originally Posted by Djgus

Hi im looking to add to my all digital studio a stereo buss comp, can u guys suggest the best one under 1200. Thanks. Ill b using it for mixing and mastering.

not very 'High end', though.. maybe a question for the 'Low End Theory' crowd..

[housegezeichnet]

SSL meets API on steroids = Serpent Audio SB4001

[narcoman]

again - £ $ or Euro. Cus for £ or Euro you can get a few nice things. For $ not much!!

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by narcoman

again - £ $ or Euro. Cus for £ or Euro you can get a few nice things. For $ not much!!

w/$ you can get the pair of PBC-6A's [which are awesome] and have more than enough left over for dinner and a movie with the guest of your choice.

Peace

[diylan]

Originally Posted by jordanvoth;

OR if you're good with a soldering iron you can build a clone of the SSL bus comp for well under 1200.

I built a GSSL and love it across the mix bus. I think it cost me around $400 and a lot of my time (my first DIY project).

[guze]

Overstayer VCA it's really good, for that price you can almost get a FET also
GSSL diy would be the "cheaper" option
Portico, Drawmer,etc. all good options but none will give you "all flavours"

[G-d-S]

1968, I really love mine, that or an SSL clone.

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

w/$ you can get the pair of PBC-6A's [which are awesome] and have more than enough left over for dinner and a movie with the guest of your choice.

Peace

Yup. That's one nice thing!! (or rather pair of nice things).....

[dandeurloo]

The SB4001 is something that fits this bill for sure!

[housegezeichnet]

Originally Posted by dandeurloo

The SB4001 is something that fits this bill for sure!

dry/wet, lots of attack times, fixed release, 2 auto release modes, sc hpf with api thrust style options and the grind mode....try to beat that for under 1200$

[Max The Dog]

Don't know about the price, but I A\B'd a bunch of Buss comp's a few years ago and chose the Alan Smart C1. It's arguable the most vital piece of gear I own. Try to find one used, maybe and squeeze out the extra budget.

Re: trying to compare someone's mixes with and without, it's not the best Idea, because you will mix differently with one on your buss, especially after you get used to it. You can't really just slap it on a finished mix and then make an informed decision. hth