Best compressors for mixdown/mastering

[SoundHouse]

Originally Posted by Matty C Beats

I own the elysia 500 series xpressor, love the transparency and versatility of the unit BUT I do want to throw in a word to check out the Regular John Recording Buss Compressors. I don't have one but Dustin made me a Bax EQ that I really love for tracking + buss duties, and I can imagine his buss compressors are equally as awesome. Lots of happy people with his comps if you do a search.

Dustin's work is also super customized, he'll give you lots of options to choose from for the unit, as you'll be able to see by peeping the website:

Regular John Recording - Raleigh, NC

+1 on the xpressor. First 500 series comp I bought and is extremely versatile.

[waldie wave]

There are a lot of different flavours out there. The Manley VariMu is a very versatile and outstanding compressor, but somewhat coloured in an excellent way. I have had some exceptional results with the ADL 1500 on very digital sounding recordings, which adds a lot of beef (definitely not neutral sounding). For clean compression, the Buzz Audio SOC 1.1 is a very useful and versatile compressor. Probably for the price of the Manley, you could buy a used ADL and used Buzz Audio.

[danchi]

Great Mastering compressor and wallet-friendly

Igs Audio - Tubecore / Vari MU (tube compressor)

price - around 2500 €

IGS Audio - Professional Studio Equipment - Tubecore

[AllBread]

Originally Posted by moley

Maybe go for something like an Alesis 3630 or a Fairchild 670, or perhaps something in between.

What's your budget?

So glad that this thread was bumped so that I could get another true laugh out loud moment from the above post.

[audiomastermind]

Originally Posted by Peacock

So far I really like my Charter Oak buss compressor.

and a GML 2030

Cheers
Philip

[catfishmusic]

I've got some major GAS for the Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor.

[Resis]

Originally Posted by Remy Leloup

GML 8900 here , famous transparency

Originally Posted by Canopus

On the tube side, I would suggest the Qes Labs Variable Gm.
They build a mastering version as well.
Sounds terrific. Solid bottom, clean top, fat sound, still transparent when asked to.

Sounds wonderful.

[M.o.T.s]

Originally Posted by audiomastermind

and a GML 2030

Cheers
Philip

How would you compare it to the 8900?

[string6theory]

Another vote for the API 2500... it's such a versatile beast. A great choice for the "1" in your kit.