What's a nice 500 series compressor?

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by alligator

I'm going to eventually get compressors get some dynamic processing going on in my gear. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I tried the Little Devil Compressor didn't think too much of it. The serpent stereo bus compressor looks great but its expensive. Also there is the Lindell FET Compressor but hey you get what you paid for and its only $300.00 not to mention the fact that they won't be shipping till NOV.

What kind of compression characteristic are you looking for and for what purpose? Without this you are just going to get a list of all of the 500 series comrpessors.

Originally Posted by alligator

Also I just wanted to ask and this is subjective but just give me a general rule of thumb as it were....I am going to utilize my Speck EQ for tracking mainly and the Step EQ (eddie kramer says its great!) for mixing. Am I right in assuming that lesser bands on a processor i.e. "just have hi and low" would be more conducive towards mixing. The Little Devil EQ was great at mixing the Harrison was aweful. How many EQ in 500 series do you folks have?

It sounds like the problem may be operator related rather than hardware related. I suggest you practice with what you've got. Once you understand your gear, how it fits in to the job at hand and where the limitations of the gear are you may be in a better position to decide what you need.

[Rockinrob]

I've got the API 527 and I think it is a great compressor. It can be transparent when needed and can add some character if needed. Does a good job of limiting as well, hard/soft knee function and "thrust" feature which helps the low end sit nicely in the mix. Just my opinion. I should be receiving the Neve 2265alb today. I'll post my thoughts on that If you like. By the way you can go to Vintage King and download wave files for many 500 series units an compare the dry and processed sound on your own monitors. Good luck.

[AllBread]

If the RND 543 is anything like the 5043 (and I'm pretty sure that they are) then it would be my first choice for a great all-rounder.

[Rockinrob]

Sorry I fat fingered on my previous that should read Neve 2264alb compressor. ;-)

[stephent28]

I really like the Retro Doublewide and the BAC 500

[Axelrod]

Originally Posted by Trev@Circle

It sounds like the problem may be operator related rather than hardware related. I suggest you practice with what you've got. Once you understand your gear, how it fits in to the job at hand and where the limitations of the gear are you may be in a better position to decide what you need.

+1

[AllAboutTone]

I think the 525 is the best 500 series out there, just running through the chain is a blast.

[666666]

Originally Posted by Trev@Circle

....It sounds like the problem may be operator related rather than hardware related. I suggest you practice with what you've got. Once you understand your gear, how it fits in to the job at hand and where the limitations of the gear are you may be in a better position to decide what you need.

I have to agree with the above.

Compressors... I'm really loving both the 527 and 543 for all-purpose use. The 543 has a switchable HP filter in the side chain feature just like the 527 ("thrust"), they both have tons of control, but they also both sound quite different and compliment each other really well.

The 527 is generally tighter and more punchy, focused, great for drums, bass, though great for anything really. The 543 is a bit smoother and maybe a touch more open, not as punchy, sounds awesome on vocals, lead guitar and the like... but also works great on just about anything. Again, both are very capable and universal. There's nothing that either one couldn't handle.

The 525 is also very cool, though less universal. Sometimes it works great, sometimes it doesn't. It's always a great tone shaper regardless and worth having, but it's compression functionality isn't as capable / versatile as the others. It's a great "extra" compressor to have and does indeed do cool things that only it can do.

I hope to soon hear the 500-series Tonelux TX5C compressor module, has been on my radar for a while and I suspect will give the 527 and 543 a run for their money. It also has its own "thrust" type feature (with an adjustable tilt), as well can do parallel compression, I have a feeling I'm gonna like it.

[Magic Alex]

[QUOTE=Trev@Circle;8207601]
It sounds like the problem may be operator related rather than hardware related. I suggest you practice with what you've got. /QUOTE]

Originally Posted by 666666

I have to agree with the above.

Funny... I got blasted for saying the same thing to Alligator a couple of weeks ago.

[rob S]

Bac 500

[stixnskin]

I'm using a Shadow Hills Mono with great results.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by alligator

I'm going to eventually get compressors get some dynamic processing going on in my gear. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I tried the Little Devil Compressor didn't think too much of it. The serpent stereo bus compressor looks great but its expensive. Also there is the Lindell FET Compressor but hey you get what you paid for and its only $300.00 not to mention the fact that they won't be shipping till NOV.

Also I just wanted to ask and this is subjective but just give me a general rule of thumb as it were....I am going to utilize my Speck EQ for tracking mainly and the Step EQ (eddie kramer says its great!) for mixing. Am I right in assuming that lesser bands on a processor i.e. "just have hi and low" would be more conducive towards mixing. The Little Devil EQ was great at mixing the Harrison was aweful. How many EQ in 500 series do you folks have?

Well the BAC and the 527 top my list for most 500 format comps and the xpressor 500 gets a lot of two bus love here.
having said that, if you find the Harrison EQ 32 to be awful, then I am at a loss for what to offer? I love the speck but the Harrison EQ 32 is a must here. A great EQ.

[shortstory]

So we have four BAE500 racks and have had many many modules come thru here to try including-

API 525
API 527
RND 543 & 517
Purple action
JLA3A
Chandler lil devil
The original burgin McDaniel komit
Retro double wide
Elysia xpressor

I have to say they are all quite good but the stand outs and the ones we kept were our vintage 525 (which I've had for years and still think is the most amazing sounding 500 compressor because of how it reacts and creates energy), the retro is amazing, and the lil devils especially on Zener. The others were great compressers too but I felt like these really stand out.

If I had to pick just one (and it was the only one) I'd go with the 525 but the double wide and devils (great on drums if you cant swing a TG-1) would be a close second. Keep in mind though that they are more colorful but that's how I prefer it. We use a lot of tube gear here. the xpressor is a very useful VCA compresser with a lot of very useful variables- and to my ears it holds up well in that 16v format.

We ended up only keeping the retro and komit (and both of our vintage 525s of course) but we have a lot of other outboard compressers so those just ended up complimenting our selection. If you do the J-lab then get the faster release version.

There are so many 500 modules so good lunch & hope this helps.

[Kingtone]

Originally Posted by alligator

I'm going to eventually get compressors get some dynamic processing going on in my gear. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

Eventually? As in when?

Originally Posted by alligator

I tried the Little Devil Compressor didn't think too much of it.

Really? If you can't get the Lil Devil comp to sound good, there is something wrong, and it is not with the comp.

Originally Posted by alligator

The serpent stereo bus compressor looks great but its expensive. Also there is the Lindell FET Compressor but hey you get what you paid for and its only $300.00 not to mention the fact that they won't be shipping till NOV.

This IS this HIGH END forum...
You can't complain that something is too expensive and then judge another piece just because it is $300.

Originally Posted by alligator

Also I just wanted to ask and this is subjective but just give me a general rule of thumb as it were....I am going to utilize my Speck EQ for tracking mainly and the Step EQ (eddie kramer says its great!) for mixing. Am I right in assuming that lesser bands on a processor i.e. "just have hi and low" would be more conducive towards mixing. The Little Devil EQ was great at mixing the Harrison was aweful. How many EQ in 500 series do you folks have?

Originally Posted by Trev@Circle

It sounds like the problem may be operator related rather than hardware related. I suggest you practice with what you've got. Once you understand your gear, how it fits in to the job at hand and where the limitations of the gear are you may be in a better position to decide what you need.

Wait Trev... Are you implying that buying more gear doesn't make me a better engineer??!!

[evilrocker]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

I think the 525 is the best 500 series out there, just running through the chain is a blast.

I agree 100%, unfortunately I sold mine 6 months ago, but I bought one on ebay two days ago becuase I missed it so much!

[shortstory]

Originally Posted by alligator

I'm going to eventually get compressors get some dynamic processing going on in my gear. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I tried the Little Devil Compressor didn't think too much of it. The serpent stereo bus compressor looks great but its expensive. Also there is the Lindell FET Compressor but hey you get what you paid for and its only $300.00 not to mention the fact that they won't be shipping till NOV.

Also I just wanted to ask and this is subjective but just give me a general rule of thumb as it were....I am going to utilize my Speck EQ for tracking mainly and the Step EQ (eddie kramer says its great!) for mixing. Am I right in assuming that lesser bands on a processor i.e. "just have hi and low" would be more conducive towards mixing. The Little Devil EQ was great at mixing the Harrison was aweful. How many EQ in 500 series do you folks have?

I think you need to think about what you're trying to achieve here and stop reading GS. The Lil Devil is an amazing comp & the GR EQ is very good too- so whatever is not working means you don't know what you want. Based on what you've written (liking your Speck EQ which is a very clean, surgical EQ), it seems you don't have a lot of experience under your belt- so I'd recommend you look at some VCA comps like a 525, 527, 543, or even the Lindell which I think is also a VCA. They will be versatile and probably what you're looking for.

And I say that respectfully- we're all learning- but a Lil Dev & a GR EQ are both quite good; so maybe instead of saying "I didn't think much of it" you could just say that it wasn't what you were looking for- at least when you're posting on the High-End forum. Good luck-

[Kags]

My favorite, underrated 500 series compressor is the Brute by Inward Connections - It falls in the same family as its BIG BROTHER, the Vac Rac tube limiter (which goes for almost 4k for a stereo unit). The Vac Rac stuff is tube, but the Brute 500 module has the same comp characteristics, due to the same opto ( I believe) and a similar, if not the same, transformer. I recently mixed a fantastic acoustic album recorded at 96khz and the Brute was easily the smoothest and most controlled vocal and bass compressor of my opto and tube choices, which included an LA2a, ACME Opticom (which is also underrated) and a Summit DCL200 (modified by Inward Connections). Do yourself a favor and check out the Brute. Inward also makes a VCA 500 series compressor, called the VOGAD...

[nickelironsteel]

until anything comparable comes alone, there is only space for api, shadow and inward connections in my 500v

everything else, especially for the neve stuff, isnt comparable.

[Magucci]

Originally Posted by pan60

Well the BAC and the 527 top my list for most 500 format comps and the xpressor 500 gets a lot of two bus love here.
having said that, if you find the Harrison EQ 32 to be awful, then I am at a loss for what to offer? I love the speck but the Harrison EQ 32 is a must here. A great EQ.

Xpressor 500 is definitely a no brainer if you need a stereo comp in 500 format.

BTW another great eq for 500 format is Maag eq4. Superb AIRband!!!

[KFMG]

We love the BAC 500 over here. It is a very versatile comp. It can be clean or distorted and has a side chain circuit for deessing, which works very well.

[zvenx]

I am loving my two FCS Pico 502's
FCS Pico 502 Red Face Version
rsp

[RightOnRome]

i have herd lots of good things about the lindell 7x-500

[antithesist]

Originally Posted by shortstory

Lindell which I think is also a VCA.

The Lindell is FET.

[Dan Kennedy]

Come and talk to me at the AES show. I'll have the PWM-501's with me.

You are all going to have to play with them, because they are unlike anything else out there.

[KFMG]

Originally Posted by Dan Kennedy

Come and talk to me at the AES show. I'll have the PWM-501's with me.

You are all going to have to play with them, because they are unlike anything else out there.

Looks like we'll soon have a Great River channel strip in the 500 series!
MP-500NV, 32EQ, and now the PWM-501. "Great" times!!!

[dandeurloo]

Originally Posted by Dan Kennedy

Come and talk to me at the AES show. I'll have the PWM-501's with me.

You are all going to have to play with them, because they are unlike anything else out there.

Sweet! I wish I was going to AES. Someone take pictures of this and post them.

[Magic Alex]

Originally Posted by Dan Kennedy

Come and talk to me at the AES show. I'll have the PWM-501's with me.

You are all going to have to play with them, because they are unlike anything else out there.

Jeez,the 500NV has roots in the Neve 1073, your EQ is connected with Harrison... you're making some sweet choices. Can't wait to see your comp. I just hope it's not 2U. That's the only thing keeping me from having more 500NV's.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Dan Kennedy

Come and talk to me at the AES show. I'll have the PWM-501's with me.

You are all going to have to play with them, because they are unlike anything else out there.

The drooling has started!
Dan any pics yet?
two slot or one? do tell: )
Post some info when you can.
get-er done: )~

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by evilrocker

I agree 100%, unfortunately I sold mine 6 months ago, but I bought one on ebay two days ago becuase I missed it so much! API 525

The 70s vintage modules is even better spice to the mix, but I will take either any day. Most of the time I run them all buttons out.