Mixbuss Madness

[paul999]

[PTbreaker]

no problem. I did get to read the post and the comments were still interesting so I'll paste em back in

Originally Posted by paul999

I never enjoyed disstressors on 2 buss. I love my Manley vari-mu on 2 buss but I gotta tell you that I've been using waves nls and mpx on 2 buss with great success. Using all 3 is an awesome combo.

I think the vari-mu is out of my range this time but it was one of the pieces I considered.

As for the Waves stuff. I'm a fan. I currently just have the EDU bundle but will be upgrading to Gold soon. After that I'll either wait till I can get Plat or find another vendor solution.

Back to the topic at hand. I think I'm leaning towards the Neve. There does not seem to be a logical reason other than that I want to play with it first.

But maybe someone will have their own opinion on why I might choose one over the other.

[soypancho]

I'm in a similar situation. Small room, already bought the Model 42s. Less learning than any other monitors I've used (Event, Adam) although treatment is no less important. After reading all the buzz on here, I looked around until I found a deal on an A Designs Hammer to strap across the mix buss and I'm extremely happy with it. A few dB boost at 15k and on the mids (frequency depending on the material) and my mixes just jump to life. It's been great for tracking as well. I can't say this would work better as I've only heard clips of the Kush stuff but mine isn't going anywhere. I've got an Elysia Xpressor on the way and there's a very good chance I'll be trying out the Nail for mix/drum bus compression.

[Doc Mixwell]

Yea, for sure, you gotta just try the MBP out, that's the only way with that sucker!!! It has quite a range of sounds and textures, and is designed to be extremely versatile.

Overall really awesome dynamics control. I think this box has a really elegant, clear defined sound, with a smooth appeal to it. I like this box a LOT. I am also smitten with the PII channel, as Hutch and Rupert are really pumping out winners, if you ask me.

But I would need to know more about your approach, to make a solid suggestion. Surely, this is all cool hardware. Just would like to know the kind of processing and texture your going for. Something that would key-in to how these boxes will fit in to your workflow and desired results.

[PTbreaker]

I'm mostly looking for something to take my stems and or final 2 bus and allow me to comp it and play with it without as many artifacts in the box.

I really like using ac202 and L2007/ML4 on my 2bus but sometimes I find that the in the box limiters just have this, well, in the box sound that I want to avoid. I feel like I'm loosing too much depth on my 2bus when I start to add any ITB processing to it.

I think over the long term I'll end up with a completely hybrid setup but as for right now I'm looking for some of that magic I haven't quite found yet.

[u b k]

I think your choice is easy and comes down to how much you want to hear the effect of the mix processing. The UBK Fatso is many things but transparent is not one of them; it can be subtle, but it's still a highly colored piece that juices up the harmonics and density, and that's before you hit the compressor and hf limiter.

Clariphonic is super transparent but it's an eq so it changes the sound too; if you need HF lift there's nothing like it.

The Neve box is not a color piece, it's one of the least colored mix comps on the market. It has a very sweet gluing effect that you get without anything sounding obviously compressed, just tightened up. Depending on your taste and style that can be a very desirable quality in a mix comp. It'll also enable you to squeeze a lot more dB's out of the mix without drawing attention to itself, whereas the Fatso is gonna make itself known as soon as you go past 2dB.

So if you want a lot of squeeze but not much effect, the Neve is the no brainer choice. If you want more noticeable color and tone shaping with less dynamic reduction, the UBK Fatso/Clariphonic combo is the way to go.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[PTbreaker]

Originally Posted by u b k

So if you want a lot of squeeze but not much effect, the Neve is the no brainer choice. If you want more noticeable color and tone shaping with less dynamic reduction, the UBK Fatso/Clariphonic combo is the way to go.


Gregory Scott - ubk

Thank you so much for chiming in Gregory. I think your answer is in part why I'm stuck on this. The truth is I want both and I want them now (que song) but It's looking like I'll have to buy them staggered.

On the ubk side, the Fatso/Clariphonic just looks like so much fun. I fantasize about driving around with them in the passenger seat of a convertible while honey drips out of the car stereo....

On the neve side, I think critically on the possibility of clamping onto the arteries of my mixes while they lay open on a steel operating table, with bright lights shining silkily in the background....

Ok, maybe that is all a bit much but I'm suffering from a serious case of gear acquisition syndrome.

I have till the end of December to make my final decision. Time will tell. Maybe I'll be able to eat raman till then and buy both!

Thanks for all of the input

[snax_box]

I'm in nearly the same boat. I'm doing a complete re build of my mastering and recording setup and going with all new gear in January. (Well ok those are different boats but they're in the same harbor at least right?) Anyway I think without listening to anything first, you're pretty spot on, you'll have more FUN with the UBK combo. That will give you character and hi end silk out the yin yang. On the other hand the Neve is more USEFUL in general with Mid/Side controls, Silk and Silk+, and Blend. It's just more of a complete processing tool. Getting all 3 would be a REALLY nice addition to any rack or studio. UBK stuff can be had for demo or used prices pretty easily but the Neve is basically hot off the presses so that one will be harder to track down used. As always try and give a listen to any piece before you drop thousands. Which one sounds "better" is all up to your ears and listening/mixing/recording situations.
As Mr. UBK said, the choice is easy. Get all 3!