Any Compressors Like An ADR Compex?

[serviceairtech@]

I've been looking for one of these bad boys, but no luck. Anybody have one for sale or know of a compressor that will get dirty and pumping like this bad-a? I need a stereo unit for drum room mics.

Thanks.

Nate

[Jay Kahrs]

Geez...I'd love to know if there's an answer to this myself! If there is something out there that's like a Compex & readily available I haven't found it.

There's some stuff which gets kinda close...Daking FET limters, DCL-200 can do a similar kinda smush but not really...

Whuddabout the old standy of a dbx 165? Not at all like a Compex but they can work the drumsub.

[Fletcher]

The Chandler LTD-2 gets about as close as I've experienced but as always, YMMV.

[serviceairtech@]

Haven't tried the chandler or summit stuff. I've got the chandler mini mixer and love it to death for submixing stuff. I think the thing about the ADR was when the input was overloaded. It distorted/crunched the sound and could do it quite good.

I've tried my Vari-mu, but can't get it to overload. Maybe it's because of the tubes.
Not real sure. It does some nice compression though.

I don't really have a huge source of comp's. Elop, Vari-mu, La-2a, and that's it. So I don't have much else to try at my disposal.

[Natural Mystic]

I seem to remember that these were shipped with pin 3 hot... so when used with pin2 hot equipment the input would definatly distort in that cool crunchy sort of way. If they are rewired for pin2 hot they definatly have a bit more headroom. Just thought I'd point that out. As far as stuff that sounds similar keep an eye out for the mid seventies clones made by a Canadian company called Orange County. These units, while clones, can actualy get even more radical than the compexes. But they are even harder to find than the adr units. I think someone (Wade) should try their hand at making a modern interpetation of this underground classic!

[Jay Kahrs]

Hmmmm....the Summit won't get 'ya there then. While the compression is kinda (not) similar it definatly doesn't have the same tone as the ADR. Maybe the 1968? That can get kinda big & crunchy when it's driven hard...


Mystic - I thought of the Orange County but didn't mention it 'cause your totally right...they're even MORE rare then the ADR's. Funny, I had encountered the Orange County quite a few years before the Compex it's based on!

[lowswing]

I love compex so much and there is nothing out there that sounds exactly the same...
I always find that when i'm in another studio I'm reaching to a 1176 for the application i would use the compex for

[Steffmo]

I have a Compex I want to get refurbed. Needs a meter and can probably use a calibration. Still sounds great though.

Any suggesttions as to who might be good for this task??

[carival]

Originally Posted by Natural Mystic

I seem to remember that these were shipped with pin 3 hot... so when used with pin2 hot equipment the input would definatly distort in that cool crunchy sort of way. If they are rewired for pin2 hot they definatly have a bit more headroom. Just thought I'd point that out. As far as stuff that sounds similar keep an eye out for the mid seventies clones made by a Canadian company called Orange County. These units, while clones, can actualy get even more radical than the compexes. But they are even harder to find than the adr units. I think someone (Wade) should try their hand at making a modern interpetation of this underground classic!

I think the ADR Compex and Orange County Stressor are both wired pin 3 hot, but I can't say that I've ever noticed distortion or reduced headroom from connecting balanced gear with opposite polarity. I don't understand why that would be, but I guess it could happen. I've had an ADR Compex and an Orange County stressor for years. As much as I want the Orange County to do what the compex does, it doesn't. They're both great, but the compex just kills on drums/room/snare drum/front of kit type of stuff. The blue stripe 1176 has a similar smack and punch, but in order to get the attitude, it gets a little messier than the compex. I actually find the Orange County to be less aggressive, and possibly more versatile than the compex. My $.02

[serviceairtech@]

Well I've been looking for both. Can't find the ADR or Orange County. Seems like the Orange County is very rare, at least on the internet search engines. Maybe these pieces are more rare than I thought. It sure was cool sounding when I used it on my drums a while back. Wish the rental yard still had it.

I'll keep looking though. Maybe something will come up. Thanks for the help.

[bee]

I've also been wondering about this same question. It seems like someone would have done reissue by now.

[beechstudio]

Originally Posted by Steffmo

I have a Compex I want to get refurbed. Needs a meter and can probably use a calibration. Still sounds great though.

Any suggesttions as to who might be good for this task??

Check with "Skip" at Creation Audio Labs in Nashville.

www.creationaudiolabs.com

[Natural Mystic]

@carival:

Yep, both the ADR and OC units were origionaly shipped with pin three hot. I was just speaking from my experience with the 2 units in regards to the headroom issue. Who knows, could of been some funky caps or something. But when I switched the polarity I got more headroom with the compex.

ps:

I just got to use some of these on a mix yesterday at my friends studio and boy are they cool sounding! I really wish there was something comparable today that you could buy new... seeing as they are so hard to find.

[Jay Kahrs]

The only guy I know who even owns a Compex is the guy who turned ME onto 'em...John Agnello.

Ok.

So this is easy...we need a reissue...


Who's gonna build 'em?!


Or actually...couldn't the Distressor be setup to pull off an Compex like thing?

Maybe?

I remember getting REAAAAAALLY close to an Orange Stressor once during an A/B about 8 years ago....

Maybe?

[Nut]

Oooer... This makes me all gooey and squishy cos I've got one :P

Pity it needs a refurb REAL bad... It was described as being in working condition when I bought it, but I wouldn't use that phrase...

[wwittman]

Originally Posted by Jay Kahrs

The only guy I know who even owns a Compex is the guy who turned ME onto 'em...John Agnello.

Ok.

which he got from me, by the way
(I always say, I taught John BOTH things he knows...)

I still have the original one we used at Record Plant

and i've never found them to be "crunchy"

having its xlr wired pin 3 hot (on the BALANCED option version) only means they wil be phase reversed, nothing more.

but on the more commonly found UNbalanced version, it's possible that you would, in some patch bays be shorting the high side to ground in some weird way and creating that sound you're talking about.
But that's a FLAW and really should be corrected... not a "feature" to be sought after!

All I've ever seen, frankly, is you patch one in some places and they don't work at all, then you reverse the wiring and they do.

mine has the balancing transformers, but the only way to tell is to open it up and look for the little cans.


I really do think the CLOSEST thing is the Daking... it has the A&DR auto release setting in it, plus the A&D's fast attack available (and this is by design... Geoff and I talked about what would be necessary for me to use it as a stereo buss compressor before it was built)
the difference, is the Trident A line amp which obviously sounds DIFFERENT from the amps in the A&D

[dlmorley]

I had a vocal stressor before I got my rack with F700's. I also have some Compex 2's..
I find AD&R stuff to be unique really.
They used shitty pots on the Vocal stressor & Compex, but apart from that, they are wonderful. I sold my stressor (F769 I believe) to pay for my 2 x F700 2 x E800 rack, which I prefer the sound of. Very underrated stuff AD&R it seems.
The Compex 2's are totally different, but I love 'em still... and their EQ's are very nice (the 950 paragraphic is a powerful beast and the E800's are classic UK old school stuff..
All in all, very much worth having.
The Compex turns up a lot more in the UK I think btw...

[StuartMac]

Originally Posted by Jay Kahrs

The only guy I know who even owns a Compex is the guy who turned ME onto 'em...John Agnello.

Ok.

So this is easy...we need a reissue...


Who's gonna build 'em?!

Aaaaannnd the good news is......I just heard today from Audio + Design that the Compex IS being re-made by Q Audio and Vintage King. Completely authentic, with improved pots and switches. They hope to have it on the market for sale early next year.

[dlmorley]

Originally Posted by StuartMac

Aaaaannnd the good news is......I just heard today from Audio + Design that the Compex IS being re-made by Q Audio and Vintage King. Completely authentic, with improved pots and switches. They hope to have it on the market for sale early next year.

Nice!

[roginator]

Also great Audio Design Recording is model F610 SUPER DYNAMIC LIMITER

I found it better than some compressors and limiters up to 1500 Euro..
another ADR beast from past and V.O. makes it best compressor for modern ducking efect in club music.

I just love it...that is a typical compex engine inside on stereoids

[redroom]

I got a Compex from Larkin Audio recently and now I know what Ive been missing.The one I got is in great shape and has been fully callibrated and I just
love the thing to bits.I was very suprised how much I like it on the 2 buss with
the compex output feeding into a phoenix nice DI to bring back a bit of bottom the Compex robs.
If they make a re-issue I think I will be up for one as I could sure use mroe Compex
in a mix.

[jbuntz]

Daking fet compressor? I think it's a similar design topology. It's like a polite, clean 1176 capable of slower attack times and lower ratios.

[CAVU]

Check the Orange County Associates website for contact info.

They have a limited number of vintage processors, fully reconditioned and upgraded, for sale.

They will also upgrade or recondition your existing device.

The website hints at a reissue.

If you'd like to encourage this, send an email to orange.county@gray.mb.ca

[Seamus TM]

I tried to write them, but I got a delivery failure notification.

[dubrichie]

DIIIG!

[CAVU]

Originally Posted by Mumblesound

I got a delivery failure notification

Sorry! I didn't verify the address before I posted it.

Use orange.county@gray.mb.ca

.

[Seamus TM]

So....
are YOU Orange County Associates?

[Louderock]

Try using the eq side of the Vocal Stressor as a kick drum eq. My favorite!!

[CAVU]

Originally Posted by Mumblesound

are YOU Orange County Associates?

Not directly. At least not yet.

One of my former electronics engineers, Michael Franzmann, has set up the structure and is trying to convince me to become involved. He has been servicing the installed base and modding OC gear almost from day one. I hold the intellectual rights, tooling and trademarks.

We have been getting increasing interest (and sometimes "pressure") to do something. I have to say I am tempted.

[dubrichie]

consider me more interest!

go for it man!