Can a Smart C2 do the Distressor Drum Room Mic Thing?

stevetgn · 1st December 2006

I've not yet had the pleasure of using one but I understand the Distressor is great on room mics for the drum kit. Obviously never having used one I don't know what it does soundwise, so my question to those that have used both is can I get my AS C2 to do a similar thing and how should I be setting it?

Cheers guys

Steve

kellyd · 1st December 2006

I love my distressors on rooms but the C2 in crush mode is pretty cool. It s a different thing on rooms but when I have to use distressors for other tracks the
C2 rocks. Adjust att, rel accordingly.

cdog · 1st December 2006

The crush mode adds a whacked ratio and agressive high mid eq boost that just flattens eveything like a steamroller then drizzles honey over it. Nice!

stevetgn · 1st December 2006

Cheers guys

So for the distressor thing select crush, what about ratio... set it to limit? and how many db of GR are you using on the distressor for room mics?

Thanks again

Steve

Mark Warren · 1st December 2006

The C2 can get you in that ballpark, it's definitely not exactly the same thing, but that could be seen as even better, slightly worse, or just different.

The crush mode has its uses. I think the difference in the units is that the Distressor is more user friendly and it's easier to just crank the dials and get it sounding a certain way.

The C2 is a lot touchier. You need to be more aware of the mechanics of compression and how the setting effect things, and spend more time with the unit getting to know the settings - i.e. a few clicks in one direction or the other on some of the C2 controls can be the difference between bad and awesome, while on the Distressor it might all be equally usable for your source.

Notwithstanding the name, you do need to be smarter in your application of compression using the Smart compressor.

Shaman · 1st December 2006

For me personally the CRUSH button allways has been and will be pretty useless.

I wish he would have added a power ON LED instead.

heathen · 2nd December 2006

Crush is great if you run an eq after it to get the desired sound. Superb on strings too.

Aisle 6 · 2nd December 2006

I agree with Mark.
They are just different and the C2 is definitely more sensitive/interactive within it's controls. The crush feature does sound great, but as with the harmonic distortion modes on the Distressor can add up an aweful lot if over used. Once the track gets mastered a little sounds like a lot.
I love the crush feature, but rarely use it. I would love it to be a side chain continuously variable effect.
Now there is a mod for some tech to post.
(I would do it to mine in a flash)
Cheers,
Scott.

bsteeve@ozemail · 2nd December 2006

To answer to you question, No the C2 can't do what the distressors do on room mics. You can slam the distressor up to 30db GR and you still hear something, completly smashed but there is still something coming through, sometime even useable. 30dB GR with the smart.. you might hear some pok pok... but that is about it. The crush look for the mids and hypes them... nothing to do with the Nuke option on the distressors. The smart is useable to me up until 4dB of GR. It has great punch and is super fast, after that, it sucks the life out of everything. Distressors and Smart can't really be compared, they do different thing and I like them both for that reason.

Mastering101 · 2nd December 2006

I have a C2 and never really understood the crush thing. Never found it pleasing to the ears except for effect

stevetgn · 2nd December 2006

I sometimes wish I could have the crush's extra FET compression but without the EQ boost.

Going back to my orginal question... I looks like I need a Distressor!

Mr. Man · 2nd December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdog

The crush mode adds a whacked ratio and agressive high mid eq boost that just flattens eveything like a steamroller then drizzles honey over it. Nice!

Mmmm… tasty.
I've used the Smart and can't say anything bad about it. And I do like 'crush mode' it's not for every application mind you but if the application calls for it than please do.

stevetgn · 10th December 2006

Getting some great results!

Crush on
Ratio to limit
Attack 0.1 or 0.3
Release 100 or auto for less kick in the room mics
Bring threshold down as low as you can before the snare starts going "Pok"
increase make-up gain to get your peak leave back to where it was. about 1.00 normally

The C2 is working great for this. A small amount of the stereo "crushed" room mic track is making the kit sound superb!

RoundBadge · 10th December 2006

C2 crush has some great uses..
- great for adding a fantastic aggresive parallel drum/bass/vocal sub..
sometimes just one channel brought straight up the middle with a bunch of stuff shoved through it in a rock mix thumbsup

stevetgn · 10th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

C2 crush has some great uses..
- great for adding a fantastic aggresive parallel drum/bass/vocal sub..
sometimes just one channel brought straight up the middle with a bunch of stuff shoved through it in a rock mix thumbsup

Explain what you're doing better?

zak7 · 10th December 2006

yeah..did not get it!

Sarusan · 10th December 2006

I'm a huge fan of the Distressor but haven't used one on room mics in years. A C2 in crush mode is one of my top choices for room mics. As with many of the other great boxes, not a lot of gain reduction has to happen for it to do it's thing.

Steven

six_wax · 10th December 2006

Karma Police?

robot gigante · 12th December 2006

I dig the C2 on Crush mode (EQ needed!) or off depending on the situation.

But for squashing room mics I would pick a couple of the other compressors in the rack before I would reach for a Distressor myself.

1176 all buttons in (or not) is a classic example. Spectrasonics 610 is another.

There are a couple cheapos that are pretty brutal in a good way that I use too.

I just never seem to get the pump I want out of the Distressors. A lot of times I want something that clamps down hard enough that it would go pok pok with 30 db of compression (I'm not using 30db obviously). Maybe it's just me though.

long-liveanalog · 12th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevetgn

I've not yet had the pleasure of using one but I understand the Distressor is great on room mics for the drum kit. Obviously never having used one I don't know what it does soundwise, so my question to those that have used both is can I get my AS C2 to do a similar thing and how should I be setting it?

Cheers guys

Steve

I actually prefer my C2 on room mics over my distressors. Personal taste I guess. I use my Distressors on kick and snare almost exclusively though.

3rd world order · 12th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by effectsnut

I have a C2 and never really understood the crush thing. Never found it pleasing to the ears except for effect

try it on a drum room, electric bass, or vocals

crush = crispy

3rd world order · 12th December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

C2 crush has some great uses..
- great for adding a fantastic aggresive parallel drum/bass/vocal sub..
sometimes just one channel brought straight up the middle with a bunch of stuff shoved through it in a rock mix thumbsup

the free SSL talkback compressor plug is cool for this thing too... basically the same idea but crush will give you more top end..

Led · 12th December 2006

C2 on crush, send a mult of the whole mix to it, blend back in with the original.
"Excitement"

ToddF · 12th December 2006

I just hit the rooms mics, 414's through API 4:1 ratio with the C2 med attack auto release.
It maintains a sound that is not over the top but makes the room more explosive and brighter.
C2 crush will do the over top sound as does the Distressor. The C2 it brighter to my ears.

Peace, Todd

1st December 2006	#1
stevetgn Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Location: ITB now unfortunately! Posts: 1,725 Thread Starter	Can a Smart C2 do the Distressor Drum Room Mic Thing? I've not yet had the pleasure of using one but I understand the Distressor is great on room mics for the drum kit. Obviously never having used one I don't know what it does soundwise, so my question to those that have used both is can I get my AS C2 to do a similar thing and how should I be setting it? Cheers guys Steve

2nd December 2006	#7
heathen Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,525	Crush is great if you run an eq after it to get the desired sound. Superb on strings too. __________________ If you don't like it don't do it, its like banging your head into a brick wall, you always feel better once you stop. http://au.myspace.com/mandalatheband http://www.myspace.com/lizard42c http://www.myspace.com/eggshellrecords http://www.underworldmusicproductions.com http://www.myspace.com/poetlaureatte http://www.myspace.com/thanorthernlightscrew http://www.myspace.com/originaldrzeus

2nd December 2006	#8
Aisle 6 Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,233	C2 vs Distressor I agree with Mark. They are just different and the C2 is definitely more sensitive/interactive within it's controls. The crush feature does sound great, but as with the harmonic distortion modes on the Distressor can add up an aweful lot if over used. Once the track gets mastered a little sounds like a lot. I love the crush feature, but rarely use it. I would love it to be a side chain continuously variable effect. Now there is a mod for some tech to post. (I would do it to mine in a flash) Cheers, Scott.

12th December 2006	#24
ToddF Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 641	I just hit the rooms mics, 414's through API 4:1 ratio with the C2 med attack auto release. It maintains a sound that is not over the top but makes the room more explosive and brighter. C2 crush will do the over top sound as does the Distressor. The C2 it brighter to my ears. Peace, Todd __________________ Todd Fitzgerald Producer/Engineer Winterland Studios Minneapolis API Legacy + http://www.winterlandstudios.com

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1st December 2006	#2
kellyd Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Austin Posts: 1,243	I love my distressors on rooms but the C2 in crush mode is pretty cool. It s a different thing on rooms but when I have to use distressors for other tracks the C2 rocks. Adjust att, rel accordingly.

1st December 2006	#3
cdog Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 3,559 3 Reviews written	The crush mode adds a whacked ratio and agressive high mid eq boost that just flattens eveything like a steamroller then drizzles honey over it. Nice!

1st December 2006	#5
Mark Warren Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2005 Location: USA Posts: 661	The C2 can get you in that ballpark, it's definitely not exactly the same thing, but that could be seen as even better, slightly worse, or just different. The crush mode has its uses. I think the difference in the units is that the Distressor is more user friendly and it's easier to just crank the dials and get it sounding a certain way. The C2 is a lot touchier. You need to be more aware of the mechanics of compression and how the setting effect things, and spend more time with the unit getting to know the settings - i.e. a few clicks in one direction or the other on some of the C2 controls can be the difference between bad and awesome, while on the Distressor it might all be equally usable for your source. Notwithstanding the name, you do need to be smarter in your application of compression using the Smart compressor.

1st December 2006	#6
Shaman Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,695	For me personally the CRUSH button allways has been and will be pretty useless. I wish he would have added a power ON LED instead.

2nd December 2006	#9
bsteeve@ozemail Gear nut Joined: May 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 104	To answer to you question, No the C2 can't do what the distressors do on room mics. You can slam the distressor up to 30db GR and you still hear something, completly smashed but there is still something coming through, sometime even useable. 30dB GR with the smart.. you might hear some pok pok... but that is about it. The crush look for the mids and hypes them... nothing to do with the Nuke option on the distressors. The smart is useable to me up until 4dB of GR. It has great punch and is super fast, after that, it sucks the life out of everything. Distressors and Smart can't really be compared, they do different thing and I like them both for that reason.

2nd December 2006	#10
Mastering101 Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Location: ma. Posts: 1,534 1 Review written	I have a C2 and never really understood the crush thing. Never found it pleasing to the ears except for effect

10th December 2006	#13
stevetgn Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Location: ITB now unfortunately! Posts: 1,725 Thread Starter	Getting some great results! Crush on Ratio to limit Attack 0.1 or 0.3 Release 100 or auto for less kick in the room mics Bring threshold down as low as you can before the snare starts going "Pok" increase make-up gain to get your peak leave back to where it was. about 1.00 normally The C2 is working great for this. A small amount of the stereo "crushed" room mic track is making the kit sound superb!

10th December 2006	#14
RoundBadge Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles ,Ca. Posts: 8,853	C2 crush has some great uses.. - great for adding a fantastic aggresive parallel drum/bass/vocal sub.. sometimes just one channel brought straight up the middle with a bunch of stuff shoved through it in a rock mix thumbsup

10th December 2006	#16
zak7 Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 756	yeah..did not get it!

10th December 2006	#17
Sarusan Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 282	I'm a huge fan of the Distressor but haven't used one on room mics in years. A C2 in crush mode is one of my top choices for room mics. As with many of the other great boxes, not a lot of gain reduction has to happen for it to do it's thing. Steven

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10th December 2006	#18
six_wax Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,102	Karma Police?

12th December 2006	#19
robot gigante Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2003 Location: out west Posts: 3,994 3 Reviews written	I dig the C2 on Crush mode (EQ needed!) or off depending on the situation. But for squashing room mics I would pick a couple of the other compressors in the rack before I would reach for a Distressor myself. 1176 all buttons in (or not) is a classic example. Spectrasonics 610 is another. There are a couple cheapos that are pretty brutal in a good way that I use too. I just never seem to get the pump I want out of the Distressors. A lot of times I want something that clamps down hard enough that it would go pok pok with 30 db of compression (I'm not using 30db obviously). Maybe it's just me though.

12th December 2006	#23
Led Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,728	C2 on crush, send a mult of the whole mix to it, blend back in with the original. "Excitement"