Cheap Compressor

[feckinedgit]

I am looking for a cheap compressor /limiter to make drum recordings sound more professional....
I`m not looking for amazing quality, just something to do the job.

I know Behringer get a whipping here, but I have a behringer desk, bass amp and a few other bits and think they give a good bang for your buck.

Any thoughts on one of these?

Behringer Composer Pro-XL MDX2600 Expander/Gate/Compressor

[lordwesley]

You can really hear those things working, not in a good way unfortunately. They're packed full of unusable features and flashy lights that won't be of any help in the real world. If that's the price range i'd look for something that's just a compressor and doesn't try to do everything else too. Samson S-Com? Haven't tried one in a studio, but a similar price and without all the flashy lights.

[Keldog]

I've got one of the 2600's and to be honest, it really doesn't get much use. I bought it in a fit of G.A.S.

It has some cool lights tho...

IMHO...I think you'd be happier with say a RNC or the ART Pro VLA.

my 2 pesos........Kel

[bike guy]

I have a couple cheapo compressors (Behringer and dbx) and while they are better than mixing with nothing, they aren't very useful. I also have a Presonus Bluemax which I bought used on ebay for about 70 bux. Love it. It can be really really helpful on kick and snare and I find other uses for it all the time. Some people compare it to the RNC but I wouldn't know.

[lordwesley]

"better than mixing with nothing, they aren't very useful"

I think that pretty much sums it up nicely. If you want to make it sound 'more professional' i don't think its the way to go. For a bit more you could get a TC C300 which i like or an RNC (heard good things about, mostly here). These would probably stay in your rack for a long time until quite a substantial upgrade and beyond.

[olivia_nb]

FMR RNC is really great for the money, they work pretty much transparently if you need them to. Not any "mojo" (whatever the hell that means to you) so they don't get a lot of love on GS, but I know tons of people around here have at least one.
The only unfortunate thing is that they're true stereo and not dual mono, so for drums you need one unit for each piece (except stereo overheads or stereo room setups, you could probably use stereo for those, probably...)
But they're really really really clean and nice for the money, they can usualy be had for under $150 used and you can fit 3 to a single space rack.
I own 2 and an RNLA, love them!

[dasoundjunkie]

The Pro VLA and the RNC are great units( have both) but if your budget allows for it get a Chameleon Labs 7720. I just got 2 of them and I'm reeeeeeally happy with them!!! No they don't sound like SSLs but they DO sound great and the sidechain detector circuit is the shit.(in a very good way)
So far I've tried them on Drum buss, 2 buss, electric guitars and drum OH and have been very pleased with the results.
Hope this helps

[warhead]

Pro VLA would be a great reach really, and add character that I think you would enjoy on drums.

The Joemeek MC2 is actually a decent little unit for low dough.

War

[dj.el]

I got my RNC for $190, new. Best bang for your buck!

[getreel]

Look into some of the old Ashly. You can get them on the cheap and they are usually great. Also some Symetrix comps are great.

[MickeySmid]

RNC is really nice to bring down dynamics on drums a bit. But don't expect miracles. Pro's here will tell you they don't use much compression on drums, destroys the trancient and dynamics. Won't add a lot of punch. You can make your drums pump with it... but you can do that with almost any software plugin I think (abuse).

Perhaps, using a software limiter (you know the abbyroad one or even a free one) will give you more mojo (punch and color) than a rnc or a behringer.

But having a RNC is great... also when recording a vocalist that goes from loud to less loud to really loud. I use them on my drum overheads all the time while recording. It's a stereo unit 2 channel, but not really 2 channel. You can't use one for snare, and the other for bd... read up on it.

Art Pro VLA is nice, tube thing... also, quite clean I thought. Not very very much mojo there... still a great box for the $... def.


ciauw,
Mickey

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by feckinedgit

I am looking for a cheap compressor /limiter to make drum recordings sound more professional....
I`m not looking for amazing quality, just something to do the job.

I know Behringer get a whipping here, but I have a behringer desk, bass amp and a few other bits and think they give a good bang for your buck.

Any thoughts on one of these?

Behringer Composer Pro-XL MDX2600 Expander/Gate/Compressor

For drums, dbx compression is used on countless hit records. Given your budget, you're in luck as you have a few NICE dbx options:

1. Tho the dbx 160VU is out of your budget, it's little brother dbx 119 (consumer stereo model with RCA jacks) is extremely affordable and sounds just like it. You can pick up one of these for <$100 on Ebay. I own two and I've used these on distorted guitar to get a really cool, telephone-like effect.

2. the dbx 166 (not the A or XL models) is a great little unit and found in MANY upper end studios. They can be had for $100 on Ebay as well. I own two.

3. If you have some to invest, the dbx 160X are very nice units and are found in nearly every studio in the world. They run ~$300 each used on Ebay.

4. If you care to invest a little more, you can pick up a dbx 900 lunchbox for ~$100 and the dbx 903 studio compressor for ~$100 to $150 each. These are really nice units.

[blarg]

+1 on the RNC - Does good things on kick and snare, and more.

+1 on The Ashly (in this case sc 55)- Found those sounding pretty good on Guitar leads as well. Seen them for less than 100. Definitely worth checking out.

High-end plug-ins for Pro Tools If your running it. The Massey Plugins. Awesome stuff.

[Stevil]

as stated above FMR RNC, Art Pro VLA & DBX get the most plugs for low end compression around here.

[lrieves]

yeah, as an owner of the behringer compressor, it totally sucks. i'm not really even sure why i bought it... i think i just wanted to fill up a rack space when i first started out... but if you really want one, i'll sell you mine!

[Keldog]

Originally Posted by lrieves

i'm not really even sure why i bought it...

I'm tellin ya man...it's the lights. Very cool lights.

[bike guy]

Sometimes I'll run a vocal track through both behringer channels in series. Trying to get the damn thing to do something. But at that point you're walking a fine line between 'character' and 'poo' ...

[Stevil]

Originally Posted by Keldog

I'm tellin ya man...it's the lights. Very cool lights.

that reminds me, i need to park a couple lights behind my Algorithmic Prosecutor.

[kragg]

Hi all

I see Art Pro VLA seems much praised : does it work well on beats and basses ?

Would it work better than the cheapos Samson S-com or ALesis 3630 ?

Thank you !

[Kadden Heart]

Originally Posted by bike guy

I have a couple cheapo compressors (Behringer and dbx) and while they are better than mixing with nothing, they aren't very useful. I also have a Presonus Bluemax which I bought used on ebay for about 70 bux. Love it. It can be really really helpful on kick and snare and I find other uses for it all the time. Some people compare it to the RNC but I wouldn't know.

i had absolutely nothing for basis but i just won an ebay bid for a bluemax.
lol

i'm thinking about strapping it across my PT 2-buss

but it will probably jsut end up being used for guitars or something.

i'm also thinking about getting the 266xl i've used it before and really like it,..dont know why....but i dig it.

[jdier]

Originally Posted by dj.el

I got my RNC for $190, new. Best bang for your buck!

You read my mind.

+1 on the RNC for drums.