help with $1k for compressor/other

[tuj]

Sub $1000, what is the best compressor for mixing/mix-down on the stereo buss? I am looking for something that is a 'magic box'. I know no such thing is quite out there, but I hear that the Distressors and some of the other high end comps are apparently awesome, I want a part of that.

I make dance music (FWIW).

I have:
ART VLA II
RNC
Dominator II
Symetrix 425
Symetrix CL-150
MaxCom
TC C300

Right now I use a chain of the maxcom to vla to dominator for mixing. I set the maxcom to meter about 2 db reduction in auto mode, and I run the vla with fast attack and release metering about 1 db reduction; I set the Dominator for max signal level, low end 2db up at 100, pre and de emphasis on, fast release, and try to not let spikes meter more than 10 db reduction, with usually zero going on except for transients. I have other compressors on the drum buss and instruments as needed, and I am mixing on an A&H 2400 board. My room is 'treated' with some foam and foam bass traps, and I monitor on Klipsch KSB 3.1's that I am very familiar with, with a KSS-3 sub. I use a B***** DEQ2496 RTA function to set an EQ curve I work with, and toggle between that and bypass. The target flat EQ curve is far from flat, so obviously I have a number of issues I try to mix around by knowing the speakers.

Please help me with my mix chain. If it would be better spent money on treatment with fiberboard or better monitors, please say so.

[Annex2]

Man, if you can scrape together a few more bucks, you can get a TK Audio BC1. Mercenary Audio has a demo model advertised now for $1,100 that I have my eye on. (Oops, I should have kept that quiet.)

[tuj]

How would the tk audio bc-1 stack up against say a pair of fmr pbc-6a's?

[dpianomn]

Originally Posted by tuj

I hear that the Distressors and some of the other high end comps are apparently awesome, I want a part of that.

Distressors regularly go for $1100 used.

[tuj]

yeah but I'd need a pair hence the stereo buss description.

[dpianomn]

Originally Posted by tuj

yeah but I'd need a pair hence the stereo buss description.

I'm sorry, I missed that.

[Roc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by tuj

How would the tk audio bc-1 stack up against say a pair of fmr pbc-6a's?

WAY different.

The PBC-6A uses Feed-back topology, and has more "grit" [the cool kind] when pushed. The Drive control lets you vary the limiter activation. Its more in the vein of an LA3 in my experience. They are really excellent limiters and perhaps the best $950 stereo compressor out there right now. Surely, this is debatable, but hearing is believing, and I love these new FMR offerings when they are linked together in the various way they can be linked. The TK box is awesome as well, [well worth the price of admission!!!] but is much, much different. It has a smoother gain reduction action, and seems to be very transparent in its "smoothing action". Yet, it will snarl at you if you whisper in its ear the right way.

[tuj]

Thanks Roc. I called you guys up and you recommended the Foote Control Systems P3S. Now obviously the P3S is significantly more expensive. So as I gather it:

P3S: the most flexible, probably the best sounding, but the most expensive.

PBC-6a: more color than the TK. I am a fan of the RNC as I have had two of them for forever now and an RNC resided on my buss for years in SuperNice mode.

TK Audio BC1: the cleanest and least colored.

I want some coloration on the buss, and I'm not looking for that zero-overshoot limiting-type action (I have a dominator for that). Would 2xPBC-6a be sort of a poor man's pair of distressors or P3S? Or is the price of admission on the P3S really worth it?