Drawmer 1968me or not?

[gouge]

i'd do it. that's a very good price. think the one i use was about $1050

i've done plenty of direct comparisons between the drawmer and the original art vla pro. the drawmer is in every way a better unit. it has a more transparent compression section and still retains some of the smooth warmth the art has.

the drawmer does not make the audio sound smaller where as the art just takes something away. the drawmer is more open sounding so things are enclined to sound bigger.

also the art struggles to keep up with dynamic material where as the drawmer doesn't

the downside with the drawmer are the limited controls but it's a small price to pay.

i use both units but will not track through the art where as the drawmer gets used for tracking vox and drums regularly. i don't like master buss compression but have used the drawmer there and it is fine. adds a subtle sheen and smoothness that makes stuff fsound better. it's just i don't dig master buss compression and tend to do my compression on the group busses or channels.

[siniarch]

Thanks Gouge. I appreciate the time you took to write that. I'm almost there. ahahhaha. Why is it so hard to say not to audio gear.

[swafford]

Fair price, but not unusual. Great compressor, I had one for a bit as well as a VLA. In my opinion it's a much superior comp. I sold mine for $900 (which is what I bought it for) when I moved to a Pendulum. You certainly would get your money out of it if you decided not to keep it. The ART not so much.

[siniarch]

Swafford,
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. That's exactly what I needed to hear. I want it but right now I best be using the gear I've already bought. If I can get it at 900 again, I think I'll wait.
Thank you.

[gizeh12]

I wouldnt do it. They lose value, and there are better cheaper alternatives.

[gouge]

definitely interested in hearing of cheaper alternatives.

[siniarch]

Gitzeh12,
I think most units lose value (the good ones not so much) but I'm not worried about it if I get to use it and it works well.
The issue here is that I don't really need it right away (I WANT IT, but don't need it) and if the price was a steal and something I would probably not come across in the future, then I would get it because of the price. But since I could probably get it later at the same price, then I can wait.

As for other options that are cheaper and better, I would love to hear your suggestions.

Thank you.

[johnnyc]

The 1968 is way better than both the VLA and RNC. $900 is a fair price, if you can afford it go for it.

[siniarch]

Thanks Johnnyc. I do believe 900 is fair. I think I should hold off and do more recording and use my gear more before I take a jump to a better compressor. I will in the future take the leap, but since $900 is fair, I should be able to find it again at that price.
For once I'm not jumping to buy a piece of gear. This is healthy for me. hahaha

[swafford]

Originally Posted by siniarch

Swafford,
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. That's exactly what I needed to hear. I want it but right now I best be using the gear I've already bought. If I can get it at 900 again, I think I'll wait.
Thank you.

That's always a good plan.

If you do Ebay, you can set up saved searches and it will deliver current item availability by email. If your patient, at some point you'll most likely see the same price or cheaper. Make sure your search is all of music and not just pro gear. It took me a year of waiting, but I finally picked up an unused, open box RND Portico 5043 for $900 that was listed in the DJ section. Whoops!

The 1968 is on my list of comps to have (again). It really is a great bus comp and at a great price point.

[scruffydog]

I have one and use it but it is problematic.
i would check out something else....JDK looks good.
I notice the built seems really good too when i saw one at KMR.

[gizeh12]

Alternative:
Gyraf
Plugins (x-comp,elysia)

Used a 1968 at a project studio on quite a few tracks, dont get me wrong it served me well. But now im inclined to use the gyraf or stick with plugs. I just like how the gyraf responds to the low mids a bit better.

@Sin
Right now in 2012 i think 900-1000 bucks for the 1968 is just not enough value, although its a good unit.
I dont know if the 1968 is that unit you want touse for tracking either, but i don't have too much experience with that.

[sleepyhollos]

Originally Posted by gizeh12

Alternative:
Gyraf
Plugins (x-comp,elysia)

Used a 1968 at a project studio on quite a few tracks, dont get me wrong it served me well. But now im inclined to use the gyraf or stick with plugs. I just like how the gyraf responds to the low mids a bit better.

@Sin
Right now in 2012 i think 900-1000 bucks for the 1968 is just not enough value, although its a good unit.
I dont know if the 1968 is that unit you want touse for tracking either, but i don't have too much experience with that.

I think that $900 for a 1968me is a good price, though I am going from conversion to the UK and they tend to swap hands for around £800 here when they do come up. I don't really go in for bus compression much myself but I do have a Gyraf SSL bus compressor clone, the Waves SSL plugs and a 1968 and can definitely say that the 68me will out perform all of them for tracking duties. The Gyraf is good but it's not as versatile as the 1968. The ability to drive the tube some on the 68me is a nice tool to have. At $900 I would definitely say go for it. Buy it with the intention of tying your money up for a month or two, then sell it on. I'd be loath to think you'll lose much if anything. That way you'll know the unit and if you want to get one sometime in the future then you'll know what you're buying and be experienced in it's sound. If not then nothing really lost.

I think we can all have opinions which are all valid but the best test is to buy, try and sell if you don't like it or feel it's giving you $900 of use.

Good luck mate

[gyraf]

There are several different Gyraf compressors - as diy the Gssl and G1176, and then the commercial G2-G3-G10-G19-G20 types..

Jakob E.