Which is the best mastering compressor plugin ?

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by Digital Network

Which is the best mastering compressor plugin ?

insert pic of an XLR cable "plugging in" to a Rupert Neve MBP

JT

[EIDERDOWN]

The Glue

2nd choice: Klanghelm DC8C or Elysia Alpha

[Liam Judah]

Great discussion! I really like the elysia alpha and brainworx vertigo vsc 2. Have some of the options others have mentioned, but I usually reach for one of these first.

[Macaroni]

I've become a recent convert to Paul Frindle's Dynamic Spectrum Mapper...

Pro Audio DSP - Professional Audio Plugins - Audio Units, Pro Tools and VST for Mac and PC

It's a new concept instead of an emulation of something old. It is brilliant in its concept and application. It's also on sale now at Plugin Alliance. I use it on individual tracks too.

Check out his video...

http://vimeo.com/2365432

BTW, Paul Frindle was the lead designer on the SSL boards and the Sony Oxford digital console. He mentioned in a thread here that, knowing what he knows, he would never use a lot of the old SSL stuff, like the buss comp.

[Muser]

I often like T-Racks 1. there's 4 devices in that though but, they all work very well together. when problems arise in one compressor you can often counteract it with the other compressor or a little of it's EQ. to the point where you don't really hear any extra EQ but some mid or top might dynamically bloom and keep the compressor open just long enough to bring something to life in a very musical way.

[nomatic]

The Dynamic spectrum mapper is really innovative and useful!

[eliran-complex]

My glue compressor for mastering is the Waves PuigChild 670!

[mftorso]

This Dynamic Spectrum Mapper is a pretty crazy device after having watched the videos! Will have to try. I'm wary of "fix-all" devices (vocal rider et al). At the least, as a de-esser, DSM seems very powerful and as new/diff. as it seems to be, definitely warrants a good working over. Considering the source it can't be easily dismissed.

As for the SW compressors, I've grown to love the Alpha comp in a mastering context, for numerous reasons. Sidechain HP control is often crucial. M/S dynamics are extremely helpful when dealing nasty transients-snares, harsh vocals for ex. Parallel mix capability is major. It does nice-and-easy, and crushing, equally well. Up and down compression, too. The oversampling continues to surprise when picking up gain, pre-brickwall.
Much as I'd like to ditch (and do when I can) brickwall, it's comforting to get good average volumes up w/out having to rely on the limiter.
As for SW limiters I tend to go with the UA Precision for more open, acoustic work, the Pro-L for more dense applications.

Highly recommended, the Alpha comp, though it takes some time to get comfortable with, imo.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Macaroni

I've become a recent convert to Paul Frindle's Dynamic Spectrum Mapper...

Pro Audio DSP - Professional Audio Plugins - Audio Units, Pro Tools and VST for Mac and PC

It's a new concept instead of an emulation of something old. It is brilliant in its concept and application. It's also on sale now at Plugin Alliance. I use it on individual tracks too.

Check out his video...

Dynamic Spectrum Mapper introduction on Vimeo

BTW, Paul Frindle was the lead designer on the SSL boards and the Sony Oxford digital console. He mentioned in a thread here that, knowing what he knows, he would never use a lot of the old SSL stuff, like the buss comp.

[Macaroni]

The DSM takes a bit to wrap your head around setting up the profile, but after that it's straight forward. Go to presets and use the startup preset. It's exaggerated but it's used to set the profile for the loudest part of the song. Then save the profile and setup the comp like a regular comp and load the profile. He explains it in the video.

I recently replaced the UAD Precision Limiter with the Flux Elixir and it is much more transparent and clean/clear, which benefits my music much more.