Gyratec X, Thermionic Phoenix... anything else?

[Tom H]

Looking for a nice vari-mu comp to use for mastering and mixbus duties. I had the Phoenix on demo here for a while and absolutely loved the way it can glue and achieve clarity in a mix.

Are there any other comps for me to check out with similar qualities? The Gyratec X seems like a very interesting one.

I realize there are loads and loads of threads on vari-mu's and they all end up praising the phoenix but I would love to find out about some other hidden gems out there.

Cheers,

Tommy

[Cellotron]

Well obviously there's the Manley Vari-Mu to consider.
On the cleaner side of things is the Pendulum ES-8 - Pendulum ES-8 Remote Cutoff Tube Limiter
And there's a new company called Knif that this really nice looking unit out now - Knif Vari-Mu

Never heard of it before but a Google search led me to the Imbir "Terminator" -
Terminator VARI MU Compressor / Imbir

I'm sure there's a few other options out there as well.

regarding the Phoenix - I had a non-mastering version in here for a demo and I ended up passing in that it's controls felt very "tweaky" to me with parameters interacting with each other a little too much for my taste to easily dial in what I was desiring - and the build quality felt just a tiny on the "light weight" side to me with recalls most likely very difficult (although I'm sure the mastering version would work better than this). Also it tended to leave a very strong coloration onto the audio which I felt was just a little on the veiled side which I felt would make me not want to ever use it as much as my other options. Obviously OMMV!

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[gyraf]

Hi Tommy,

UA176 reissue
Fairman
Tubetec


There is a Gyraf distributor right in your neighborhood - "Helios pro audio solutions" (helios.nl) who has units for demo purposes. You may want to check them out.

Jakob Erland
Gyraf Audio

[Ben F]

Originally Posted by Cellotron

regarding the Phoenix - I had a non-mastering version in here for a demo and I ended up passing in that it's controls felt very "tweaky" to me with parameters interacting with each other a little too much for my taste to easily dial in what I was desiring - and the build quality felt just a tiny on the "light weight" side to me with recalls most likely very difficult (although I'm sure the mastering version would work better than this). Also it tended to leave a very strong coloration onto the audio which I felt was just a little on the veiled side which I felt would make me not want to ever use it as much as my other options. Obviously OMMV!

Best regards,
Steve Berson

Interesting, as I've always found at lower drive settings it can be quite transparent or really aggressive at higher drive settings. The mastering version is meant to be more subtle but I like the standard version.

The phoenix internally is completely hand wired- no circuit boards. It's built like a tank. Quite refreshing to see this type of design now days.

[Tom H]

Originally Posted by Cellotron

Well obviously there's the Manley Vari-Mu to consider.
On the cleaner side of things is the Pendulum ES-8 - Pendulum ES-8 Remote Cutoff Tube Limiter
And there's a new company called Knif that this really nice looking unit out now - Knif Vari-Mu

Never heard of it before but a Google search led me to the Imbir "Terminator" -
Terminator VARI MU Compressor / Imbir

I'm sure there's a few other options out there as well.

Thanks for the links Steve, a few new for me. The Knif particularly looks nice, it seems this one leans most towards a Fairchild sound. I have an ANM660 of wich I originally tried a couple on the bus, wich sounds cool but a little too dense and fat sometimes for some mixes. Absolutely stunning for vocals and bass but not so much for mix bus IMO.
It looks as if the Knif can do both. (phoenix/fairchild)

I noticed HCL also makes a Vari-Mu

[Adam Dempsey]

We tried out the Pheonix as well and simply found far more flexibility, musicality & frequency of use in the Vertigo VSC-2 – granted that other colour options were covered.

[Tom H]

Originally Posted by gyraf

Hi Tommy,

UA176 reissue
Fairman
Tubetec


There is a Gyraf distributor right in your neighborhood - "Helios pro audio solutions" (helios.nl) who has units for demo purposes. You may want to check them out.

Jakob Erland
Gyraf Audio

Cheers, I certainly will try it out. The people at helios are nice folks and are indeed right around the corner, didn't know they caried Gyraf. I know they have the Charter Oak comp too it would also be interesting to compare it with that one. (allthough a different topology..)

Is it possible to order a version of Gyratec X with a HPF SC in the future?

[Ben F]

Originally Posted by Adam Dempsey

We tried out the Pheonix as well and simply found far more flexibility, musicality & frequency of use in the Vertigo VSC-2 – granted that other colour options were covered.

Well, there you go. Neither Adam or I could get into the Vertigo at all. It goes to show most of this comes down to personal taste.

[gyraf]

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

Is it possible to order a version of Gyratec X with a HPF SC in the future?

Yes, we have a standard mod for that - the G10/hpf - where three additional sidechain highpass frequencies can be switched in - located as extra steps on the bypass switch.

Jakob Erland
Gyraf Audio

[Delta Heavy]

Originally Posted by Ben F

Well, there you go. Neither Adam or I could get into the Vertigo at all. It goes to show most of this comes down to personal taste.

mind me asking why?

[Adam Dempsey]

Originally Posted by Ben F

Well, there you go. Neither Adam or I could get into the Vertigo at all. It goes to show most of this comes down to personal taste.

No it was the Pheonix that just didn't do it for us. Love the Vertigo, for the reasons I mentioned, above.

[CT Yankee]

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

Cheers, I certainly will try it out. The people at helios are nice folks and are indeed right around the corner, didn't know they caried Gyraf. I know they have the Charter Oak comp too it would also be interesting to compare it with that one. (allthough a different topology..)

Is it possible to order a version of Gyratec X with a HPF SC in the future?

If you do get the SCL-1 from Helios, please don't hesitate to call me directly with any questions regarding its set up and calibration, and take a quick second to look at the manual before use. The SCL-1 is very unique and you will have a fantastic experience with it if you gain an understanding of its operating principles.

The unit will not pump, gasp or distort. The unit automatically differentiates between staccato and legato waveforms and automatically gives you the appropriate release characteristic for those waveforms unless you manually override this by turning the release time control counter clockwise from (10), thus slowing down the release time and taking it off auto.

The unit will also only return to the constantly changing average level, totally eliminating, audible rush-up and compression artifacts from over compensation. You will also find that even when doing HEAVY compression, these is NO distortion and NO loss of top end, two things we've all grown to expect out of even the most expensive boxes.

Best Regards,
MD

Michael Deming
CharterOak Acoustic Devices
47 Pearl St.
Enfield, CT. 06082 USA

PH - 8606989794
FAX - 8606989812
MOBILE - 8606553328

CharterOak Acoustic Devices : Professional Audio Equipment for the Recording Industry