UA Twin 1176

[StelfoxAudio]

I've heard a few reviews saying that the 1176 is great on single instruments and drum tracks but not as great on stereo mixes. Have you tried using the Twin 1176 in mastering and if you did, what did you think? Are there other compressors that are better for mastering?

[OnlineMastering]

Originally Posted by StelfoxAudio

I've heard a few reviews saying that the 1176 is great on single instruments and drum tracks but not as great on stereo mixes. Have you tried using the Twin 1176 in mastering and if you did, what did you think? Are there other compressors that are better for mastering?

I only have the UAD-2 software version, and what you've heard I think is true. The 1176 is superb in production/mixing, on vocal-track and whatever needed.
I never use it one a stereo-mix for mastering though. Plenty of software compressors, you can check out i.e DDMF NYCompressor.

[StelfoxAudio]

What other outboard compressors can you guys recommend that sound great on most mixes?

[ThatSoundsWHAMMY]

Originally Posted by StelfoxAudio

What other outboard compressors can you guys recommend that sound great on most mixes?

Alta Moda The Unicomp
API 2500
Chandler Limited TG12413 Zener Limiter
Charter Oak SCL1
Crane Song STC-8
Danfield Audio 726 Compressor
Dramastic Audio Obsidian
D.W. Fearn VT-7
Eosteric Audio Research 660 (you'll need two of these!)
Elysia Alpha Compressor
Elysia Mpressor
Fairman TMC
GML 2030 (i really want to try this one out - anyone have any experence with this unit???)
Gyraf Vari-Mu Compressor
Hoef Audio Dynamic Master
Imbir Terminator Vari-Mu Compressor
IGS Audio Tubecore Vari-Mu Compressor (it looks like IGS is the same company as Imbir or maybe they're a branch off from Imbir?! i don't know...)
Knif Audio Vari-Mu II
Knif Audio Pure-Mu
Manley Vari-Mu
Manley Mastering Slam
Maselec MLA-3(multiband)
Millennia TCL-2
Pendulum Audio OCL-2
Pendulum Audio ES-8
Requisite Audio L2M
Ridge Farm Audio The Boiler (well this is clearly not a mastering compressor, but i always wanted to hear what it did to the mix buss - just for laughs really)
Shadow Hills Industries Mastering Compressor (their web page sucks so here's a link to vintageking)
Signal Audio Workshop Gainrider
Summit Audio DCL-200
Thermionic Culture The Phoenix
Tube Equipment Corporation SR-71
Tube Tech SMC-2BM (multiband)
Vertigo Sound VSC-2
Weiss DS1

Do these units sound great - Yes
Do these units sound great on most mixes - Debatable

Here you go. A few compressors to do some research on. By the way this is only the tip of the iceberg.
A lot of the above compressors are not "mastering grade" as such.
However if a mastering engineer can make them work to good effect then they are by definition mastering grade.

Hope this helps...

[KRStudio]

I have (and use) the 2-1176 and it is a nice comp. Really good for drum buss but not as good as 2 blackface 1176's. I can't see either of these being very good for mastering or on master buss.

[pmx]

i've tried one a year ago, because there was one laying around in the mix room. found it not very suitable for mastering, a bit too edgy to control. too fast for me, and the gain structure didn't suit me well in a fixed chain.

[thephatboi]

yep, great for drums, not a mixbus or mastering compressor. Tracking individual instruments and drum bus is where it shines.