Any thoughts on the Fabfilter Pro-C compressor?

[Suade]

Have any of you given the Fabfilter Pro-C a try in a mastering context? Somebody mentioned it to me over the weekend but I can't find much in the way of opinions of it here.

I'd like a modern gui software compressor of some sort and this looks like it could fit the bill. Also considering Flux Solera so if any of you have made comparisons please share your thoughts...

[synthoid]

I have both Solera and Pro-C. I'm not a (real) mastering engineer although I make a lot of rough masters. I do use both of these plug-ins when mixing.

I have never really taken to Pro-C. In particular I do not care for it as a bus compressor, certainly not for the master bus. For one thing, I find that it doesn't give fine enough control for mastering duties. I've used it on a few lead vocals, but even then there are many other compressors that I much prefer. (I generally like Fabfilter's plug-ins FWIW.)

Solera on the other hand is wonderful on the master bus. It's very transparent, gives you a ton of controls, and can do some very nice expansion, downward compression, etc. that can be used gingerly on the master bus sometimes to good effect. It's my favorite ITB compressor overall. The only downside to it is that it takes longer to set up than most compressors because of the huge number of controls. Takes a while to learn too. Pro-C is the other extreme, its interface is very simple.

IMO for mastering duties there's no contest between these two.

-synthoid

[Suade]

Thanks Synthoid,

Your appraisal of the Pro-C is kind of what I'd expected. It isn't described as a mastering compressor on the Fabfilter site. Nevermind.... I liked the look of the interface....

[TacklingDummy]

I'm looking for a versatile compressor to go along with Ableton live. I have PSP Old Timer and am looking for another good versatile compressor. I'm using the Sonalksis 315 and Fabfilter pro-c demos right now. I'm deciding between the two unless there is another someone can steer me towards.

I've dug around this forum for a few days. The Sonalksis is highly recommended. The Fabfilter also has some great feedback, but it's newer and I suppose it has made fewer rounds. I do like the graphic feedback it offers.

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by TacklingDummy

I'm looking for a versatile compressor to go along with Ableton live. I have PSP Old Timer and am looking for another good versatile compressor. I'm using the Sonalksis 315 and Fabfilter pro-c demos right now. I'm deciding between the two unless there is another someone can steer me towards.

I've dug around this forum for a few days. The Sonalksis is highly recommended. The Fabfilter also has some great feedback, but it's newer and I suppose it has made fewer rounds. I do like the graphic feedback it offers.

well, I don't want to talk you out of a plug-in, but I really like Live's own compressor compared to either of those. It looks very simple and doesn't have a very satisfying display I guess, but you can get a LOT of different sounds out of it between the three comp models (FF1, FF2, FB) and the three attack modes (peak, rms, opto).

Between the Pro-C and the 315 I'd recommend the latter though...

-synthoid

[Suade]

Yes - Ableton's compressor is great to use. I find the interface really satisfyingly simple and quick to get the basic sound I want. I love the range of the knee control and frequently use it on maximum to get a vari-mu type response. The graphic display is fun and informative with its bouncing ball jumping up and down the transfer function graph. Unfortunately the sound isn't really up to scratch for mastering IMO.

I'd be happy to find something with a similar interface but with stunning sound too....

I'm starting to wonder if a Weiss DS-1 might be the sort of thing...?

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by Suade

Unfortunately the sound isn't really up to scratch for mastering IMO.

I'd be happy to find something with a similar interface but with stunning sound too....

I'm starting to wonder if a Weiss DS-1 might be the sort of thing...?

Right, as I say I'm no mastering engineer but if I were I would not use Live's compressor for mastering. Sounds like you find Solera's interface to be a little daunting maybe? Which is understandable because it's kind of the other extreme from Live's interface let alone Pro-C's. I have never tried it, but I wonder about Flux's Compressor product. As I understand it, it is something like just the compressor section of Solera (i.e., no expander etc.) with a simplified interface. If it sounds like Solera it would certainly be suitable for mastering duties.

I'm not familiar with the Weiss...

-synthoid