Mastering and Mixing compressor/limiter - Neve 5043

Digital Network · 13th June 2008, 09:03 AM

Hello,

I'm searching for a compressor. My first hardware compressor.
I'll use it for mixing and maybe for mastering.

I saw Neve 5043 ...

What do you thing about this compressor ?

Cheers,
Vincent

reid · 13th June 2008, 10:49 AM

Vincent,

I was in the same boat last month, looking for a comp to stick on my 2 bus - began demoing an API 2500, a Portico 5043 and a Safe Sound Audio 'Dynamics Toolbox'. I ended up keeping the Toolbox. Two main reasons - it sounds fantastic and it crams a lot of useful features into a single unit. The Portico was good - clear, 'hi-fi' sound, but I found the ergonomics of the box to be just a bit too small and fiddly (this was an old style one, not the new facelifted one - maybe they're a real improvement?) - plus I missed having a VU bouncing up and down to tell me what was happening to the groove of a track. The lack of a sidechain filter I found slightly limiting for 2 bus work - the Portico does have a wonderfully musical way of dealing with low end, but there were times when it couldn't help but pump, and in that respect the other 2 comps won over it.

Both the API and the Portico do their 'thing' really well, but the Toolbox takes everything a step further - built in HPF & LPF on the sidechain (yes on the API, no on the Portico), built in variable parallel compression (no on both API and Portico) and retrofit transformer options for the outputs (no on both API and Portico) all contributed to convincing me this was the right compressor for my work. Still, features are one thing, but no use unless the box sounds good..... To my ears, the Toolbox is beautifully transparent, but glues all the sources coming out of the 2 bus in a very 'euphonic' way. Not really a character type of comp, but even that could be changed if you go for one of the transformer options on the outputs. Apparently the guy who designs and builds these things is an ex-Neve employee - so possibly not that surprising that they sound as good as they do

13th June 2008, 09:03 AM	#1
Digital Network Gear nut Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Marchin - Belgium Posts: 119	Mastering and Mixing compressor/limiter - Neve 5043 Hello, I'm searching for a compressor. My first hardware compressor. I'll use it for mixing and maybe for mastering. I saw Neve 5043 ... What do you thing about this compressor ? Cheers, Vincent __________________ Logic Studio 8.0.2 - Ableton Live 7 - MC Mix (Euphonix) - Nord Rack 2X - Virus TI - Nord Wave - Moog LP - MOTU 828 MKII - MOTU Express 128 - Arturia V-COLLECTION - Korg Legacy AE - Melodyne - SM Pro Audio TB-202 - SE Electronics SE2200A - Flux Mastering Pack - Sonnox Inflator - Platinum Bundle - PSP Effect Bundle - Soundtoys Effect Bundle

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13th June 2008, 10:49 AM	#2
reid Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Berlin-London Posts: 545	Vincent, I was in the same boat last month, looking for a comp to stick on my 2 bus - began demoing an API 2500, a Portico 5043 and a Safe Sound Audio 'Dynamics Toolbox'. I ended up keeping the Toolbox. Two main reasons - it sounds fantastic and it crams a lot of useful features into a single unit. The Portico was good - clear, 'hi-fi' sound, but I found the ergonomics of the box to be just a bit too small and fiddly (this was an old style one, not the new facelifted one - maybe they're a real improvement?) - plus I missed having a VU bouncing up and down to tell me what was happening to the groove of a track. The lack of a sidechain filter I found slightly limiting for 2 bus work - the Portico does have a wonderfully musical way of dealing with low end, but there were times when it couldn't help but pump, and in that respect the other 2 comps won over it. Both the API and the Portico do their 'thing' really well, but the Toolbox takes everything a step further - built in HPF & LPF on the sidechain (yes on the API, no on the Portico), built in variable parallel compression (no on both API and Portico) and retrofit transformer options for the outputs (no on both API and Portico) all contributed to convincing me this was the right compressor for my work. Still, features are one thing, but no use unless the box sounds good..... To my ears, the Toolbox is beautifully transparent, but glues all the sources coming out of the 2 bus in a very 'euphonic' way. Not really a character type of comp, but even that could be changed if you go for one of the transformer options on the outputs. Apparently the guy who designs and builds these things is an ex-Neve employee - so possibly not that surprising that they sound as good as they do