AudioUnit: What URS is to EQ, ??? is to compression.

[Kubilay]

Having just discovered (and immediately purchased) the URS A&N series EQ plug-in, I'm now looking for the same "killer plug" discovery when it comes to AU (or MAS) compressors.

No UAD-1, TC Powercore or similar dongles, please. (iLok is ok, costs a mere $39 and has never caused any conflicts for me.) Obviously no TDM/RTAS.

I have (and like) L3 and Waves RennComp. But now I'm thinking there's probably something out there that can be even better at 'improving' source material, making it either "beefier", "tighter", "bigger", "silkier", or whatever...

In other words, I'm not interested in 'transparent and invisible', I want euphonic plus. Much like the URS EQ plugs, which are not only not transparent, but make everything sound either "bigger and bolder" (A series) or "sweeter and silkier" (N series.) You get the picture.

So, which compressor plugs do this "make it mo better" thing? And please describe them in terms as subjective as you want them to be...

(And skip the "use a real compressor" bit.)

Thanks!

[A Fak]

I know you don't want a dongle, but if you really want some good compressors then you need to get the UAD1 (LA-2A, Fairchild, 1176LN). Plus some nice EQ's like the Cambridge and the Pultec Pro (and i like it better the the URS Fulltec).

But, if your dead set not to go with the UAD1 there are other's that are nice to. The Sonalksis SV-315 (they also make a good eq the SV-517 I think there both a must have), PSP Audio Vintage warmer (never tried it but have heard nothing but good things about it), Metric Halo Channel strip (The best channel strip hands down), and the Elemental Audio Neodynium (you have to check this out!!)

[Toad]

Elemental Audio!!

[peteri]

One word - Sonalksis

[Kubilay]

Please be a bit more descriptive: what is it about the particular compressor that makes it "euphonic plus?" Is it particularly aggressive? Sweet-sounding? Velvety? Tight? Again, I'm not interested in transparent, I'm looking for a compressor that's making itself heard in one way or another.

And please no hearsay. I'm very interested in first-hand evaluations.

Thanks!!!

[copal]

i can't help but feel that you're greatly limiting your options by saying "no UAD" just because it's an extra piece of hardware...it's one of the best bargains you could ask for, especially if you're looking for compressor plugins with color. the LA2A, 1176 and fairchild alone are (to me) worth investing in the card. you wanted first hand evaluations and i, along with many others, will readily tell you that this is one of the best things your could add to your setup.

also, you might want to just demo the elemental audio & sonalksis plugs to see if they're what you're looking for...

[A Fak]

The UA LA-2A, Fairchild, 1176LN, PSP and the Sonalksis SV-315 are all extremely colored. The Metric Halo Channel Strip and the Elemental Audio Neodynium are not as colored but much more flexible.

I think all the above (except the UA stuff) are available for a demo download

P.S.

And please no hearsay. I'm very interested in first-hand evaluations.

Aside from the PSP, I own all the rest of the plug-ins I mentioned

[peteri]

Sorry, I'll extend my answer....

Couple of years ago, what I was attempting to make money on became a hobby (all it had really been in fact) - anyway, sold my TDM system plus all the plugs I had for it (McDsp, BF, Waves etc.).

Went to Logic on a G4 system, now I'd sold the few bits of hardware I had too, nothing high end - Joe Meek mainly (I love optical compression) - and I thought, right I'll get Waves Ren bundle and that'll provide a comp and an EQ and I'm good to go.

Did this for a bit, and just got really bored of the Ren Compressor - I know people love it, and it does sound good - but not that good if you see what I mean, I just never felt like I was really compressing like for example McDsp, or the Joe Meek hardware compressors I had.

I'm kind of different to many people here I think - I like my EQ to be transparent, but my compression - 95% of the time, I want to HEAR it, not in a pumping way - but in a thickening, coloured way.

Anyway - I was thinking about getting the UAD, but always seemed to find something else to spend the money on - plus after the expense of TDM I am wary of spending money on DSP cards - just me, but there you go.

I was thinking about going back to all hardware (external mixer and effects) - then I tried the Sonalksis EQ, this was nice I thought - although the interface put me off (bit of a Sony clone maybe?) - then the Comp came out, love it - you can get it pump hard, because of it's crush control (which effects transients) you can do the opto-compressor thing, you can HEAR it when you change the knee (how many software compressors can you say that for?), and there's a nice analogue limiter (NOT brickwall).

Once in a while I'll find something it doesn't quite work on, but that's only maybe two times a year, and that's when I want that really completely and utterly transparent compression.

Compared to the PSP (which I'm sorry, just don't do it for me), I find it much more controllable and intuitive, and it reacts how I expect it to react - plus the Sonalksis guys are really nice, pleasant to deal with - and that counts for a lot.

So after I got this - I ditched all my Waves stuff, I still miss the Pro-FX bundle once in a while, but I don't miss the hassle, expense and 'dirty' feeling I got from dealing with Waves.

Here's the compressors (s/w) I'm comparing to:

1) Waves Ren Comp - For it's day good, nice workmanlike comp - but left behind a little now.
2) McDSP CompressorBank - great sounding, really awesome - and if I was still PT I'd have it, but complex (sometimes) to get the most out of and not so 'analogue' to my ears
3) TC Works Native Bundle (now discontinued) - ok, when you need really clean compression - but no colour, and very boring
4) BF LA2A/1176 - just didn't like them, 1176 ok for drums very occasionally, but much more 2D than the Sonalksis/Waves - and ultimately unsatisfying.


Hope this makes more sense!

Pete

[rmx16]

The Digitalfishphones stuff ia pretty cool:

http://www.digitalfishphones.com/mai...em=2&subItem=5

Peace
Rob

[Kubilay]

Thanks! These were quite useful. I'm going to download the Sonalksis demo and give it a whirl.

After selling $5k of NuBus cards for about $150 on eBay, I just can't buy computer cards anymore... I'm pretty much at the point where the only hardware I want to spend money on is 'immortal' analog gear like Mics, pres etc. (and of course CPU, harddrives etc, which you can't avoid and you just bite the bullet re. built-in obsolescence...) I understand the UAD is not too expensive, and if you need it now, it's useful regardless of lifespan, etc. Personally, I'd just rather avoid it...

If there are any more pointers that haven't been mentioned, keep em coming! (And keep em descriptive...)