Best Waves Compressor for Vox

[Kenny_Vance]

Hey guys,

I've been LOVING the CLA-2A on vox... I usually use the SSL E channel compressor lightly and then follow that with the CLA-2A. I'm wondering what your guys' opinion is on the best vocal compressor from Waves?

Of course, the genre makes a difference too... I'm mainly mixing Hip Hop/Rock.

[Bruno5150]

man, i really like R plugs... like the Rcomp or the REQ... but for compression for voice, i like the Rvox... really simple compressor for voice!
cheers

[Kenny_Vance]

Yeah, I've heard a lot of good things about the RVox.. I have it, and I've tried it but it just doesn't seem to do it for me... I mean, I get a much sleeker, smoother sound with the CLA-2A. Maybe I'll have to give it a better chance..

[SICKRICK]

Try this:
Waves veq4-cla76bluey-cla2a of course just a bit of compressing with the 1176 and then some more with the la2a!!

Good luck!

[musical5]

Rvox is very handy. It's also idiot proof.

[rcb4t2]

Any of them if dialed correctly.

[Tom Hakala]

I have been using Vcomp for two years. It's always the first in the chain.

[Unclenny]

Definitely like RComp..........for my stuff.

It really is genre specific, though.

[blacklight_uk]

I really like the CLA-2A too. I tend to use that to catch the peaks and then something smoother after. Love the Softube cl1b at the moment, though I'm only demoing it.

If I need to work quickly (rough mix or just to throw on during tracking) I use RVox. It's just really easy to get a good sound quickly.

Vcomp does the really aggressive, spitty thing well too.

[Kenny_Vance]

Yeah I haven't tried the Softube yet but I've been hearing some really positive things about it... seems like the CLA-2A is a winner too... good to know I'm on the right track... seems like a lot of people are really feeling the R series too, I found it didn't colour the sound as much as I'd like... sometimes I find a little colour to do the trick... gives a nice unique sound, in the right situation, anyway.

[ryst]

My favorite waves comps for vocals are the Rvox and CLA-76.

[blacklight_uk]

Originally Posted by Kenny_Vance

Yeah I haven't tried the Softube yet but I've been hearing some really positive things about it... seems like the CLA-2A is a winner too... good to know I'm on the right track... seems like a lot of people are really feeling the R series too, I found it didn't colour the sound as much as I'd like... sometimes I find a little colour to do the trick... gives a nice unique sound, in the right situation, anyway.

Yeah the Softube's fantastic. Give it a shot! Softube - Get Demo License

The R series stuff is pretty clean. Works well on the majority of stuff though. I like to add colour to stand out features - vocals, snare etc. but I find it gets a little too much for my tastes if I start adding valve emulation this and that all over the place! I'm one of the guys sitting at the back of the room going "I quite like clean stuff actually" in a tiny voice.

I know a lot of people who absolutely love to saturate the poo out of everything. Different strokes

[Vortex4001]

There is no such thing as >a best Compressor as all compressors color a sound differently, its really all about personal taste..

For Rap, the R-vox/R-compressor by waves sounds really good. Just ask "Dave Pensado"
He uses those compressors almost every-time on Rap vocals.

As far as rock>You definitely have a great choice in the CLA compressors. Try using the CLA76 on drums>Thats a powerful compressor for Drums, but can also be used for BGV's and Across the Mix Bus for Color...

Alot of people sleep on the "H-COMP" that compressor sounds good on just about anything, when set right>If you want a very smooth vocal>Slap on the H-Comp...You wanna tame a Harsh guitar+plus add a splash of analogue feel to it>Slap on the H-COMP. You want Lush BGV's>Slap on the H-COMP>In Fact, thank me later>Whenever you're mixing RnB, Use the H-Comp throughout the mix, you'll be well pleased

So, its all about Color and taste, If you really wanna learn compression color...take a mix, and slap two different compressor on the mix bus, while auditioning one at a time...make one inactive and listen to the other and vice versa...This is how you REALLY get familiar with how a Compressor can change the whole Character and tone of a mix.

[Solidtrax]

You realize that you just woke up this thread after a hibernation that lasted for 1,5 year?

But, let's contribute: Waves C6 > CLA-2A is a golden combination (in our opinion)!

[AntennasToHeaven]

Rcomp (fast attack) to CLA-2A or another Rcomp.

[Ivorydom]

CLA 2A here. The only thing I can compare to the Softube Cl1b.
Really smooth compressing, creamy sound.

[markham]

(It really is kind of funny that we're all responding to this thread 18 months after it was started, but I'll throw my hat in the ring, as well...)

I, too, am a big fan of the CLA-2A. It is really excellent on vocals for me. It's probably my favorite compressor for vocals overall, in fact, though I sometimes use it in series with another compressor. Since we're talking about Waves compressors, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Puigchild yet. Sometimes that thing is seriously great. Sometimes it beats the CLA-2A for me.

I do have the R-Comp and the RVox, but I rarely use them anymore. I'll occasionally whip out the RVox (I did it in a mix yesterday, in fact), but more often, I'm looking for something with more "life" in it. The RVox often feels sort of "flat" to me or something.

Other Waves comps that I've gotten good results out of on vocals are the API 2500 (that's a really versatile comp), the V-Comp, and the CLA76. They all do a good job in the right context. The V-Comp can really smash a vocal nicely; you can get a constant 5dB reduction on vocals and still have it sound good if the envelope fits the singer. I've found that to be even more true on bass guitar, FWIW.

Hope this helps!

[GPl]

Originally Posted by Solidtrax

You realize that you just woke up this thread after a hibernation that lasted for 1,5 year?

Actually I can respect that. He took 1.5 years to really think about it and experience the options