New Massey compressor plug-in for RTAS & TDM

[sound and form]

Hey GS,

I've just added another plug-in to the line-up, the CT4. It's a compressor plug-in with a simple straightforward interface and a nice round character. As always, let me know how it sounds! It's an original design, not modeled after anything in particular, so I'm curious what y'all think it compares to. Find it at: http://www.smassey.com/plugins.html

Thanks!
Steve

[oudplayer]

Steve, you rock. Love the tape compression plug, looking forward to trying the compressor on a mix tomorrow. Thanks so much for your hard work!

[allbaldo]

Thanks Steve. Can't wait to hear it!

[tommymakestapes]

You don't sleep much do you?

[robot gigante]

Did a couple quick tests and- very nice!

I'm sure the rave reviews are going to start rolling in.

I'm not sure what to compare it to though- I like that it has its own sound.

once again!

[id-rejected]

In his email, Steve writes "I think it has potential as a mix-bus compressor too".

Being an unexperienced mixer myself, I would like to know what you experienced slutz think makes a compressor "worthy" of having its place on the mix-bus vs channel only?

Thanks

[Studio2Roll]

I did some fairly quick tests with it on a rapper, an upright bass, and on an overall drum mix. I still want to test it out on some more stuff, but A/Bing it against some other compressor plugs it preserved transients and "air" like qualities better than my others. At about halfway up the compressor dial it really brought out the rapper breathing in between words, without making it sound slammed.

One of my students thought it compared to the R Vox, but didn't enhance the bass as much.

So far, another great plug. I love the Vt3, the high-end on it does unbelievable things for synth tracks. The Tape-Head is really nice on guitar leads, I can't wait to give this a try in a regular session on a singer.

[Raggedy]

my my my. these plugs are my favorites for drums, among other things. the eq is golden on snares. quickly stuck the new compressor on a drum bus and loved the results, even with the knobs all the way down. I can see it working on the 2-bus this way too, without question.

another winner, Steve! thumbsup

[djui5]

Originally Posted by id-rejected

In his email, Steve writes "I think it has potential as a mix-bus compressor too".

Being an unexperienced mixer myself, I would like to know what you experienced slutz think makes a compressor "worthy" of having its place on the mix-bus vs channel only?

Thanks

A lot of compressors can't handle compressing an entire mix at once properly. They go crazy, or the attack and release don't work right for an entire mix, or they have a fixed knee that dosen't work, or they don't handle the bass properly, or they just don't sound right in general.

Compressing an entire mix is a delicate procedure. Remember, your working with the entire range of freq's, not just selective one's like on individual channels.

[Ruudman]

I'm checking out this plug tomorrow. The no limit demo is a perfect idea thumbsup

BTW, dju5, I wanna see this as your avatar as a Sunday special:

ruudman

[jetproplabs]

I have demoed all three of Steven's plugins and loved them all but this one jumped to the front of the line to purchase. I was so blown away at what it did to a drum overhead that I NEEDED it for a drum buss. The demo doesn't do stereo (fair enough) so I came up with the $69 price of admission and I am glad I did! I love the super simple controls (compressin knob, makeup knob, slow/ fast attack and release switch) and it is really hard to make this plug not sound great. It has a kind of Smart vibe but with maybe more balls. Also idiot proof on bass and vox from a quick check over the last couple of days. Check out the demo. It doesn't beep at you or expire so that's cool, right?

[CaliTone]

I've downloaded the plugins and installed them. They don't show up on my plugins menu. Can anyone help??

[mahasandi]

All of Steves plugs are amazing they are turning out to be my go to plugs !.This is the airiest and clearest with punch compressor in pro tools i've used. I retains more of the original tone and space then rencomp or a 1176.
Steve please make a 2 buss limiter ! one that is designed for about 1 to 2.5 db of limiting and when not limiting is bit transparent please!!!!!

[Ruairi]

I installed the compressor tonight and started work on a session. After 30 mins I had a kernel panic and had to restart. I hadn't had one for 18 months. I hadn't actually used the plug as I was doing other things but it seems like too much of a coincidence.

I'm on PT HD Accel 6.2.3 on a G5 with 1 gig of RAM, OSX 10.3.2. Not dissing at all - I think his plugs and attitude are great.

Anyone else have this?

Ruairi

[sound and form]

Originally Posted by CaliTone

I've downloaded the plugins and installed them. They don't show up on my plugins menu. Can anyone help??

Hello CaliTone,

Check the last entry on the FAQ: http://www.smassey.com/faq.html Maybe that helps solve your issue. If not, feel free to contact me at the email on my website.

Thanks!
Steve

[sound and form]

Originally Posted by Ruairi

I installed the compressor tonight and started work on a session. After 30 mins I had a kernel panic and had to restart. I hadn't had one for 18 months. I hadn't actually used the plug as I was doing other things but it seems like too much of a coincidence.

I'm on PT HD Accel 6.2.3 on a G5 with 1 gig of RAM, OSX 10.3.2. Not dissing at all - I think his plugs and attitude are great.

Anyone else have this?

Ruairi

Ruairi,

I'm pretty hopeful this was just coincidence. Typically, it's nearly impossible for an application or plug-in to trigger a kernel panic. A kernel panic is just that -- an error in the BSD kernel of OS X. They're typically caused by bad device drivers, or stray bugs in the kernel. That said, TDM plugins are capable of causing kernel panics sometimes because the Motorola DSPs on the TDM cards are sort of buggy and can cause the PCI bus to freak out. But even then, you normally get a total system freeze and OS X never even has a chance to "panic" and put up that multi-language grayed out screen that's indicative of a kernel panic.

That said, please contact me if you have further panics and still suspect the compressor. I certainly don't want to be crashing people's systems!!

Thanks,
Steve

[CaliTone]

Originally Posted by sound and form

Hello CaliTone,

Check the last entry on the FAQ: http://www.smassey.com/faq.html Maybe that helps solve your issue. If not, feel free to contact me at the email on my website.

Thanks!
Steve

AHHHHH! THANKS STEVE! I was on an 88.2k session. Ok, will try out tonight. Thanks!

[djui5]

I got a chance to play with that comp a little yesterday...

holy crap. Absolutely amazing.

[robocop]

wow, quite amazing.

it reminds me of a great sounding la-4.

in slam mode, dynamics from drums and cymbals get tucked in, as opposed to feeling "gated" or popping in and out. it reacts and feels very "hardware" like.

time to buy it.

great job steve.

[littledoodler]

this guy is my hero...

[anotherslut]

any chance? c'mon man- don't discriminate.

[sound and form]

Originally Posted by anotherslut

any chance? c'mon man- don't discriminate.

AS, I would love to port to all the platforms, but I simply don't have the spare time currently. Maybe someday...

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone! It's very encouraging.

Steve

[midiman123]

I used your compressor in a session together with an API & Sm7B on vocals.
You can really push this thing hard, harder than alot of plugs including URS1970, without it sounding to compressed, but still get that "color".

It sounded fantastic:-)

Your tapehead plug is also excellent, and I will now download your eq.

-the pricing is great, and I wish you a lot of success

What about making a buss compressor?

KK

[sound and form]

Originally Posted by midiman123

It sounded fantastic:-)

What about making a buss compressor?

KK

Thanks!

The full version will operate in stereo. So, it can potentially be used as a buss compressor. With the way it preserves transients, I think it can sound pretty good at times on the buss. I especially like it on a drums sub-buss.

Steve

[jetproplabs]

I have been digging the ct4 as a mix buss comp! If you set the attack to fast it will push transient things (drums) into the mix while preserving the vocals and gits. This is what I used to like the alan smart c1 for when I could get my hands on one! It is not exactly the same color but it does it's own thing well. Also great to glue drum tracks together. Plus it seems to be very CPU efficient. Good job Steven! Thanks and keep em' coming!


robert furlong

[Dan DeTora]

<-- patiently waiting for the XP version to come...thumbsup thumbsup

hell, maybe you'll have it done by mother's day and i can buy for my girlfriend as a gift! (of course she'll have no use for it, but thats neither here nor there)

[Tubthumper]

I'm hot for the XP version also......

[tommymakestapes]

I got the word that XP will be a week or so. (i'm pretty sure the key phrase is "or so". I can wait for quality.

[sound and form]

Originally Posted by tommymakestapes

I got the word that XP will be a week or so. (i'm pretty sure the key phrase is "or so". I can wait for quality.

Howdy XP users,

I've got it ported & doing some beta testing right now. So, coming very soon...

Thanks,
Steve

[max cooper]

Steve: I'm downloading the plugins now. I just wanna say I think your GUI's look really nice.

Max