good hardware compressors for hip hop

[djbizness]

Hi there,

I am a hip hop producer thats looking to add some extra thump to my drums. My sound is anything from pete rock, to large pro, to dilla. Have tried the software compressors but am not really feeling them. I will be maining using them for the drums and bass and have a budget of around £500 to spend. Just wanted to know what you guys thought if you have had any experience in using them especially with drums. Whats good? whats not? what things should I be looking for? is valve really better if you like that warm sound?

At the top of my list is the TL audio C1. I hear this is good? Also looking at joe meek and universal audio comporessors. Any tips would be a great help.

Thanks

[octatonic]

I don't like the C1.
I'd look at the Summit TLA50. You'll need two of them.

[IPLayHamers]

I use the Distressor on vocals and drums alot. It brings everything together.

[tone4407]

dbx-160

[rickrock305]

Tubetech CL1B, 1176, dbx160

not a big fan of the joe meek stuff.

[Osten Powers]

dbx 160 a/x/xt, Urei 1176, SSL Mixbus Comp

[steffen]

Originally Posted by Osten Powers

dbx 160 a/x/xt, Urei 1176, SSL Mixbus Comp

I absolutely second that

[Jesse Skeens]

Originally Posted by steffen

I absolutely second that

Steffen,

Btw had the pleasure of using some of your eq and and comps at Kris Menace's studio last week, great stuff.

Jesse

[Stitch333]

no C2? dig the smart...

[Liam Judah]

Cosign on the 1176. Just picked one up last night.

[emkay]

TL or Meek in the same league as Universal Audio. that's not to say that you couldn't get interesting results with "ProSumer" gear.

The following should get you going-----

The "Classics" List

UA 1176
UA LA2A
UA LA3A
Drawmer 1968
DBX 160 (VU Version)-EBay Probably
API 525
API 2500
SSL

The "New Classics"

Empirical Labs Distressor (British Mode)
Empirical Labs Fatso Jr. (More Radical compression)
SPL Transient Designer (Very Radical Compression FX)
Purple MC7 (Modded version of UA 1176, cool "purple" finish
Inward Connections Vac Rac
Shadow Hills Compressor
Summit Audio TL 100
Manley
Tube Tech
Thermionic
Anthony Demaria Labs
Smart Compressor (SSL- Like)
Buzz Audio
Chandler

Good "Prosumer"

Drawmer DL 441 or 251
DBX 160A
FMR RNC......,FMR RNLA
Summit TL 50


good luck.........

[khameln]

About the TLA 50: The attack time on the TLA is really slow, but if you're not trying to catch the transients then I guess it will work. If you're trying for a "warm" sound they will help, but they aren't quite not as clear and pristine as the 1176 (and the 1176 is quicker to react, when you need it to be).

If you're looking to add punch/knock, the dbx is where it's at.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by emkay

TL or Meek in the same league as Universal Audio. that's not to say that you couldn't get interesting results with "ProSumer" gear.

The following should get you going-----

The "Classics" List

UA 1176
UA LA2A
UA LA3A
Drawmer 1968
DBX 160 (VU Version)-EBay Probably
API 525
API 2500
SSL

The "New Classics"

Empirical Labs Distressor (British Mode)
Empirical Labs Fatso Jr. (More Radical compression)
SPL Transient Designer (Very Radical Compression FX)
Purple MC7 (Modded version of UA 1176, cool "purple" finish
Inward Connections Vac Rac
Shadow Hills Compressor
Summit Audio TL 100
Manley
Tube Tech
Thermionic
Anthony Demaria Labs
Smart Compressor (SSL- Like)
Buzz Audio
Chandler

Good "Prosumer"

Drawmer DL 441 or 251
DBX 160A
FMR RNC......,FMR RNLA
Summit TL 50


good luck.........

Not one Neve compressor in the bunch?

How boring.

[djbizness]

GREAT STUFF.... please keep the comments coming in!!

it looks like the DBX 160a is the most poular choice....why is this??? whats the differnece between the 160a/160x/160xt?

also any good second hand or brand new stores to find this equipment?

Sorry to be a pest as i'm just starting to build my studio up.

Thanks again

[steffen]

Originally Posted by djbizness

GREAT STUFF.... please keep the comments coming in!!

it looks like the DBX 160a is the most poular choice....why is this??? whats the differnece between the 160a/160x/160xt?

also any good second hand or brand new stores to find this equipment?

Sorry to be a pest as i'm just starting to build my studio up.

Thanks again

they sound great, especially on drum hits. lots of producers have also used them on rap vocals with great results. and they are inexpensive.

afair the 160x has an output transformer while the other have not. plus the 160xt has an additional barrier strip for audio connections. there might also be some minor circuitry differences...

[auxpot]

Originally Posted by khameln

About the TLA 50: The attack time on the TLA is really slow, but if you're not trying to catch the transients then I guess it will work. If you're trying for a "warm" sound they will help, but they aren't quite not as clear and pristine as the 1176 (and the 1176 is quicker to react, when you need it to be).

If you're looking to add punch/knock, the dbx is where it's at.

??? 1176, clear and pristine ???
the 1176 is one of the most colourful boxes i ever heard.....beautiful colour though....

[okailla]

some alternatives to the usual suspects:

Valley People Dynamite
Valley People Gain Brain
Ridge Farm Boiler
ADR Compex
Gemini Easy Rider
JBL Urei 7110
SSL Clone
dbx 163x
dbx 166
Symetrix
Ashly
Klark DN500
BSS DPR402
Aphex 651, 661


Remeber that you need at least 2 comps for different flavors.

[khameln]

Originally Posted by auxpot

??? 1176, clear and pristine ???
the 1176 is one of the most colourful boxes i ever heard.....beautiful colour though....

Notice I said 'clear' not 'uncolored'. It's a different kind of a color... I don't know how to explain it, it's like the sound is rich, but still very clear. It enhances the signal but doesn't cloud it. As opposed to the TLA 50, which colors but not in as transparent a way. 1176 is very smooth and sits well.

[Steamy Williams]

Originally Posted by steffen

afair the 160x has an output transformer while the other have not. plus the 160xt has an additional barrier strip for audio connections. there might also be some minor circuitry differences...

I believe both models could have the optional output transformer fitted, but neither of them came with it as standard.

Jim Williams explained the differences between the 160X and 160XT in another thread, which I've quoted below.

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

The older 160 X has a lf351 opamp with a couple of really slow output transistors which give the X a cloudy sound. The XT has the identical circuit for the unbalanced output. The XT's balanced output uses a couple of 5534 opamps without the slow transistors. This is the sonic difference between the two. Many folks have commented on the sonic difference on these outputs. With the XT you have options: a cleaner, faster output or a "vintage" cloudy unbalanced output.

[petermedland]

Emkay,

Your signature absolutely cracks me up!

[auxpot]

Originally Posted by khameln

Notice I said 'clear' not 'uncolored'. It's a different kind of a color... I don't know how to explain it, it's like the sound is rich, but still very clear. It enhances the signal but doesn't cloud it. As opposed to the TLA 50, which colors but not in as transparent a way. 1176 is very smooth and sits well.

gotcha.....

enhancing is a very good description for the 1176...

[emkay]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Not one Neve compressor in the bunch?

How boring.

You're right..

[djbizness]

Thanks for all you're assistence guys. A great help

Any other comments are welcome but I think i'm gonna go with the dbx 160.

http://gearslutz.com/board/images/smilies/nu/061.gif

[spitfire8898]

Originally Posted by djbizness

Thanks for all you're assistence guys. A great help

Any other comments are welcome but I think i'm gonna go with the dbx 160.

http://gearslutz.com/board/images/smilies/nu/061.gif

I think that's the route I may go as well...seems like a solid unit for $300.

[sleeper1400]

some other fellow posters had said it.
but it bears repeating
the DBX 160

i was recording george clinton in his old studio (united sound)
and he was wandering what had happened to them.....since im anonymous, he was pretty drugged up.

but the DBX 160 is all over the old funkadelic records (and the roger and zapp records)

ok im drunk im leaving now

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by djbizness

Hi there,

I am a hip hop producer thats looking to add some extra thump to my drums. My sound is anything from pete rock, to large pro, to dilla. Have tried the software compressors but am not really feeling them. I will be maining using them for the drums and bass and have a budget of around £500 to spend. Just wanted to know what you guys thought if you have had any experience in using them especially with drums. Whats good? whats not? what things should I be looking for? is valve really better if you like that warm sound?

At the top of my list is the TL audio C1. I hear this is good? Also looking at joe meek and universal audio comporessors. Any tips would be a great help.

Thanks

Two Distressors.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by sleeper1400

some other fellow posters had said it.
but it bears repeating
the DBX 160

i was recording george clinton in his old studio (united sound)
and he was wandering what had happened to them.....since im anonymous, he was pretty drugged up.

but the DBX 160 is all over the old funkadelic records (and the roger and zapp records)

ok im drunk im leaving now

I produced the new GC cd along with GC.
It drops in September.

[dialectic]

If your after dirty sounding drums that smack hard, I find that the original DBX 166 (not the 166A, 166X etc) gives good results for the money.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by sleeper1400

i was recording george clinton in his old studio (united sound)
and he was wandering what had happened to them.....since im anonymous, he was pretty drugged up.

I don't think he would mind even if you weren't anonymous.

I've met George a few times and he was definitely on another level.

[ryst]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

I don't think he would mind even if you weren't anonymous.

I've met George a few times and he was definitely on another level.

He is always on another level....ALWAYS. I even ran into him at a bank here in Atlanta and he was...well....you know...