high end outboard compressors for FAT kicks and snare drums

[solidstate]

Holla slutz,
i'm looking for 2 high end outboard compressors to use on kicks and snare drums..

I was thinking:

-2 Distressors

OR

-GTC2

OR

-2 ssl dynamics modules

OR

shoulda wait for the upcoming 2254 reissue?


Oh, i've forgot to mention.. i currently have an 1176 and cl1b

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by solidstate

Holla slutz,
i'm looking for 2 high end outboard compressors to use on kicks and snare drums..

I was thinking:

-2 Distressors

OR

-GTC2

OR

-2 ssl dynamics modules

OR

shoulda wait for the upcoming 2254 reissue?


Oh, i've forgot to mention.. i currently have an 1176 and cl1b

distressors

[solidstate]

Thanks soulman

Actually the distressors were on top of my list! What you like about 'em? Flexibility?Sound?

[thethrillfactor]

"Fat" kicks and snares are usually the result of EQ.

Compressors and limiters are used more to make things "punchy".

Especially the compressors that are on your list.

The right combination of the 2 is really what's needed.

Actually your EQ choices are more crucial.

[Amstel]

What's the right combination for you Mr. Thrillfactor

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Amstel

What's the right combination for you Mr. thrillfactor

Sure bro you can read about it here:

Best way to do parallel drum and room compression?

Bottomn line: It depends on what's in front of me in the moment.

I don't believe in pre determined chains, setups & yada, yada, yada.

I just go with the flow and what i hear in front of me.

But there is something to be said for having lots of choices in your crayon box so you are not just stuck with one that may not work all the time.

[solidstate]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

"Fat" kicks and snares are usually the result of EQ.

Compressors and limiters are used more to make things "punchy".

Especially the compressors that are on your list.

The right combination of the 2 is really what's needed.

Actually your EQ choices are more crucial.

In my private studio i have 2 x-rack ssl eqs, neve 1073 and avalon 737..

I know it depends on the sample, song and the type of sound i'm after, but i'm just curious which eq/comp cats tend to use with hip hop/RnB kicks and snare drums..

[rickrock305]

i tend to use a pretty wide selection of stuff, basically whatever's available.

EQs: Pultecs, API 550 and 560, ssl channel EQs, Neve 10XX,

Compressors: SSL channel comps, distressors, all different kinds of Neves, 1176, ssl bus comp, alan smart c1 or c2, dbx 160


the usual suspects really.

[solidstate]

Originally Posted by rickrock305

i tend to use a pretty wide selection of stuff, basically whatever's available.

EQs: Pultecs, API 550 and 560, ssl channel EQs, Neve 10XX,

Compressors: SSL channel comps, distressors, all different kinds of Neves, 1176, ssl bus comp, alan smart c1 or c2, dbx 160


the usual suspects really.

What if you have to choose only 2?

What about distressor>ssl eq?

[T. Gundersen]

Terribly sorry I can't help you on the outboard compressor-part, but since you asked about EQ I recently did some discovering I feel I should share. I'm still kinda new though, so take it for what it's worth.
I'm told the SSL and Waves software are very similar to their outboard counterparts so I'll give you my opinion on the software EQ's I've worked with (SSL Duende Channel Strip, Waves' SSL EQ, Waves' API 550 and 560 EQ's).

I like the SSL EQ (Waves' e-series) for hi-passing and the lo-filter as well as boosting upper mids on some snares (and vocals btw). Sometimes when layering or doing multiple kicks (sub/regular or effected kick) the SSL Duende Channel Strip (g-series mode) worked great on some kicks for the hi-pass with a little bump on the curve where you hi-pass, meaning if you do it at like 130-140ish hz, it'll get like a little edge in that area but cut everything underneath. Can give the kick some punch in that area but leave room for the sub-kick.

I really like the API 560 on snares in general, and I sometimes use it when I parallel compress. If I feel I lack a little punch on the kick, I might dip the parallel bus in the 63 hz area and boost a tad in the 128 hz area (I think that's what they're called on that EQ, not sure though), and then I boost a little 63 hz on the regular drumbus and dip a little 128 hz.

For kicks, I've also been happy with a Pultec-type EQ (I've only used the Tube-Tech PE1C-model, that IS an outboard eq though, and it's mono). Sometimes it worked great cutting 80-120'ish hz with an SSL EQ and then mad-boosting the lows with the pultec-type EQ. Sometimes I just used it more suttle.

[illacov]

Originally Posted by solidstate

Holla slutz,
i'm looking for 2 high end outboard compressors to use on kicks and snare drums..

I was thinking:

-2 Distressors

OR

-GTC2

OR

-2 ssl dynamics modules

OR

shoulda wait for the upcoming 2254 reissue?


Oh, i've forgot to mention.. i currently have an 1176 and cl1b

Why not just run your drums to your reel to reel??
PSM u know more about this than I do. You the OG on this forum, preach to the masses about tape my man!

I love tape compression, sounds sicker than most hardware compression to my ears.

I like printing to tape with high levels with a little eq like (+6db) and then maybe do a little gain reduction with either a vst plugin or my ART Pro Vla.

Sounds sick and nothing really to tweak, just turn up or turn down in the mix, sits perfect!

My RTR (reel to reel) cost me 200 bucks 1/4" but it runs at 15 ips, a reel of SM486 was 20 bucks with a new take up reel and off we go!

We love it!

I usually use my RTR as a hardware insert in reaper and then bounce to disk. I just hit record and take a tap off the repro head back into the computer.

It is the shit!

Peace
Illumination

[solidstate]

Actually i don't have a reel 2 reel tape man.. I think i'll pick a couple of distressors for now..