Distressor vs dbx 160x

[Pretty_Suite]

I just finished the Disco D documentary "Hustle Harder" and as he goes through his gear he notes how great the dbx 160x's for his/others kick and snare umph. I sold my pair of dbx's before I started to turn my attention to hip hop and bought a bunch of Distressors (I was a serious slut for a few weeks, I had 4 but realized I couldn't justify the cost for my current income). Now I sit with 2 Distressors and no dbx's wondering if I should snag another pair.

My other comps:

ART PRO VLA
ART Dual Levelar
FMR RNLA
FMR RNC
Gain Brain (x2)
Summit Audio TLA 100A
Summit Audio TLA 50



Thoughts? Comments?



I'm definitely making a Fatso my next buy.

[Stitch333]

I'll help you out, no problem!
Send me those Distressors and I'll send a clean pair of 160X's post-haste...

[Pretty_Suite]

Hah!

I mean in conjuction with the Distressors.

[Stitch333]

Oh, ooops.

FWIW: My take on all the "so and so used it, should I?" is this:
Rock what you got.

Disco (RIP) was a very talented producer but, just another producer, all-in-all.
Find a unique sound and recording style and you will stand out from the
masses of "pro-duce-azzz yo" that abound like Wall-marts.

The 160x is a good and standard piece.
The Distressor is a good and standard piece.

How about some level-locs?

[Pretty_Suite]

Totally agree. I meant it more from the standpoint of "Would I like these enough that I should re-buy?"

I'd love to hear an C800G on my voice but I'm also totally happy with my Soundelux/GAMA chain.

I forgot to put my Level Loc on that list...good catch.

Ever use a stereo pair? My friend thought they sound to whacked out since each unit sounds so different from the next.

[Stitch333]

RE your friends units: there very well might have been something wrong with one of the pair.
Also, the X/XT/A are all kinda different. The fact that they have been produced for many years, as well,
bodes poorly for random matched pairs that sound and behave similar.

I have used them a few times as drum buss inserts.
They were ok but a little pinched in the furthest HF and LF bandwidths.
I have a laundry list of Mods for the 160x that opens up and focus's the bass
and softens the mid freq pushyness (as well as selected opamp and VCA replacement) that I'd like to do the next time I have some loot to spare to grab some.
But, even stock, they are pretty cool and useful in a (not bad) trashy way.

Honestly, in consideration of the amount of dynamics units you already have,
I think they would be handy but not necessary.

[Pretty_Suite]

Do many compressors in the discussion

I actually meant a pair of Level Loc's.

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by Pretty_Suite

I'd love to hear an C800G on my voice but I'm also totally happy with my Soundelux/GAMA chain.

Don't buy a Sony, you'll regret having bought the other mics you own

I'm not buying any mics anymore until I buy a c800g next september.

[Ijustmake-Beats]

I own both Distressors and DBX 160XTs.

In my opinion after running hours of comparisons, the DBX are still a worthy addition to any studio dealing extensively with hip hop.

They are not nearly as versatile as the Distressors, they don't give you nearly as many compression sound options, but for a one-trick-pony they do a very, very good drum sound for a far cheaper price. Also it's a sound you can dial up in about half the time it takes you to search for a good sound in the Distressors and one that is classically hip hop all the way. If nothing else the 160s will free up your Distressors for other channels without forcing you to sacrifice the overall quality of your drum sound.

The Distressors do a huge range of compression sounds (for those willing to put the time in to explore), which includes a great hip hop drum sound, but you'll have to work a little harder to dial in exactly what you're after and for anyone who doesn't already own them there's a reasonably large cost involved in getting 'em.

The 160 compression also sounds just a tiny bit sharper than the Distressor. A tiny bit. So they snap with just a tad more bite, just a tad. For the record, I generally prefer DBX on kick and I'm undecided on the snare. Sometimes I the DBX sound is enough, sometimes I want more sound shaping options so I'll opt for the Distressor.

That's just my 2 cents...

[Studio507]

I can't imagine the need for any more than a stereo pair (at best) of hardware compressors for recording or mixing hip-hop, unless you're running a full analog studio with An HD system.

But that's just opinion.

[DAH]

Originally Posted by Studio507

I can't imagine the need for any more than a stereo pair (at best) of hardware compressors for recording or mixing hip-hop, unless you're running a full analog studio with An HD system.

But that's just opinion.

Studio,
What you as engineer at HQz can say about neccessity of 160 from a pure sonics standpoint? Especially as a glueing tool for layered kicks and\or dynamics reshaper after EQing?

[KRStudio]

Your Gain Brains sound very similar to the DBX 160a. You might be getting more of the same thing. Just a thought.

[Studio507]

I think it's a serviceable vocal compressor. It works. I can't imagine bussing each drum sound through it though unless i was working in a analog studio where I might have a bunch of them for cost reasons or something