500 series compressor for rap vocals

[cheu78]

Tonelux tx5c.. Sounds definitely in your face, rather aggro, but very versatile too.. you might even like it more than the distressor (but I'm biased 'cause while I understand that the distressor is a good tool I never really liked it much).

You might also want to check the new Crane Song Falcon..looks promising!



Cheu

[Rapid]

I use the distressor mostly as a sort of de-esser/harshness reducer. It has a nice side chain filter for this. But I need something after or before to add the actual compression. And im really not sure if I need fast fet or smooth Opto...

[cheu78]

I guess it's a matter of taste and goals, but try also to demo the new BAE 10DC, it's fantastic (I just got a pair).. It's not 500 series though.. And I didn't test it on aggressive/in your face material yet.. but they are really something special, they really sound freaking good!

I'll buy 2 or 4 more when budget allows..

Another option that is also outside the 500 series world might be the Crane Song trakker.. definitely on the clean side, but you have the chance of changing the behaviour of the compressor.. VCA or Opto.. it's a great piece IMO.

I hope this helps,



Cheu

[CJ Mastering]

Any advice for a complementary 500 series compressor to strap after or before my distressor for mixing duties, when doing vocals to get them right there in the face?

Try it before and try it after your distressor. You probably can get the "in your face either way depending on how you set up the compressor. You could even set that comp on a bus and get the sound you want.

Definitely set your attack to a medium setting so you do not kill the punch of your voclas and your release settings should be set to a short to kinda short setting, between 20msecs to 200msecs, depending on the tempo of the song and how the vocals are performed.

If your vocals have allot of short words in it, then a faster release is a good idea, as this will give time for the compressor to react to the next word.

If there are allot of drown out words, then make your release longer.

Don't be afraid to try different scenarios.

CJ

[teamalkos]

I tend to get the in your face sound from my mic and recording technique. I thought a compressor was suppose to help tame dynamics. I wish SSL made 500 series modules instead of x-rack modules

[CJ Mastering]

Originally Posted by teamalkos

I tend to get the in your face sound from my mic and recording technique. I thought a compressor was suppose to help tame dynamics. I wish SSL made 500 series modules instead of x-rack modules

Yea, recording techniques plays a huge role in this. But a compressor can push the vocals up in the mix while controlling the dynamics of the vocal.

A compressor doesn't just tame dynamics, it can expand them also. An Expander is a compressor when is set in such a way, it expands instead of compressing.
When you set to ratio to a positive value, you will start to expand it

CJ

[jrides]

Buy a de-esser, and use the Distressor 1176 emulation. (or whatever settins work best)
Problem solved.

[cheu78]

Originally Posted by teamalkos

I wish SSL made 500 series modules instead of x-rack modules

They actually do now..

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/new-p...00-format.html



Cheu

[s.d.finley]

Originally Posted by jrides

Buy a de-esser, and use the Distressor 1176 emulation. (or whatever settins work best)
Problem solved.

This!!

[lemonsquash]

i'm about to fill the empty slots of my purple sweet ten (after I get it) with this;

Elysia Xpressor 500 Compressor Limiter | Compressors @ ZenProAudio.com

dunno how its gonna work on vocal mixes but its highly praised everywhere in the internet. Seems really flexible.

[Shobiz]

Pete's Place BAC-500

[LeoLeoLeo]

Originally Posted by lemonsquash

i'm about to fill the empty slots of my purple sweet ten (after I get it) with this;

Elysia Xpressor 500 Compressor Limiter | Compressors @ ZenProAudio.com

dunno how its gonna work on vocal mixes but its highly praised everywhere in the internet. Seems really flexible.

Love mine. I use it on vocals alot. Where i found it to shine the most was when i put it on the Stereo outputs of a Roland Vdrum setup. After tweaking the brain, really getting the internal reverbs sounding more natural, less tin-ny carried sound, then got it pumping nice with the xpressor.

But back to vocals, Its really cool. Especially ,when called for, the GR limit feature can do neat small things to the vocal tracking. The WARM button is a quick "is this better" on/off option.

But if I was me, which I am, but in your situation... I would look into the Epherical Labs Derr-essr. That is basically what you are using the distressor for i think. Which frees up the Distressor for compression duties & about $500 or so on the wallet. Which leaves you enough to buy my other suggestion, the Purple Action. So, 1K later and few more options...

[Rapid]

Derresser could be fun to try, but I got Sonalksis DQ1 plugin I could use for this action too hmm?

So, the majority seem to favour fast FET style compression for rap vocals.
Nobody do a combination of: FET for tamming peaks and then OPTO for smooth leveling?
Will it be overkill to use distressor in british mode/1176 setting to tame peaks and then Inwards connection the brute limiting for leveling it?

Will I gain more from getting a nice EQ like the new KUSH electra for my 500 rack?

[Rapid]

So, Anyone out there using opto limiting like the brute offers with success on rap vocals?

[Audio Child]

With a distressor you'd be in no hurry to get the brute! But would be a great addition!

Distressor has an opto style feat! 10-1.