compressor for acoustic music and vocals

[rollingrecords]

hi, i play bluegrass and acoustic music, guitar mandolin banjo dobro bass etc, i single track all instruments myself, and ovedub. i have a gml 2032, and a great river me-1nv
traditionally, there is not a lot of compresson in this type of music but, what would be a good vocal , acoustic instrument compressor for my above stated set up, ive been looking at the purple audio mc77, and la-3as hear the ssl stuff is great but is it worth the money for what i need all help would be much appreciated

[studjo]

you got a lot of options - when I would be looking for a first compressor I'd go for a Buzz Audio SOC - that thing is the new 1176 IMNSHO - it has a bit of an euphonic-character - really sweet.

Jo

[Tone Weaver]

I have been enjoying the buzz elixir. & essence for that very same type of music.
Very detailed!
Very euphonic!
Also the tube tech cl1b I just got in is quite lovely as well

Lance

[ISedlacek]

CraneSong STC-8 works great for me ... Transparent, yet adding some very subtle "euphony". And so many options in it ...

[gm5k]

Originally Posted by Tone Weaver

I have been enjoying the buzz elixir. & essence for that very same type of music.
Very detailed!
Very euphonic!
Also the tube tech cl1b I just got in is quite lovely as well

Lance

how do the cl1b and essence compare to each other in your opinion?

im quite in love w/ my elixir/essence combo as well.

[Musiclab]

Tube tech CL1b is pretty amazing, I havent heard the Buzz audio gear so I can't comment, but it is well respected, you also can't go wrong with a Crane Song Trakker

[castle]

The Summit TLA100A is very useful for most acoustic instruments IMO...

[studjo]

I have 2 Trakkers and a SOC. The Trakkers are way trickier to use because of all those coloration options. So it's a very versatile box - the SOC is very straight forward - plug it in - fiddle with the knobs untill it sounds good - forget it.

So if I have time I try the Trakkers but when I'm under the gun it's Buzz time. Actually I prefer it most of the time to the Trakkers because it has this very nice sounding low end - not really colorless but man does it sound good.

Jo

[FULL-DUPLEX]

TAB U373a (solid state) vintage compressor!

[Joe Porto]

Are you looking for gain control, or "color" compression? If you want to stick to the traditional sound of that style, but control dynamics, I'd look into a vari-mu or perhaps an optical compressor. If you're looking for some color and squash, look into a FET type (the MC77 you mentioned) or maybe a VCA comp.

[Tone Weaver]

Originally Posted by gm5k

how do the cl1b and essence compare to each other in your opinion?

im quite in love w/ my elixir/essence combo as well.

I have not had a whole lot of time with the cl1b as of yet to compare the two, but first impressions maybe , the essence = optical punch. The tube tech = pillowesqe tube, or something like that. The tube tech to me sounds real clean without compression, but when you apply it, things just get beautiful!

Lance

[yareck]

Another vote for the Tube-Tech. I think it has great character.

[gm5k]

Originally Posted by Tone Weaver

I have not had a whole lot of time with the cl1b as of yet to compare the two, but first impressions maybe , the essence = optical punch. The tube tech = pillowesqe tube, or something like that. The tube tech to me sounds real clean without compression, but when you apply it, things just get beautiful!

Lance

nice! got some awesome compressors there

id be interested to know any details if you ever directly compared the two.

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by castle

The Summit TLA100A is very useful for most acoustic instruments IMO...

Only if you like the top end rolled off

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by studjo

I have 2 Trakkers and a SOC. The Trakkers are way trickier to use because of all those coloration options. So it's a very versatile box - the SOC is very straight forward - plug it in - fiddle with the knobs untill it sounds good - forget it.

So if I have time I try the Trakkers but when I'm under the gun it's Buzz time. Actually I prefer it most of the time to the Trakkers because it has this very nice sounding low end - not really colorless but man does it sound good.

Jo

Hmmm I have to say I don't think it takes anytime to get a great sound out of a trakker, It's actually astounding how hard you can hit them and not have them sound smashed. As far as the modes go just pick one

[swafford]

Originally Posted by rollingrecords

hi, i play bluegrass and acoustic music, guitar mandolin banjo dobro bass etc, i single track all instruments myself, and ovedub. i have a gml 2032, and a great river me-1nv
traditionally, there is not a lot of compresson in this type of music but, what would be a good vocal , acoustic instrument compressor for my above stated set up, ive been looking at the purple audio mc77, and la-3as hear the ssl stuff is great but is it worth the money for what i need all help would be much appreciated

I've been using a Peavey VC/L-2 very lightly on my guitar and mandolin. I like it a lot.

[kats]

The Chandler TG1 used to be my go to for acst gtr, but I replaced it with the newer Zener model TG comp.

It adds such a wonderfull shimmer that I find hard to beat. It's wonderfull on vocals as well.

[toolskid]

The Buzz SOC is just a fantastic choice for your applications! I echo all that Jo has said already, just playing with the attack time with this unit on acoustic gtr is awesome for tone and texture control!

[castle]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

Only if you like the top end rolled off

Well, I've got four TLA-100A's, so I guess I do.

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by castle

Well, I've got four TLA-100A's, so I guess I do.

thats what makes the world go round

[Tony Montana]

Originally Posted by kats

The Chandler TG1 used to be my go to for acst gtr, but I replaced it with the newer Zener model TG comp.

It adds such a wonderfull shimmer that I find hard to beat. It's wonderfull on vocals as well.

Interesting. Are you using the Zener for tracking acoustic? What kind of setting are you using?

[Yetti]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

thats what makes the world go round

4 TLA'S make the world go round?

[loaf]

dav bg4 might be a good choice for what you're doing, review here: DAV Electronics BG4

[warhead]

Originally Posted by rollingrecords

hi, i play bluegrass and acoustic music, guitar mandolin banjo dobro bass etc, i single track all instruments myself, and ovedub. i have a gml 2032, and a great river me-1nv
traditionally, there is not a lot of compresson in this type of music but, what would be a good vocal , acoustic instrument compressor for my above stated set up, ive been looking at the purple audio mc77, and la-3as hear the ssl stuff is great but is it worth the money for what i need all help would be much appreciated

The Safe Sound Audio P1 = great sound on these sources, easy to use and musical, and you'd have to try real hard to get it to sound bad!

War

[Norman Lindsey]

I have a sebatron thorax that i use for most of my compression duties when tracking. it's an optical that is as fast as i need it. Running the comp in 'hot' mode gets me a grinding bass ( or vocal ) dynamic that sits level.
i also have a pair of classic black face/metered dbx160 that i use occasionally.
They are quick and easy to set but lack the attack and release control.

[Riccardo]

Buzz has already been mentioned so I'll add two other outstanding choices that can be used on vocals and acoustic instruments:
Requisite L2 MKII/or/Pal+ and Thermionic Culture Phoenix

[rollingrecords]

thanks for all the replies, the buzz audio is looking really good and may be what i go with its in my range, and stereo so if i wanted it on stereo sources, or try it on a buss. i try to get my tones, with my mic placement, and preamp and mic selection, and what little eq i use is the gml so its pretty transparent, i just need something for taming things that jump out, not overly colored but i would like that option, anyway thanks again, its hard to try stuff out, when you live as far in the sticks as i do, and most of the time you guys opinions have been spot on for my gear needs, have a good one

-drew

[kats]

Interesting. Are you using the Zener for tracking acoustic? What kind of setting are you using?

Well on the TG1 I used to use comp mode with just a couple 2 or 3 dB of GR (although it probably more, the meters are slow) with a release of 2,3 or sometimes 4 depending on the song/tempo.

However with the Zener, it's too new for me to say. I used it last week of ac gtr but the player was all over the map dynamically that I kept it in a constant state of compression.

Oh I should mention that I used it for mixing not tracking. Ac gtr is an instrument that I preffer not to comp on the way in 'cause alot of times in the end the original signal sounds the best and I use compression more for effect than control.

[gainreduction]

+1 for Buzz SOC 1.1. It will never leave my rack.

SPL dynamaxx is also great on acoustic instruments and won't burn a big hole in your wallet.

[soundbarnfool]

I don't use much compression, but I like the Daking FET II... Anybody else using it for primarily acoustic music?