Compressor for acoustic instruments at mixing

massimo · 28th February 2006, 10:26 AM

Lately I have come to like some (2-4 dB) compression for clean acoustic music.
I love my Pendulum OCL-2, and am considering one more comp to use on other sources while mixing. Acoustic/classical guitar, double bass, maybe sax (tracked through Millennia HV3-OCL2 in bypass) would be the targets. While I would love a STC8, I guess I must not exceed about 2000 USD.
People here seem to like TFPro P38, Drawmer 1968 and Api 2500 in this (more or less) price range. Maybe this time I would prefer to go solid state, I am not sure.
I have heard the P38 and liked it. Never heard the others and have little chance to demo them here.
Can anyone comment on use of these units specifically for acoustic instruments in a non-pop context? Is the API too heavily coloured anyway, for example?
Thank you
best regards
Massimo

thethrillfactor · 28th February 2006, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massimo

I have heard the P38 and liked it.

This says it all right here.

Apemandan · 28th February 2006, 10:37 AM

Try an EAR 660!

Reptil · 28th February 2006, 10:39 AM

I love my Kultube for that. (with only a hint of telefunken tube and a tiny spludz of compression)
IMHO a vari-µ or delta-µ or varidelta-µ eeeerrrm those will do nicely too.

I did not hear the P38 yet. Got no reply from the dealer yet (3 months)

typical of dutch dealers

thethrillfactor · 28th February 2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apemandan

Try an EAR 660!

It says not more than 2000 USD.

davemc · 28th February 2006, 02:16 PM

ES-8 would be nice again out of budget.
Maybe a Buzz Audio SOC?
Pair of distresors if you do not push them?
Yeah a STC-8, 1968/1969 have a sound if you like it or not.
You are best to see what else you can try.

ISedlacek · 28th February 2006, 02:25 PM

What about this ?
http://www.davelectronics.com/bg6.htm

It´s definitely not out of budget ($600 or so) and somebody would finally try it

**toolskid** · 28th February 2006, 02:34 PM

def try the Buzz Audio SOC - awesome

Reptil · 28th February 2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

What about this ?
http://www.davelectronics.com/bg6.htm

It´s definitely not out of budget ($600 or so) and somebody would finally try it

I've been searching and searching and... for user comments, and was directed to another board, but no answers so far...

You know how it sounds? Have you heard it?

The SOS interview is inconclusive, and is hopping on two different conclusions about this unit, and I've learned that sometimes the SOS stuff is correct but certainly not all the time. Soooooooo... soft grabby warm dry precise friendly aggressive ?
thanks.

edit: there is hope !

massimo · 1st March 2006, 05:30 PM

Thank you all for your advise

Thrillfactor - do you mean you like the P38 or not?

May I ask again, any opinions on the Api 2500 in this particular application?

Thank you
best regards
Massimo

AB3 · 1st March 2006, 05:44 PM

TF pro - great for the money and leave the high end in a high place!

Buzz is nice but does affect the high end some. I believe Buzz is coming out with a new one and will cost more but do more.

But you cannot go wrong with a TF PRO. I have had many compressors and I find this one indispensible.

I would like to have a Drawmer 1968 as well.

Beech · 1st March 2006, 06:14 PM

I use an 1176 if required. The other day I decided to try an SSL on acoustic gtr and it seemed to just make it 'right'.

Mike Caffrey · 1st March 2006, 06:21 PM

I've found a lot of compressors tha work well on acousitcs.

I like the 1968 for a slow attack. ES-8 if I'm going for th vibe provided by the "fast" mode (and also slow attacks in the manual mode). 1176s have been good too.

There's something about acoustics that makes me less concerned about the choice of the compressor. I guess I should specify good sounding acoustics.

thethrillfactor · 1st March 2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massimo

Thrillfactor - do you mean you like the P38 or not?

What i meant is you heard something you liked yourself.

This is always the best criteria.

Rick Sutton · 1st March 2006, 06:31 PM

I know I'm probably the only one that uses these but I swear that the Aphex Compellor is one useful compressor for this application. I keep a pair of stereo units in my rack just for acoustic instruments. And they can be had dirt cheap on Ebay.

GYang · 1st March 2006, 06:33 PM

Drawmer
TF Pro
Buzz Audio

Holly Trinity compressors around 1,8 k.
Take any of them, you can't make mistake.
Very slightly I would prefer overall sound of Drawmer (doing nice things on drums buss, guitars, mixbuss), but if you need clean, neutral compression TF Pro and Buzz could be real favorites.
I would suggest to replace tubes in Drawmer with NOS for better sonics in gain amp stage.

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28th February 2006, 10:26 AM	#1
massimo Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Roma, Italy Posts: 251	Compressor for acoustic instruments at mixing Lately I have come to like some (2-4 dB) compression for clean acoustic music. I love my Pendulum OCL-2, and am considering one more comp to use on other sources while mixing. Acoustic/classical guitar, double bass, maybe sax (tracked through Millennia HV3-OCL2 in bypass) would be the targets. While I would love a STC8, I guess I must not exceed about 2000 USD. People here seem to like TFPro P38, Drawmer 1968 and Api 2500 in this (more or less) price range. Maybe this time I would prefer to go solid state, I am not sure. I have heard the P38 and liked it. Never heard the others and have little chance to demo them here. Can anyone comment on use of these units specifically for acoustic instruments in a non-pop context? Is the API too heavily coloured anyway, for example? Thank you best regards Massimo __________________ - even nostalgia isn't what it used to be -

28th February 2006, 10:37 AM	#3
Apemandan Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 109	Try an EAR 660! __________________ --- www.danhulme.com

28th February 2006, 10:39 AM	#4
Reptil Gear Guru Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Uterèg statsie woar! Posts: 10,941	I love my Kultube for that. (with only a hint of telefunken tube and a tiny spludz of compression) IMHO a vari-µ or delta-µ or varidelta-µ eeeerrrm those will do nicely too. I did not hear the P38 yet. Got no reply from the dealer yet (3 months) typical of dutch dealers __________________ For sale: BFE MK3d equaliser pair racked, Filtek equaliser last generation tight pair of mixing/mastering eqs in steel rack, with new PSU (230V) offers welcome - Woman, opening the door: Are you the police? Jake: No ma'm, we're musicians. Zymurgy's 1st Law: Once you open a can of worms, the only way to re-can them is to use a bigger can. - STOP MONSANTO DESTROYING THE PLANET !!!

28th February 2006, 02:16 PM	#6
davemc Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Melb, Australia Posts: 1,029	ES-8 would be nice again out of budget. Maybe a Buzz Audio SOC? Pair of distresors if you do not push them? Yeah a STC-8, 1968/1969 have a sound if you like it or not. You are best to see what else you can try. __________________ Bye Ya Dave INDENT

28th February 2006, 02:25 PM	#7
ISedlacek Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Czech mountains and forests Posts: 2,873	What about this ? http://www.davelectronics.com/bg6.htm It´s definitely not out of budget ($600 or so) and somebody would finally try it __________________ Ivo Velvet Mastering Savita Music

28th February 2006, 02:34 PM	#8
toolskid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: london Posts: 2,123	def try the Buzz Audio SOC - awesome __________________ Emre Ramazanoglu http://www.emremusic.com the wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision the whole universe. The fool, however, will just lie down on some seaweed and roll around until he's completely draped in it. Then he'll stand up and go "Hey, I'm vine man"

1st March 2006, 05:30 PM	#10
massimo Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Roma, Italy Posts: 251	Thank you all for your advise Thrillfactor - do you mean you like the P38 or not? May I ask again, any opinions on the Api 2500 in this particular application? Thank you best regards Massimo __________________ - even nostalgia isn't what it used to be -

1st March 2006, 05:44 PM	#11
AB3 Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,998	TF pro - great for the money and leave the high end in a high place! Buzz is nice but does affect the high end some. I believe Buzz is coming out with a new one and will cost more but do more. But you cannot go wrong with a TF PRO. I have had many compressors and I find this one indispensible. I would like to have a Drawmer 1968 as well.

1st March 2006, 06:14 PM	#12
Beech Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dublin Posts: 636	I use an 1176 if required. The other day I decided to try an SSL on acoustic gtr and it seemed to just make it 'right'.

1st March 2006, 06:21 PM	#13
Mike Caffrey Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,593	I've found a lot of compressors tha work well on acousitcs. I like the 1968 for a slow attack. ES-8 if I'm going for th vibe provided by the "fast" mode (and also slow attacks in the manual mode). 1176s have been good too. There's something about acoustics that makes me less concerned about the choice of the compressor. I guess I should specify good sounding acoustics.

1st March 2006, 06:31 PM	#15
Rick Sutton Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 1,843	I know I'm probably the only one that uses these but I swear that the Aphex Compellor is one useful compressor for this application. I keep a pair of stereo units in my rack just for acoustic instruments. And they can be had dirt cheap on Ebay.

1st March 2006, 06:33 PM	#16
GYang Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Moscow Posts: 2,752	Drawmer TF Pro Buzz Audio Holly Trinity compressors around 1,8 k. Take any of them, you can't make mistake. Very slightly I would prefer overall sound of Drawmer (doing nice things on drums buss, guitars, mixbuss), but if you need clean, neutral compression TF Pro and Buzz could be real favorites. I would suggest to replace tubes in Drawmer with NOS for better sonics in gain amp stage.

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