All around compressor for tracking... does it have to be a Distressor?

[mellotronic]

... not that that would be a bad thing of course...

I'm at the vocal and guitar overdub stage of an album project, Truly (from Seattle, Capitol, Sub Pop... Hiro from Soungarden on bass, Mark from Screaming Trees on drums... first record in 10 years blah, blah... ). It's a big loud psychedelic rock/pop/grunge sound with some "Petsoundsish-Phil Spectorish" orchestration, mellotrons pianos, organs, lot's of layers etc... Anyway, I have a $2000-$3000ish' budget in which I'm trying to get a good all'round tracking compressor and decent tube mic. I currently have the UA LA610 and NEU TLM 103, 2 channels of modded QUAD EIGHT 310'pre/eq's with vin.tage LUNDAHL output Trans. and a couple chans. of modded ADM pres and EQ's. (as well as SHURE 57/58s, pair modded RESLO ribbons, pair of Chinese condensers, Art Pro VLA, HHB etc...) Anyhow, I now need to upgrade to a really versatile compressor to follow my Q8's or ADMs. I could get a DISTRESSOR for now and another one later (for stereo) for all the obvious reasons (EL8 being so versatile...), but I really like the muscle of the 1176LN, esp. on guitars, but perhaps that would get musically old if it's on half of everything. I'm renting an EL8 now and my only problem with the DISTRESSOR is that I hear it , but don't necesarily feel it (although I do like what I hear back!) I know it's because it operates in a different way and you have to get use to it, but when I "hit the gas" I want to feel the engine rev. up.. you know?!! Maybe I just need to get use to the EL8. Any suggestions appreciated!! Even the mono C1 Vintage Design (Nevelike... ) is resonably priced, "the Purple " M77 is in the ball park too. DAKING...?? Damn... tough choices.

TUBE MICS: (mostly for male vocals) Dave Thomas in Canada makes a Tube C-12 and U-47 "like" microphone for under $800. He use Chinese mics (APEX 460) and PELUSO parts (Changes to Peluso capsule/NOS tube/re-caps/CINEMEG output trans.)...??? T.FUNKEN RFT...?? ADK? PELUSO? CHAMEOLEON LABS? Thanks to any and all in advance for your opinions and ideas!! -RR

[bobwarren]

UREI LA-4 works well for tracking instruments and sometimes vocals. It may not have the color your looking for but it works well. I personally like the 1176 or DXX 160A for the most of my tracking although for simplicity or just plain laziness, I've started tracking with the Waves RenComp or RenVox.

[not_so_new]

Trakker.... hell it's in the name isn't it?

thumbsup

[thethrillfactor]

...without the right mic on the vocal.

I would focus all of my efforts(especially financial) on getting that right first.

You can always creatively compress the piss out of it in the mix.

An alternate opinion.

[peeder]

People here like the TubeTech CL-1B on vocals, but it's twice the price...

[mellotronic]

Thanks for your replies. I'm so lame... I just bought a DISTRESSOR with the mod for $1250. Other than an 1176 I'd be guessing.

Now I need a tube-mic. The Dave Thomas C-12 & U-47 "knock offs" are priced low $800, but does any one know why that would be not as good as a T.FUNKEN RFT or PEUSO? Any suggestions for a quality sounding tube mic in the $8-12ish range? Cheers!
-RR

[SoundUniverse]

I have a project studio in Seattle (Ballard) and I have a Soundelux elux 251 and an e47 if your interested in those.

I've also got a 1969 (as well as an 1176) I use for tracking that rocks!

[mellotronic]

Cool! Are you looking to sell those mics? If so, shoot me an email @ robertandlynn@mac.com

I haven't tried the 1969, but it sounds pretty cool... thanks for the reply!

[SoundUniverse]

Fletcher taught me the trick on the 1969 of running into channel one with light compression and then right into channel two with a slightly different variable on compression. The result in a very intimate sounding vocal without sounding too compressed.

The 1969 is an incredible compressor for both tracking and mix buss. It definately has a mojo to it's sound and will be one of those famous comps