recommned a good stereo compressor under $1000

[leftcoastproduc]

I am currently looking at selling both my Joe Meek Vc1q and Sc 2.2 (too much color) and getting the new Twin Q(supposedly less color with spidf)......can anyone review this having used it or recommend another good stereo compressor that doesn't have alot of color .....I am mainly going to be using it for drums,bass,and synths

[brownmouse]

fmr rnc.
joshua

[Unbound]

FMR RNC.

[leftcoastproduc]

I've heard they are almost a little too smooth on drums is that true? how fast is the attack on them?

Ideally I would like a stereo compressor that has a fast attack time w/o alot of color

I ran a search and found someone recommended a pair of the Summit Audio Tla-50's I haven't used them,but I've heard about them.....I'm just kind of worried its not gonna have enough controls for sub mixing drums not really used to working with switches on a compressor.....can anyone here comment on the attack switch? and will they work good on both sub mixing drums and on the two bus?

[zimv20]

Originally Posted by leftcoastproduc

how fast is the attack on them?

fifteen seconds of internet searching reveals an attack time of 0.2 msec to 200 msec.

[junior]

i've got a toft atc-2 which i really like on drums...

[Synth80s]

DBX 1066 is great for stereo pairs of tracks, (drums, synths, etc.) but not so much for dense stereo mixes. It has an open, clear and fairly precise sound. You can really dial in the fine points without any of the "slop" (for lack of a better word) I hear on cheap opto-compressors. Don't get me wrong -- I like compressors with slop and color and all that fun, but for good, clean, precise compression, the DBX is quite good.

-Synth80s

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by leftcoastproduc

I've heard they are almost a little too smooth on drums is that true? how fast is the attack on them?

Ideally I would like a stereo compressor that has a fast attack time w/o alot of color

I ran a search and found someone recommended a pair of the Summit Audio Tla-50's I haven't used them,but I've heard about them.....I'm just kind of worried its not gonna have enough controls for sub mixing drums not really used to working with switches on a compressor.....can anyone here comment on the attack switch? and will they work good on both sub mixing drums and on the two bus?

If you want fast attack and release and squashy drums, run the RNC in normal mode, not super nice. I often smash the hell out of my drum buss with an RNC.

[Coldsnow]

Make your own SSL clone stereo compressor. Suppose to be awsome on drums for about $300 in parts. YOu can get a already made curcuit board. It's very easy. I'm almost done with mine.
http://www.gyraf.dk/
go to DIY

[squeegybug]

The SPL DynaMaxx is pretty decent, $700 or so. I had it on eval and didn't keep it. It is a tiny bit "thicker" in the mids than the RNC, but sounded very musical and didn't get in the way.

I didn't quite want to spend the money for the small difference since I already had an RNC, and the RNC works good on acoustic instruments I wanted it for. I think the DynaMaxx might be worth checking on drums though.

Also, it's ridiculously easy to set up -- 2 knobs. And it has a limiter that works fairly well too.

Steve

[leftcoastproduc]

Originally Posted by Coldsnow

Make your own SSL clone stereo compressor. Suppose to be awsome on drums for about $300 in parts. YOu can get a already made curcuit board. It's very easy. I'm almost done with mine.
http://www.gyraf.dk/
go to DIY

you know I've seen that before and have heard great things about them but I think my days of skipping electronics class to go sit under the bleachers may be my downfall ......

out of curiosity how many hours have you logged in puting it together?

[leftcoastproduc]

Originally Posted by squeegybug

The SPL DynaMaxx is pretty decent, $700 or so. I had it on eval and didn't keep it. It is a tiny bit "thicker" in the mids than the RNC, but sounded very musical and didn't get in the way.

I didn't quite want to spend the money for the small difference since I already had an RNC, and the RNC works good on acoustic instruments I wanted it for. I think the DynaMaxx might be worth checking on drums though.

Also, it's ridiculously easy to set up -- 2 knobs. And it has a limiter that works fairly well too.

Steve

looks kind of tasty.....not sure about not having alot of controls for the compressor though.....for the price and being SPL it might be worth a listen....I think I will first get a RNC to try it out

[squeegybug]

The SPL was indeed very high quality, inside and out. Stereo-linked or dual mono. And the lack of knobs didn't cause any grief for use as general compression and limiting, the auto functions work very well.

Also had the interesting "de-compression" feature, I didn't try it much.

I agree with Tony, the best use I've got from the RNC has mostly been in Regular mode, not Super nice. Give it a shot, it's cheap... and you can likely always use it on something even if not your immediate needs.

Steve

[Coldsnow]

I probably have about 8 hours into it. Maybe another 2 more for painting the chasi etc. I know very little about electronics and it was very easy. On the diy forum web site (link on the Gyraf web site) you can get the parts list and lots of help and the pcb board has all the parts labeled on it. It isn't for everyone but I've had fun doing it.

[everybody's x]

TL Audio/HHB has several nice comps for under a grand

[Beezoboy]

If you don't have an Art Pro VLA it is a very usable compressor for under a grand. I have even used it on the 2buss a few times. I hear changing out the tubes adds a new world of possibility too. Now if I can just get my hands on some NOS RCA or Telefunken for a good price. Hmmm. . . maybe thats overkill.

Another vote for the RNC here too.

Beez

[soggy]

Originally Posted by junior

i've got a toft atc-2 which i really like on drums...

FMR RNC. 365.00 for 2 plus Rack mount!! Can't beat that with a drum stick...

--------

Junior, that is the funiest rocker cat I have ever seen....

[junior]

thanks, soggy

... almost forgot... the toft dc-2 is essentially just the compressor section of the atc-2. much less expensive...

http://toftaudio.com/dc2.html

[Screws]

Another vote for the Toft ATC/DC compressor. FET, very fast, very aggressive for drums.