Strapping a 'high end' stereo comp. and/or pre the answer?

[Umlaaat]

What if you've got a mix totally ITB, rather lifeless, but balanced and sounding ok for the most part... for plugs you've got uad and waves. Would strapping a high end compressor (vt-7, st-8, whatever) and/or pre help bring the depth and balls out of the mix?

[BB Bill]

Originally Posted by Umlaaat

What if you've got a mix totally ITB, rather lifeless, but balanced and sounding ok for the most part... for plugs you've got uad and waves. Would strapping a high end compressor (vt-7, st-8, whatever) and/or pre help bring the depth and balls out of the mix?

No.

In general you can not compress your way to depth and balls.

A high end compressor will perhaps glue a mix together somewhat, but this is merely a little icing on a pretty big cake.

All IMHO.

Good luck.

[DirkB]

Originally Posted by Umlaaat

What if you've got a mix totally ITB, rather lifeless, but balanced and sounding ok for the most part... for plugs you've got uad and waves. Would strapping a high end compressor (vt-7, st-8, whatever) and/or pre help bring the depth and balls out of the mix?

Yes, partially, certainly now life-saving amounts, but it can at least add some depth and glue. I added a stereo comp (1968ME) to my digital console (DM1000) and it definitely helps in adding glue and depth to the mix.
The "balls" as you put it, I associate with dynamics and the right amount of (tight) lowend. This has more to do with mixing skills and proper outboard. Lot's of good outboard compressors and eq's can tighten up the bass in a way I have yet to hear a plug in do.

There are people doing proper ITB mixes without outboard, but I bet they get stellar tracks to begin with. If your tracks are less than stellar, outboard IMHO is needed to get some "quality" i.e. punch, dimension, depth, center focus etc. into the mix.

I think a nice analogue stereo comp+ eq on the mixbus and some 3-4 mono anlogue comps and eq's on the most important tracks is a real valuable contribution to a digital mix setup.

Good luck,
Dirk

[Jules]

It will be helpful a little

1) you may get a little 'color' and 'size' via the analog eq & compressor
2) Get a little satisfaction that you can actually twist the controls and the computer has NOTHING to do with it..

So it might 'cheer up' your sound a little..

And if you don't have these tools already, then you have just made a good excuse to get some.

Before a dedicated summing device arrived in our studio, the in-house engineers LIKED adding ext eq & comp to the digital out of the ITB mix.. personally I didn't think it was worth it enough to do it very often. But a few times when I ran mixes through our Helios eq - I loved it. Overall I wasn't very comfortable with the concept, especially from a recall point of view. But that's just one opinion..

See what he gang say.. I bet a lot of folks are doing this & liking it.

[FMNYC]

DISCLAIMER:
i am just a rookie so take what i'm gonna say with a gibraltar rock-sized grain of salt.

i used to work entirely ITB, using waves plugs on most of my tracks including the mix-buss.
my approach these days is more hybrid-like. i mix ITB and then send the whole thing out to a nice line mixer, then to a two channel comp and back in.
this works great for me and the quality of my sound has improved greatly.
IMHO adding analog to the chain does sound better than strictly ITB but you know what they say about opinions...

cheers!

FM

FM does not necessarily reflect the opinions of this network.

[Umlaaat]

you think going to a summing amp would be better than a 2 ch. comp?

[FMNYC]

this is just my personal experience and by no means is it extensive but yes, bypassing the ITB two-buss works better for me.
it works even better when i send out as much as possible OTB, in other words bypass as much ITB summing as possible.

would just going to a summing amp and then back in be better? i dunno, here's what i experienced.
i got an API 8200a and went OTB into it but still needed to do do some make-up gain, for that purpose i use my mindprint DTC, i get much better results this way and it opens the door to all kinds of gearsluttery!

my humble $0.2.

peace!

FM

FM made a list and he checked it twice.

[mltamisin]

I do that with my mixes and it helps. I use a Portico 5012 and cheap FRN-RNC in super nice mode. The 5012 even when turned all the way down adds volume. It also has silk swith which comes handy if you want a different sound. I try not to let compressor hit at all, so the mastering dudes can do their thing. It really just kinda catches the overs. The setup does help the sound come together more. No doubt about it.

[Eaglecastle]

This might help you out if you mix ITB and are looking for something analog to give the mix a final touch.

http://www.avalondesign.com/vt747sp.html

PRICE: U.S.$ 2,495 List