snare comp

[sheltersoton]

i need advice on a good decent price compressor/limiter for tracking snare:

my signal chain is normally sm57/sm7B > Dav BG2 > Motu 424 card

if im using a comp at the moment its a RNC which is not bad but i like using it for comppressing the room mics, my only other comp is a DBX 160 which i use on the kick..

i dont have a massive budget and i'd like it to be useful on other applications (guitars etc) what do you slutz recomend? is it hard to power a single 500 series API card?

cheers?

[toolskid]

another 160 may be the best bet!

[studjo]

Toolskid has a point there - for tracking I like the Daking comp too but it's a bit more pricey I fear.


Jo

[markus enochson]

alot of poepl (myself included) often use 160 with great result. if u have two u coulso do st compression

good luck

markus

[toolskid]

Originally Posted by studjo

Toolskid has a point there - for tracking I like the Daking comp too but it's a bit more pricey I fear.


Jo

uhm...

did Jo just agree with me?

nah.. must be imagining things

[beechstudio]

Yep........add another 160. I've got 4. Sometimes I need more. Can't beat 'em for what they're going for these days! IMHO

[Bishbashbosh]

Just to be really annoying.......
24bit, I'm preferring not to track with any compression. The only thing I'm compressing to disk is bass, and a touch on vocals.

[markus enochson]

well put it in after then?

todd terry has 16

m

[Markus Stock]

Are you using a DAW? I love the 160 on snare too (though prefer it on kik - almost unbeatable in that application!) but in Plug In World great snare comps are Compressor Bank and Metric Halo Channelstrip. They are the only comp plug ins I use on drums and they are just as fine as outboard I think. You can get that great smack with both of them....

[toolskid]

Originally Posted by Markus Stock

Are you using a DAW? I love the 160 on snare too (though prefer it on kik - almost unbeatable in that application!) but in Plug In World great snare comps are Compressor Bank and Metric Halo Channelstrip. They are the only comp plug ins I use on drums and they are just as fine as outboard I think. You can get that great smack with both of them....

the bite control is definitely useful!!

[retropete]

What version of the DBX 160 do you guys use?

[markus enochson]

a, x and xt

m

[jayfrigo]

Doesn't really fit the budget nature of the original post, but I love the SSL channel comp on snare. Nice and snappy; just what you want for snare.

[polimorfos]

Originally Posted by retropete

What version of the DBX 160 do you guys use?

I'm glad you asked because people always talk about the 160s w/o specifying which model. IMO, the newer 160x and the like aren't great sounding compressors. I always couldn't believe it in the late 80's and early 90's when I saw engineers using these while 1176s, etc. sat unused in the rack.

The older 160vu, etc. sound great on Kick and Snare, IMO...

[studjo]

Originally Posted by toolskid

uhm...

did Jo just agree with me?

nah.. must be imagining things

Toolio it's all your IMAGINATION!

I'd never agree with a drummer

[TML]

The ssl add a nice pop to the sound....I like it over the disstressor,,,the again..I like my alesis micro limiter over it
tim

[BruceTheProduce]

DBX 160 X, I also like the 163X

[absrec]

Originally Posted by Markus Stock

I love the 160 on snare too (though prefer it on kik - almost unbeatable in that application!)

Funny. This is not the first time I've heard this. I have (2) 160VU and (2) 160X. I cannot get a snare to sound good through one of those things to save my ass. Is there just a certain way you have to dial them in? They just always seem to make the snare sound dead to me. Maybe I'm deaf.

Chime in if you have a good 160/snare technique.

[7rojo7]

I wait to compress the snare, I usually use top and bottom mics to get a little more umph, I'll eq it to tape or whatever though.
If you like the RNC why not get another? A Drawmer for a change of taste?

[superburtm]

Originally Posted by sheltersoton

i need advice on a good decent price compressor/limiter for tracking snare:

my signal chain is normally sm57/sm7B > Dav BG2 > Motu 424 card

if im using a comp at the moment its a RNC which is not bad but i like using it for comppressing the room mics, my only other comp is a DBX 160 which i use on the kick..

i dont have a massive budget and i'd like it to be useful on other applications (guitars etc) what do you slutz recomend? is it hard to power a single 500 series API card?

cheers?

Be cautious trking compression on the snare. Use it very sparingly..I'm not a huge fan of 160's on the snare. I like something a little slower and fatter so the transient doesn't get totally smashed and end up sounding like an underwater firecracker. Remember you cannot undo compression commitied to disk.

[Yetti]

Originally Posted by absrec

Funny. This is not the first time I've heard this. I have (2) 160VU and (2) 160X. I cannot get a snare to sound good through one of those things to save my ass. Is there just a certain way you have to dial them in? They just always seem to make the snare sound dead to me. Maybe I'm deaf.

Chime in if you have a good 160/snare technique.

I don't think your deaf!
I have a couple of 160a's....and I also have never liked it on snare or kick. I have messed with it, going between hard knee and soft knee....just seems to take the "life" out of it, like you threw a blanket over the monitors.
A bbe after the blanket helps add a little sparkle, but then when I A-B, I usually say screw it and unplug the patch cords.

[polimorfos]

Sorry, I meant to say 160vu, not 160a. I don't like the single rack space 160 models at all...I edited my previous post accordingly.