Compressor recommendations

Alandalton

LR Member
Hi all.
First post. I was wondering what compressor people would recommend for compressing each channel that's not the built in channel strip compressor.
A good all round external compressor.
Thanks,
Alan
 

Matt

Sonic Singularity
Staff member
The Comps in the main mixer are outstanding compressors so I am wondering what you are looking for in a compressor other then the ones on the main SSL mixer this will help narrow down something you might be looking for.
 

Alandalton

LR Member
Hi Matt.
Thanks,
I was just wondering if people had a preference or if one of the external compressors were a step above the rest.
 

brandtkalk

Reason User +
Hi all.
First post. I was wondering what compressor people would recommend for compressing each channel that's not the built in channel strip compressor.
A good all round external compressor.
Thanks,
Alan
Hello Alan

IN REASON by default you can use

- Mclass ( really transparent and efficient cpu friend with side chain)
- the modest comp 01
- the pulverizer with is squashy and dirty sound
- the audiomatic in tape position with a lot of gain in can give you the taste of the old tape compression band but it's only a coloration.

IN RE
- rough rider (audio damage) is punchy and very efficient on percussive part, it's not really the gentle and subtle compressor but with the mix section you can make interesting parallel comp
- RE 2A (cakewalk) is great for bass, voice and all track with a lot of dynamic, without feelling too much the pumping and transcient erasing( magic effect with only two knobs).
- Dynarage (daveloop) is hardly "tube colored" more usefull for hard and collored compression
- 4DYN (flower audio) is really great because it's a multiband compression with a lot of routings possiblities
- Dcam bus comp (fxpansion) is usefull on ensemble of tracks but I don't use it a lot , I never find exactly what I'm looking for with it (but it's only ma taste)
- Dcam channel comp (fxpansion) is the channel compressor ( but for me it's like the bus compressor , never find exactly what I want with it)
- Gclip (GVXT) may be used as compressor but it's in first a wave shaper
- G670 (mcdsp) is the glue compressor fairchild inspiration ( I like it a lot because it's a discret and verry soft compressor)
- FRG4RE (mcdsp) is the verry precise compressor complementary to the G670 easy to find what you looking for with it.
- Moo tube (mcdsp) is great for voice, bass a litle bit like the RE 2A but different (personnaly I like a lot the 3 MCdsp and I think the are in sale at this time)
- C1 L1 (red rock) is verry interesting because there is a lot of possiblities, it's a verry complet compressor.
- Leveler (seilig) is an other mode working compressor, usefull for finalisations but not for starting.
- Fet compressor (softube) is a verry efficient compressor but not really gentle. verry great to boost drums room and also in parralel mode. (I like it a lot)
- tube tech classic channel (softube) verry expensive and not only a compressor , its a channel strip. I use it more for the eq but the compressor is good in serie mode with an other compressor.

my conclusion
the MCdsp serie is great because you will find with 1 of the 3 for what you need in each situations.
the C1 L1 is complet and multi usage.

voilà
 
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Runcell

LR Member
Hi Alan, I've recently upgraded from Reason V4 to V8 and I'm in the same boat as you whereas I am also looking for a RE compressor.. I know that I want both DCam bus and channel comps and rough rider as I have used these elsewhere and know that they work well.

BUt.. I am looking (also) for a compressor with an attack time of more than 300ms.. Does anybody have or know about one that can, please let me know.
 

brandtkalk

Reason User +
Hi Alan, I've recently upgraded from Reason V4 to V8 and I'm in the same boat as you whereas I am also looking for a RE compressor.. I know that I want both DCam bus and channel comps and rough rider as I have used these elsewhere and know that they work well.

BUt.. I am looking (also) for a compressor with an attack time of more than 300ms.. Does anybody have or know about one that can, please let me know.


4DYNE have an attack at maximum 350 ms
and there is no indication but visually the CL1B is more then 1 seconde
 
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vocoderboy

Reason User +
if for no other reason then just to opine i like the M-class all the way to the bank, it does the job no muss no fuss.
 

Osmose

Reason User +
Softtubes fet compressor can have a real slow and grungy attack.
If you like having a rough character, then the fet is highly recommended
 

Matt

Sonic Singularity
Staff member
I love the Comps in the Main Mixer, the Puliveriser and the Mclass. The only one I have bought so far is the Ozone Maximizer for mastering. It's great to have tons of choices but its even better to be a master of your tools ;)
 

Runcell

LR Member
You're absolutely right Matt, it's best to be a master of your tools.. for example - you wouldn't use a hack-saw to cut an 8x4 piece of wood, even though it's a saw and it would still do the job.. I see where you're coming from, getting too many tools at once means you won't learn them all properly which is why I've got to be very selective about which compressors I buy.. The channel strip compressor is good, it has a nice gentle valve sound, but I need more precision with the attack time. And sorry MClass - you're just too transparent and yer attack time only goes to 100 ms. oH and you've been my only compressor (in Reason) for the last 10 yr.

Osmose, I envy you. I would like to have the STube FET, but I may just be gear lusting.. Either that or I just can't swallow the price.. I might give it a demo at some point.

Finally, before my finger pops, I reckon I'll be going for the outboard rig- it has the DCams, the Ozone, the 4Dyne and some nice reverbs to boot. Sorry to ramble guys, thanks for listening.
 

Osmose

Reason User +
No need to excuse for rambling mate ;)

but i do highly recommend the FET, it is amazing... Havent regret buying it once! But i do think that softtube's prices are out of the roof. There pultec inspired eq for example, holy cow!
 
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