What compressor would you get, if any, in my shoes?

rnilson · #1 05-15-2009, 04:43 PM

Ok guys here is where I am.
I do D'n'B/Dub/Afrotronic stuff.
Can be heard here:
www.myspace.com/mixedmethodmusic

What I would want from a compressor:
1.) Sustain (When desired)
2.) Tightening and added punch on the Low End without bass loss.
(Low End means Sub Bass)
Example of what I would want to tighten and punch:
http://www.soundclick.com/rnilson
The track/Compress me
3) Volume Peaking and Peak Limiting on both squealing highs and Sub Bass

I don't care it is rack mount or a pedal.
Price Range 100-200, but I will pay what I have too for something that is what I need.
I want it to be easy to dial in. Presets would be good for sustain/ no sustain. A stomp or switch for control of this would be a plus.
Must be true bypass.
Am I dreaming?

Thoughts?

RedLeg · #2 05-15-2009, 04:48 PM

dbx 160 classic. tried and true
trace elliot smx dual compressor (if you can find one)
dang it, my suggestions will not sustain. sry

aluminumbassguy · #3 05-15-2009, 04:54 PM

Bongomania should show up any minute. Check out his compressor reviews and FAQ.

R Baer · #4 05-15-2009, 04:56 PM

My favorite reasonably priced compressor, hands down, is the Demeter Compulator pedal. Very transparent, does what it supposed to and it's almost impossible to screw up your sound with it. Well worth saving a few extra bucks for.

Hint: Buy the recommended power supply. This thing goes through batteries fast and starts to distort when the batteries get even a little low. Use the power supply and this pedal is the bomb!

rnilson · #5 05-15-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aluminumbassguy

Bongomania should show up any minute. Check out his compressor reviews and FAQ.

Yep, spent about an hour on his site reading reviews. Still not sure what would fit the bill.

phat daddy · #6 05-15-2009, 06:06 PM

+1 on the Trace SMX Dual Compressor. I found one on TB about a year ago, and I couldn't be happier with it. Very tranparent, easy to use, and has a color-changing input led that lets you know how hard you are hitting it. I absolutely love what this compressor has done for my tone and my speakers.

Jim C · #7 05-15-2009, 07:14 PM

I like the Trace pretty well but believe that either a dbx 166 or 163 (1 knob unit) is slightly more transparent; could just be that the Trace componenets have aged.

Jared Lash · #8 05-15-2009, 07:34 PM

I've been looking for the same thing. I think a dbx or the Maxon CP9+ might be your best bet though I'm interested to hear if anyone has any better options.

JohnDavisNYC · #9 05-15-2009, 07:38 PM

i've been wanting to try out the cp9... i love my 160's, but they are all in the studio rack, and i don't do racks live... that is a great vca sound.

john

Jared Lash · #10 05-15-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnDavisNYC

i've been wanting to try out the cp9... i love my 160's, but they are all in the studio rack, and i don't do racks live... that is a great vca sound.

john

I dig it. Very much like a dbx compressor in a pedal. Good stuff.

Proton Lenny · #11 05-15-2009, 07:56 PM

Just listened to the clips of that Maxon, very nice. I'm not a big compressor guy, but it sounds like you can get a very nice natural compression, or the classic squashed sound. Plus I have a limiter on my Thunderfunk, which I like, and I've always wanted a good limiter/compressor that I could put at the beginning of my chain. Have to keep this one in mind.

illmusician · #12 05-15-2009, 08:02 PM

For rack mount the DBX 166 is where its at. Pedals: For shelf/ soft knee compressing like a limiter, the BBE Opto Stomp its true bypass and relatively cheap, For Dynamic: EBS Multi-Comp as it also is the only true multi-band comp out there, it has tube comp it is also true bypass emulation also my favorite. For a flexible right in between the Demeter Compulator is great

rnilson · #13 05-15-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnDavisNYC

i've been wanting to try out the cp9... i love my 160's, but they are all in the studio rack, and i don't do racks live... that is a great vca sound.

john

VCA sound? I am slow on the up take...what is this?

(Edit)
Never mind answered my own question...Ah google is my friend.

gr8fulhiker · #14 05-15-2009, 08:23 PM

BBE MaxCom - I got a mint used one for $125. Full feature compressor ( same VCA as a 166 I think) with the sonic maximizer that can be used for low end boost. Its also a 2-channel design so you can compress before or after the boost. The maximizer gets a bad rap for being a gimmicky scooper but, a scoop with no high end is a bass boost! ...and a donut with no hole is a danish.

Jared Lash · #15 05-15-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

Just listened to the clips of that Maxon, very nice. I'm not a big compressor guy, but it sounds like you can get a very nice natural compression, or the classic squashed sound. Plus I have a limiter on my Thunderfunk, which I like, and I've always wanted a good limiter/compressor that I could put at the beginning of my chain. Have to keep this one in mind.

If you like envelope filters I wouldn't recommend keeping a compressor at the beginning of your chain.

Jared Lash · #16 05-15-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnilson

VCA sound? I am slow on the up take...what is this?

Voltage Controlled Amplifier

I believe that was a compliment on your clip.

Edit: Looks like you found the answer yourself while I was typing my response.

JimiLL · #17 05-15-2009, 08:35 PM

Alesis 3630
Behringer whatever 2 chanel
DBX 266, or if youre cool like me, the 1066

Basically you want to be able to stereo this unit to compress the highs and lows differently, right??

Gonna need a 2 channel, and no pedal offers that

Proton Lenny · #18 05-15-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

If you like envelope filters I wouldn't recommend keeping a compressor at the beginning of your chain.

True, although if I stick with the general outline of what I'm working on with Mario, I will have a split signal before the comp, one of which will go to the trigger on the filter. But who knows, my entire filter concept could change, and probably will, after I get together with Rnilson.

Jared Lash · #19 05-15-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proton Lenny

True, although if I stick with the general outline of what I'm working on with Mario, I will have a split signal before the comp, one of which will go to the trigger on the filter. But who knows, my entire filter concept could change, and probably will, after I get together with Rnilson.

Yeah, losing the dynamic trigger to the filter is one thing, but you'd also lose the ability to tame volume spikes which these days is the only reason I need compression for live playing. Depends on the filter but as I'm sure you know, the 00Funk can crank out the spikes in certain orientations. I don't know what the Photron is like in terms of spikes.

rnilson · #20 05-15-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigO

Voltage Controlled Amplifier

I believe that was a compliment on your clip.

Edit: Looks like you found the answer yourself while I was typing my response.

I don't think it was a reference to the clip, the clip is not compressed....that is what I want, to make it punch more.
I am thinking almost a kick drum type punch. I am after a Neurofunk bass sound.