Best rackmount compresor

[walterw]

What is down side of the 266xs?

-Frank

i suppose it's fine, but as DBX's bottom-shelf unit and a cheap chinese piece at that it's just not as nice as the older US-made DBX stuff, and likely no better than what the OP has now. they're like $100 new. (still better than the stank alesis 3630 though)

 

[boomertech]

i suppose it's fine, but as DBX's bottom-shelf unit and a cheap chinese piece at that it's just not as nice as the older US-made DBX stuff, and likely no better than what the OP has now. they're like $100 new. (still better than the stank alesis 3630 though)

I think the dbx 266 unit may cure the "click" issue that he is having with his BBE. So it might be better than what he has now.

-Frank

 

[DavC]

the Presonus Studio Channel was rather fun ... !

as was the Focusrite trakmaster or similar channel strip ...

just a straight comp = dbx

 

[Thumpin6string]

I run a Presonus Bluemax Smart Compressor. They are compact, cheap used and work great IMO. I use it with my GK 1001RB-II.

 

[Dragan]

i always liked the 160X:

Vintage Rack Mountable DBX 160X Compressor / Limiter Clean Overall, See Photos | eBay

DBX 160X | eBay

I had one and l sold it. Funny tho l am thinking of getting it back home. Maybe some of you guys could help me bit my issue (reason) l ve sold it in 1st place were that l heard some kind of crunch while playing. The tightness, meat and fat was there but that crunchy sound was put off. I heard thats the nature of the beast but could it be alternated in some way,settings and so on?

EDIT: my mistake, it was 160a, not x...

 

[And I]

Take a look at dbx266xs. $130 at amazon.

-Frank

Apologies @boomertech, but I cannot UN-recommend this box enough for this or any other purpose. It sounds okay enough in over-easy mode... But not great as a peak limiter. The main issue is reliability: I've had two different ones fail on me in different locations. The lights go haywire, the compressor works intermittently, then stops working altogether. Not to mention you don't need a stereo compressor, and you don't want a bottom of the barrel budget device like this. DBX does make some good rackmount comrpessors, but this isn't one of them.

If you can find a used DBX 160x (or even better, a 160a) in your price range, there's your guy.

 

[slamsinger]

RNC with a rack tray ...
fantastic little compressor

 

[DirkP]

Why does it have to be rackmount? I would in any case prefer an Origin Effects cali stompbox against all the <= 300,- rack-compressors that were recommonded here.
>= 700, we can start talking rack-compressors

 

[Retroblaster]

Symetrix, DBX, anything offering soft knee, or gated comp!

 

[And I]

For peak limiting you'd want a hard as opposed to a soft knee.

 

[boomertech]

Apologies @boomertech, but I cannot UN-recommend this box enough for this or any other purpose. It sounds okay enough in over-easy mode... But not great as a peak limiter. The main issue is reliability: I've had two different ones fail on me in different locations. The lights go haywire, the compressor works intermittently, then stops working altogether. Not to mention you don't need a stereo compressor, and you don't want a bottom of the barrel budget device like this. DBX does make some good rackmount comrpessors, but this isn't one of them.

If you can find a used DBX 160x (or even better, a 160a) in your price range, there's your guy.

That's good info! I saw one video that shows a faulty ribbon cable in a 266.

When the OP said he is looking for a replacement for his 2-ch "clicky" BBE, I thought this was a good replacement with its soft-knee and very similar control features.

-Frank

 

[slamsinger]

RNC with a rack tray ...
fantastic little compressor

FMR Audio - RNC

 

[And I]

Yeah if clicking is an issue perhaps something more compressory vs limitery will do the trick. Slightly slower attack time, and a softer knee. Dbx 160 is well suited for bass guitar, I still would go that way if you can find a good used one in your price range.

 

[boomertech]

For peak limiting you'd want a hard as opposed to a soft knee.

The OP is complaining of clicking noise with his BBE. If the clicking noise is from compression artifacts, then soft-knee will work wonders for him.

-Frank

 

[And I]

It's Monday, I'm a bit slow on the uptake.

 

[boomertech]

Yeah if clicking is an issue perhaps something more compressory vs limitery will do the trick. Slightly slower attack time, and a softer knee. Dbx 160 is well suited for bass guitar, I still would go that way if you can find a good used one in your price range.

Using a stereo comp may also work well for him by setting up multi-slope compression. Set the first comp with more gentle compression 2:1 to 4:1, medium speed attack, medium-fast release and lower threshold. Then feed that signal into the second comp with limiter (10:1 or greater), fast attack, quick release and high threshold.

Because of the two stages, compression artifacts are greatly diminished. A great use for a stereo comp.

-Frank

 

[boomertech]

OP, does your BBE make a clicking noise with slower attack settings? If not, then try the 2-ch (comp limiter) set-up that I posted above. You may want to kill the BBE Sonic Maximizer on the first comp.

-Frank

 

[boomertech]

I owned an ART TCS comp many years ago and liked it very much. I saw the Pro VLA II has gotten some nice reviews and it is an optical comp with a 12AT7 tube in the signal path. It's 2U high. For $300.

-Frank

 

[cavemanbass]

For simple and transparent I'd also go with a flavor of dbx 160. For more control, the Aphex 651 (precursor to the tube 661) is awesome but you'll spend a lot of time fiddling with all the parameters. No auto settings, no soft knee.

 

[Insouciance]

DBX 160A. Been using one for 12 years and I can't imagine playing without it!