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FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:39 pm
by korgano
Write here your Favorite Plugin Compressor for Vocals

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:51 pm
by garyb
DAS 660

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:55 pm
by Neutron
Whats a good compresser for ducking the bass with the kick drum?

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:07 pm
by garyb
vinco, das166 and several others with a side chain.

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 7:52 pm
by dawman
Sidechaining w/ the DAS 166 works really well live for me.
Just started using it a week ago and instead of altering my vtp. files I just used the Kick to compress live bass and live analog synth bass also.
Our bassist uses a 5 String that gets really low, and my analog also digs way deeper than DSP/VST synths can, and I was constantly frustrated until I read up on sidechaing.
I think you would need to do that w/ the DS MoPho's. The extra Sub it has will easily overwhelm a Kick track no sweat.
I have recently sidechained live vocals over the Cymbal Bus and had excellent results.
For some reason, probably my lack of mastering skills, when I recorded the drum tracks I left them as 5 seperate groups thinking I could always add or delete effects later instead of making a 2 track master to play live parts over.
I am sure glad I did that because it allowed me to sidechain and experiment with new plugs live, and it has really helped in the mix.

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:14 pm
by Neutron
Well that was funny. i decided to see if i had vinco. hmm my scope registry doesnt say i have it.
i looked at the mix n master package on soniccore. i already ahve all the plugs except that one im not paying $600 for it lol.
so i decided to try the optimaster one and click click..vinco is there? and it works???
is it part of only thing i can think of is that it uses the "scope sp" key or somehow doesnt show in the registry.

never even knew i had it

its nice. but i want to use it on final output so i think i have to build an analog volume control:D
oh..duh i can put a mixer rail after it ..back to the studio!

so let me get this right. it seems like a simple enough thing.
i connect something to the side chain and press the side chain button. it will duck the main signal when there is loud signal on the SC inputs?

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:06 pm
by wayne
Correct.

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:20 pm
by dawman
I use VDAT for the pre recorded drum tracks and take a virtual " Y " from it's outputs.
One pair goes to the mixer, the other pair to the Sidechain I/O's of the compressor.
You can use an entire mix to send through the Compressors inputs, or in my case an AUX or Bus. It really does tame the low end and brings the Kick out front.

The vocals sidechained to the Cymbal Bus were a successful example also. When the vocals are active the cymbals take backseat, but in between vocal articulations the Ride cymbal fills the gaps beautifully.

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 12:59 am
by rhythmaster
I like the DAS SL9000 v2 as compressor.

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 2:37 am
by spefor
Here are my choices:

BASIC SCOPE for all pumping FX.
DCOMP is the best free compressor.
DAS2A for all kind of vocals and for its transparence.
DAS660 but it depends of the "mode" you choose, colors a bit to much when it pumps.
DAS1610 for bass guitar and drums.
DAS COMP AI sounds like a true hardware if you use it as an external FX ( through a converter ).Very nice design indeed and very good peak-meters.
WOLF COMP for electronic bassdrum.
I never choose the same FX for all the tracks.
Cheers and HAPPY NEW YEARz

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:54 am
by Crickstone
DAS COMP AI sounds like a true hardware if you use it as an external FX ( through a converter ).Very nice design indeed and very good peak-meters
How are you accomplishing this?

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:15 am
by RitaMorgan
Sonalksis - TBK3 Über Compressor is good.

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:33 am
by firubbi
optimaster works fine for vocals. hope xite_optimaster will be another classic m.compressor. wish if it has 5band eq :)

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:28 pm
by at0m
Flexor users might want to try an envelope follower (Hyper Follower) to negative modulation on a dynamic shaper - softsat is the most transparent one...

For a compressor with look-ahead, insert a short delay with zero feedback (Flexor's Sample Delay?) in front of the dynamic shaper.

For a side-chain one can feed the 'master' to the envelope follower and let that level attenuate the 'slave' using negative modulation on a dynamic shaper.

For real (and transparent) ducking, like CW's stock Ducker, send the envelope follower via a uni2bi to a Xmod Mixer. Connect both sources to the mixer, and feed the 'master' to the envelope follower. Then the mixer will output the 'slave' channel unless there's a 'master' level.

For more or less transparancy, try different dynamic shapers from the collection.

I'm not suggesting Flexor has the answer to all dynamics problems, but it provides the most simple, flexible and effective tools!

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:12 am
by irrelevance
at0m wrote:Flexor users might want to try an envelope follower (Hyper Follower) to negative modulation on a dynamic shaper - softsat is the most transparent one...

For a compressor with look-ahead, insert a short delay with zero feedback (Flexor's Sample Delay?) in front of the dynamic shaper.

For a side-chain one can feed the 'master' to the envelope follower and let that level attenuate the 'slave' using negative modulation on a dynamic shaper.

For real (and transparent) ducking, like CW's stock Ducker, send the envelope follower via a uni2bi to a Xmod Mixer. Connect both sources to the mixer, and feed the 'master' to the envelope follower. Then the mixer will output the 'slave' channel unless there's a 'master' level.

For more or less transparancy, try different dynamic shapers from the collection.

I'm not suggesting Flexor has the answer to all dynamics problems, but it provides the most simple, flexible and effective tools!

Nice ideas at0m. If you were to equip a stereo circuit would there be an issue with phase? Don't know if mod circuits can be optimsed in such a manner.

OT: Followed your roundup link to wikipedia. Big pharma :x

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:22 am
by at0m
Stereo versions (as in 2 parallel paths patches in a modular) are prone to phase offset. There is no way to lock that.

A workaround is to put a single saw cycle or so for example before the actual song on both mono tracks, then afterwards zoom in and manually correct the offset. I know it's pretty cubersome, but that stereo offset is just unavoidable in any modular. It takes the SDK to lock 2 mono circuits to the same DSP thus avoiding any offset.

On the other hand, it's not a disaster if one of 2 synth channels has 3-4 samples delay, that'd sound like sitting listening 30cm closer to one speaker compared to the other. Since a dynamics effect is not a dry/wet mix, there will be no real audible artefacts. For a mastering compressor, it might be worth to correct the phase using the method described above.

For such a stereo compressor, I'd recommend mixing both channels to a single envelope follower driving both shapers. Then the actual attenuation will be the same on both channels.

While you're at it then, why not try an EQ in front of the env follower?

Enjoy patching,
at0m.

Re: FAVORITE Plugin Compressor

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:03 am
by JoPo
Did you try this :
http://www.sonictimeworks.com/p_pcompx. ... 9744575d25

It is really good compressor, and of course the vinco but not for the same purpose.