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-- Compressor Shootout: Ableton/T-Racks/Waves SSL
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quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest I have no idea which one is which though.

If I didn't make it, I probably couldn't tell which one is which, either. That said, the character of the SSL 4000 really jumps out at me, so I'd probably guess that one right, and the Pro-C is one I use the most, so I might recognize it, but I wouldn't bet on it.

And, yeah, the release really makes a difference, particularly in the effect that it has on the overhead, far room, and ambience mics - some of them really get pulled forward, depending on the release. BTW, there is no reverb on these drums - you're just hearing the effect on those three mics.

The qualitative differences between these is actually a little startling. Brilliant idea for a thread and well executed too, Cryo.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney and the Pulitzer for best short story / witticism goes to Cryophonic. I wish i could write. And Eddie just knocked it out of the park. Writing is so much cooler than music. Like , writing is the only art where doing meth is like not really a bad thing. He's a writer. Musicians are just frustrated writers that can't actually put into words what they want to say.

As a writer since the mid 90s, I feel just the opposite. Anyone whose well read, has a decent vocabulary and a little life experience, can assemble a workable string of words to evoke a given response. Some more than others. But to get that same response without actually 'saying' anything with words is genuine talent.

Not that I'm slagging my own profession. "Great" writing is an art form in itself. But I think that meaningful music is something far harder to create.

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker The qualitative differences between these is actually a little startling. Brilliant idea for a thread and well executed too, Cryo.

Thanks! I was actually a little shocked to hear them myself. If you download the wav and look at the waveforms in an audio editor, you may be even more surprised.

quote:

Originally posted by Normie As a writer since the mid 90s, I feel just the opposite. Anyone whose well read, has a decent vocabulary and a little life experience, can assemble a workable string of words to evoke a given response. Some more than others. But to get that same response without actually 'saying' anything with words is genuine talent. Not that I'm slagging my own profession. "Great" writing is an art form in itself. But I think that meaningful music is something far harder to create.

I do a LOT of writing for my job (probably 100+ of pages a week, on average), but it's all very technical scientific documentation, or proposal writing for bids. I've never been a very creative writer and lyrics are particularly difficult (impossible!) for me. I have a very hard time separating my technical mind from my creative mind when it comes to the written word, for some odd reason. Music is just the opposite - the creative part (writing melodies, etc.) comes pretty readily for me, but I don't enjoy the technical side nearly as much. Weird.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Thanks! I was actually a little shocked to hear them myself. If you download the wav and look at the waveforms in an audio editor, you may be even more surprised. I do a LOT of writing for my job (probably 100+ of pages a week, on average), but it's all very technical scientific documentation, or proposal writing for bids. I've never been a very creative writer and lyrics are particularly difficult (impossible!) for me. I have a very hard time separating my technical mind from my creative mind when it comes to the written word, for some odd reason. Music is just the opposite - the creative part (writing melodies, etc.) comes pretty readily for me, but I don't enjoy the technical side nearly as much. Weird.

At my 'peak' in the late 90s/early 2000s I did a pretty simmilar amount...but 'creative/technical'. Race reports, product reviews, land use articles etc. The easy part was having a lot of raw material to condense it from.

I was fortunate to be a co-writer on the book American Motorsports (did the off-road section). It's out of print now but Amazon has a few posted still. Then I did my newspaper/reporter stint till 2008ish.

Very different styles and some easier than others. But they can be learned. Now a pure fiction work or lyrics, That I'd have to work on since aside from a couple half-hearted attempts I've never really tried. But as a whole writing came easy to me. Music does not. Maybe that's why I think of it like I do. Yea, I got some awards and such so someone seemed to like what I wrote, and yea, I am 200% grateful for them. But There's not a lot there to stand the test of time. That kind of writing is soon forgotten. But a great song, like a truly great (and oh so rare) book is eternal.

Now at the risk of sounding like an ass kisser, having listened to the tunes you have on your site, I'd definitely call it art. Not in a Bach sense, but in an 'I like this, it moves me' sense. I am glad for having heard them.

And that's not even counting the harem

I can't write. I am pretty awesome at editing, but my prose is clunky and uninspired, and I could never come up with an interesting story or characters for fiction.

quote:

Originally posted by Normie Now at the risk of sounding like an ass kisser, having listened to the tunes you have on your site, I'd definitely call it art. Not in a Bach sense, but in an 'I like this, it moves me' sense. I am glad for having heard them. And that's not even counting the harem

Thanks....ass kisser.

And, keep your hands off my harem.

Cryo, are you going to eventually post which one is which for that audiofile?

quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest Cryo, are you going to eventually post which one is which for that audiofile?

Yup, after Raphie eats his words (or, more likely, comes up with some lame excuse after realizing how ignorant he sounds).

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie And my point was not that software can't beat hardware, one vanilla compressor is more than enough. definately on moderate settings, on more extreme settings all software plugins sound shite...

I posted extreme examples of a variety of software compressors ranging from bundled freebies to expensive Waves and FabFilter products, and one hardware unit that is widely used and considered a standard in the industry. Should be a no-brainer, right?

so cryo, do you have an opinion of which ones sound best to you?

quote:

Originally posted by jayxthekoolest so cryo, do you have an opinion of which ones sound best to you?

Nope, not really. Yeah, they generally all sound different at the same settings, but most of us don't work that way (i.e., just setting arbitrary values calling it good). We use our ears to dial in the sound and, the reality is, I could have gotten most of those compressors to sound similar (a couple already do) if that had been my goal. Also, I don't get too hung up on the differences in sound when it comes to compressors, EQs, limiters, etc., unless it's something like PSP Vintage Warmer that is designed to add some saturation or glue.

The way I work is that I use one compressor for almost all of my work, which in my case is Pro-C because I like its features and its interface. It's pretty neutral sounding, but you can change the color by using different modes (e.g., opto, classic). But, I also love using channel strips, and Waves Ren Channel and the SSL 4000 strips are my go-tos. I really love how aggressive the 4000 gets, particularly on drums, where it just makes them pop like no other (that's probably a good hint as to which one that is!).

"lame excuse" I've no clue what your drawner sounds like, neither can i say for the other compressors if the've been slammed extreme. Currently at the airport, but once back home i'll give it a listen and describe what i hear and prefer. stay tuned!

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie I've no clue what your drawner sounds like, neither can i say for the other compressors if the've been slammed extreme.

Then, I'll put your quote here once again:

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie ...on more extreme settings all software plugins sound shite...

I have provided a high-quality .wav of 7 compressors that have been slammed to extreme settings - 6 of them are software, and 1 is hardware. By your logic, the one that doesn't "sound shite" is the Drawmer hardware compressor. Now, stop playing stupid and use your golden ears to answer the question. Which one is it?

anyone here a fan of cytomic ''the glue'' my fav plugin evarrrr

quote:

Originally posted by mathieu anyone here a fan of cytomic ''the glue'' my fav plugin evarrrr

Yeah, very nice compressor. I owned it, but sold it recently after buying the Waves SSL 4000 bundle. After A-B'ing the Waves buss compressor with The Glue, the differences were so minimal to my ears, that I couldn't justify owning both buss compressors. I wasn't about to part with the SSL bundle because I like the two channel strips too much. It still wasn't an easy decision to sell The Glue, though.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney nope some people just lazy, some aren't. I never understood the point of using a preset for an EQ or a compressor. It doesn't make any sense. You use an eq or a compressor because you have a reason for it. So the parameters are already decided before you even add it. So really, i just don't see how anyone would use a preset. UNless as Dave said, they just started producing and are curious,.

There's presets on EQs
I think it's a good thing I never noticed. I just stick a plain one in and then get working.

Presets are great to learn from as you can reverse engineer the sounds to see what they do, but everyone should get to a point where they can build something from scratch. It's more satisfying anyway.

I'll name the one later today. just back home.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Then, I'll put your quote here once again: I have provided a high-quality .wav of 7 compressors that have been slammed to extreme settings - 6 of them are software, and 1 is hardware. By your logic, the one that doesn't "sound shite" is the Drawmer hardware compressor. Now, stop playing stupid and use your golden ears to answer the question. Which one is it?

Just for fun I wanna put my bet on #3 the SSL4000 (soo punchy) and #4 the hardware comp.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie I'll name the one later today. just back home.

What's so difficult? It should be night and day - listen to it once and pick the one that doesn't shite (in your mind). Let me guess - you're stalling while you demo as many of these as you can find, aren't you?

quote:

Originally posted by Julz Just for fun I wanna put my bet on #3 the SSL4000 (soo punchy) and #4 the hardware comp.

Just for clarification and consistency, I'll number the compressors this way:

Original - 0:02
Comp #1 - 0:23
Comp #2 - 0:45
Comp #3 - 1:06
Comp #4 - 1:27
Comp #5 - 1:49
Comp #6 - 2:10
Comp #7 - 2:32

ok, so listened

1st one is uncompressed you said. there is a clear difference in all files that follow. not making a judgement call now, can you provide me 8 seperate wavs as listening to these in sequence is a total brain wash
I think 2 and 3 are VST regardless, then you continue with less squashed settings, or compressors that do not sound that extreme.

At this stage i'm unable to identify a drawner compressor i've never worked with. I don't know what it should sound like so i have no reference.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie ok, so listened 1st one is uncompressed you said. there is a clear difference in all files that follow. not making a judgement call now, can you provide me 8 seperate wavs as listening to these in sequence is a total brain wash I think 2 and 3 are VST regardless, then you continue with less squashed settings, or compressors that do not sound that extreme. At this stage i'm unable to identify a drawner compressor i've never worked with. I don't know what it should sound like so i have no reference.

It's the one that doesn't sound shite. You made this ridiculous claim, but clearly can't back it up. No need to provide the 8 individual clips, you already failed. #3 is the Drawmer. As I clearly stated when I posted this clip, all compressors are using the same settings - differences in how extreme they each sound are due to inherent differences in each compressor at those settings.

Original - 0:02
Comp #1 - 0:23 - Waves SSL 4000G
Comp #2 - 0:45 - Waves Ren Channel
Comp #3 - 1:06 - Drawmer DL241
Comp #4 - 1:27 - X1 Pro Channel Track Compressor
Comp #5 - 1:49 - FabFilter Pro-C
Comp #6 - 2:10 - Waves C-1
Comp #7 - 2:32 - Sonitus Compressor

Show a little humility next time - you don't have golden ears.

I this case i don't know what your drawner should sound like
the 1st one doesn't sound anything like my real G that's for sure
and i can pick out a real 2500 from a Waves one anytime.

But hey if you read i've got my guess so far right:

nbr 2 (first compressed file VST)
nbr 3 (2nd compressed file VST)

So VST's have a certain sound after all

So in essence, a compressor is a compressor. When you tweak settings different compressors will sound different, but in the end, you just adjust the parameters differently and you can get almost identical results regardless?

quote:

Originally posted by Lunar Phase 7 So in essence, a compressor is a compressor. When you tweak settings different compressors will sound different, but in the end, you just adjust the parameters differently and you can get almost identical results regardless?

No, all VSTs have a sound, as Raphie so clearly "proved" above.

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