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Best Compressor and Equilizer For Trance

So whenever I like to get into something, I like to buy the best thing possible so I can learn on the best. I put an album out on Cubase, but wasn't too happy with the quality, so I really want to get technical in the EQ and compression of my future projects - I attribute this to one of the main reasons my album sucked.

As far as best compressors go, I've heard these are pretty good:
Teletronix LA-2A

Slate Digital Virtual Buss Compressors

Equalizer:
iZotope Ozone

Are these good compressors/equilizer for electronic music? Specifically trance music? Maybe it doesn't even matter?

I DJ with Pioneer CDJs, and want Pioneer equipment over Denon stuff. I'm glad I bout the Pioneer equipment when I first started DJing, even though it was more pricey. This is what I am trying to do with my music production - buy the best.

hmm if it sucked i dont think it was cos of the choice of eq or compressor really...

i love fabfilter Q for all round EQ, very precise, great UI

Compressors i use and love, C1, RComp, Waves CLA (1176 and LA2A) compressors, HComp

I dont think that compressors are good for particular genres as such, more that they tend to have different characters and sometimes be slightly better suited for different jobs

For example the CLA 1176 has the famous "all" ratio button which makes it fantastic for parallel compression! or Rcomp seems to me a great general all rounder !

Just play around with a couple, or have a read up on it

Be interested to hear what other people recommend though

Re: Best Compressor and Equilizer For Trance

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Whrr I put an album out on Cubase, but wasn't too happy with the quality, so I really want to get technical in the EQ and compression of my future projects - I attribute this to one of the main reasons my album sucked.

I think the other "main" reasons are probably more important to worry about.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Whrr This is what I am trying to do with my music production - buy the best.

Sounds more like you're trying to buy talent.

I don't use Cubase anymore, but I can tell you that Cubase users are absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to effects. Cubase 7 has the best stock plugins of any DAW on the market, hands down. If you can't do a good mix in Cubase, then the problem is you, not the plugins.

In any case, read this article. Cubase has so many different EQs now that you literally have every base covered already. If you feel the need to buy another EQ, it's because you don't know how to use the ones you've already got.

http://rhythminmind.net/1313/?p=361

It's 99% technique so use whatever you like

Re: Best Compressor and Equilizer For Trance

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Whrr So whenever I like to get into something, I like to buy the best thing possible so I can learn on the best. I put an album out on Cubase, but wasn't too happy with the quality, so I really want to get technical in the EQ and compression of my future projects - I attribute this to one of the main reasons my album sucked. As far as best compressors go, I've heard these are pretty good: Teletronix LA-2A Slate Digital Virtual Buss Compressors Equalizer: iZotope Ozone Are these good compressors/equilizer for electronic music? Specifically trance music? Maybe it doesn't even matter? I DJ with Pioneer CDJs, and want Pioneer equipment over Denon stuff. I'm glad I bout the Pioneer equipment when I first started DJing, even though it was more pricey. This is what I am trying to do with my music production - buy the best.

Why do you need a compressor? An LA-2A is very different from the ones from Slate Digital

As tehlord says... it's all about technique.

There is not any processor for specific style of music.

now if you want recommendations I use in the Studio (where I'm working and not for producing electronic music) in hardware
compressors
LA2-A, 1176, chandler, TLaudio, and Avalon.
eqs
Avalon, TLaudio, API, Pultec.

And all of them has its own character so with practice you should know what to use in certain sounds to reach your goals.

but i.e. you shouldn't use a LA2-A for drum sounds because of its response, of course you can use it but it will not sound as good as a 1176, if you are going to use some of these classics processors (they are available as plugins also) you should read some about them, they are classic in music industry.

For Producing electronic music in my home studio
Compressors all in software
LA2A, 1176, API, Fairchild, SSL buss compressor, Rcomp, Waves C4, all the recreations from URS and Also Sonalksis
Eqs all in software
FabFilter (for mixing and work on frequency clashing), for coloration and character SSL, Neve, API, Pultec, the recreations form URS and brainworxs (for mid side eqs)


You should learn how the eqs and comps works, and then understand WHY to use it. Practice and check what they do and why one is different from another.

As many said, there is no need to buy anything of the mentioned above, Cubase 7 native plug ins are awesome! so honestly I think you need to check what are you doing wrong.

I hope this helps

Re: Best Compressor and Equilizer For Trance

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Whrr Are these good compressors/equilizer for electronic music? Specifically trance music? Maybe it doesn't even matter?

No, it doesn't matter. There are some specialty compressors that excel at sidechaining/ducking, but there aren't comps/EQs designed specifically for trance.

See beamrider's advice above. Learn your current tools first, then decide if you need something else.

Re: Best Compressor and Equilizer For Trance

You've already been given great advice in this thread but just to add, I woudn't really reach for any of the waves compressors for any fast transient sounds or drums; IMO waves are mainly softknee compressors and it's a bit of a jump to get that great pumping feel that DBX or an Urei will give you.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Whrr I DJ with Pioneer CDJs, and want Pioneer equipment over Denon stuff. I'm glad I bout the Pioneer equipment when I first started DJing, even though it was more pricey. This is what I am trying to do with my music production - buy the best.

Not to piss on your parade but Pioneer, in sonic quality terms are horrible. The CDJ's are great, but every mixer they've put out is all just gimmicky toys and zero quality. In that respect they're not "the best" by a long shot - I'd take A&H, Vestax, Ecler, Forumula Sound etc in hearbeat over a pioneer mixer.

For compression and EQ, I generally use the main Cubase compressor and EQ.

For certain situations I'll turn to a Waves compressor or EQ, but as others have said, you should be able to get great results with the plugins that come with Cubase. No matter which compressor or EQ you use, you're going to have to learn how to effectively compress or EQ your sounds.

Having said that, your mixes should sound pretty good before you apply any compression or EQ - using these tools to try and get sounds to fit together isn't optimal.

Re: Re: Best Compressor and Equilizer For Trance

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN You've already been given great advice in this thread but just to add, I woudn't really reach for any of the waves compressors for any fast transient sounds or drums; IMO waves are mainly softknee compressors and it's a bit of a jump to get that great pumping feel that DBX or an Urei will give you. Not to piss on your parade but Pioneer, in sonic quality terms are horrible. The CDJ's are great, but every mixer they've put out is all just gimmicky toys and zero quality. In that respect they're not "the best" by a long shot - I'd take A&H, Vestax, Ecler, Forumula Sound etc in hearbeat over a pioneer mixer.

Really? But there is a waves version of the 1176 - unless im missing something? Also you wouldn't use a any of the other waves comps on drums?

eqs are all the same. Some have extra features. DDMF has cheap plugins that are great. Yes, their 40$ eq is the same as the fabfilter eq. Everyone is using the same equations with some adding analog noise to give you phat bass. Spline EQ is rather neat and 15$. Fabfilter is over priced and lacking features like well, i still find it amazing that els don't have a transpose parameter. The waves hybrid does have the notes but still, being able to move the curve so that you can adjust for bass notes, i mean it isn't rocket science.

Linear eqs really aren't worth the trouble.

For compression, make sure you have one with a wet/dry mix, ability to side chain, I think the melda bundle is top notch and it covers everything and does other things nobody else does.

Most of it can be done with things that do what compression does but more controlled i.e. lfo tools, Cable Guys volume shaper.

The waves hybrid is pretty close to a dbx. The UAD dbx is fantastic for drums. it is just not pretty and harsh. But fuck UAD and their shitty dongle.

sound tube have the best compressors in my opinion. They are coloured and actually do sound different. So many compressors just all sound the same.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney eqs are all the same. Some have extra features. DDMF has cheap plugins that are great. Yes, their 40$ eq is the same as the fabfilter eq. Everyone is using the same equations with some adding analog noise to give you phat bass. Spline EQ is rather neat and 15$. Fabfilter is over priced and lacking features like well, i still find it amazing that els don't have a transpose parameter. The waves hybrid does have the notes but still, being able to move the curve so that you can adjust for bass notes, i mean it isn't rocket science. Linear eqs really aren't worth the trouble. For compression, make sure you have one with a wet/dry mix, ability to side chain, I think the melda bundle is top notch and it covers everything and does other things nobody else does. Most of it can be done with things that do what compression does but more controlled i.e. lfo tools, Cable Guys volume shaper. The waves hybrid is pretty close to a dbx. The UAD dbx is fantastic for drums. it is just not pretty and harsh. But fuck UAD and their shitty dongle. sound tube have the best compressors in my opinion. They are coloured and actually do sound different. So many compressors just all sound the same.

Fabfilter is all about the workflow for me, it's unbeatable.

Incidentally you can also click and drag all or any EQ nodes on ProQ and the stay relative to each other so as long as you know the frequency of the tranposition you could do it that way.

I told the guy to add the notes like waves hybrid and a parameter to transpose. It is so simple to implement. Fabfilter looked good. Ddmf pro looks the same , does the same , and is ridiculously cheap. Spline eq is another thing altogether. Fabfilter have been rather lazy if you ask me.

If they kep adding features, people would buy it say like uhe. I think that it is the best way to encourage people buying stuff. I can't wait till cytomiks filter plugin. The betas sound delicious.

Even though I have way more compressors/EQs that I'll ever use, I pretty much think that a decent suite includes the following:

Compressors - one for general, all-around use (e.g., FabFilter Pro-C), one for "color" (e.g., NI VC 76 or similar), and one for buses (e.g., The Glue, Waves SSL 4000 bus comp).

EQ's - one clean EQ for general-purpose and surgical work with plenty of bands (e.g., FabFilter Pro-Q, Waves H-EQ, or similar), and potentially another one with a vintage/colored vibe (e.g., UAD Neve 1073, Waves V-EQ, or similar).

http://varietyofsound.wordpress.com/
best freeware plugs

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney I told the guy to add the notes like waves hybrid and a parameter to transpose. It is so simple to implement. Fabfilter looked good. Ddmf pro looks the same , does the same , and is ridiculously cheap. Spline eq is another thing altogether. Fabfilter have been rather lazy if you ask me. If they kep adding features, people would buy it say like uhe. I think that it is the best way to encourage people buying stuff. I can't wait till cytomiks filter plugin. The betas sound delicious.

Ddmf is one of my favorites, if not my favorite company. But we should keep the secret and not tell much about it.

quote:

Originally posted by TranceElevation Ddmf is one of my favorites, if not my favorite company. But we should keep the secret and not tell much about it.

It's not a secret. musicradar, rekkerd, audiofanzine, etc etc etc have been talking about them for ages and computer music magazine gives away free versions pretty regularly. great plugs, though.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney Fabfilter looked good. Ddmf pro looks the same , does the same , and is ridiculously cheap.

You have to buy both DDMF EQs to get the full feature set of Pro-Q (linear and minimum phase), but I agree it's still much better value. That said, there's no way the UI on the DDMF plugins is as good as Pro-Q.

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney Fabfilter have been rather lazy if you ask me. If they kep adding features, people would buy it say like uhe.

People mainly buy FF products for the workflow and bundle discounts. Pro-Q has the best UI around and Pro-C is the only compressor where auto gain actually works. Some FF plugins go beyond just having a nice UI though. Pro-L and Saturn fall into that category; they excel in terms of quality and features, not just aesthetics.

Considering my earlier post, I have to point out that I only bought these plugins because the ones that came with my DAW (Studio One) were missing features I needed; the limiter had no ISP detection, the EQ had no mid/side, the compressor is RMS only and there was no (good) distortion effect. The plugins in most DAWs cover most of these features already and are of generally equal quality, so it's important to keep perspective.

I can see how as a beginner you would want to try and take the most pragmatic approach, but unfortunately you are taking the wrong approach and are worrying about something that has little or no importance. The in-the-box effects with all major DAWs are more than capable to do the job you need done. There are some VST plugins that do the same job, sometimes better, sometimes worse, but 95% of the time those differences are aesthetic and entirely subjective.

The differences in the in-the-box effects like EQ and compressors in a DAW like Ableton and buying top of the line software EQ/compressors in their place, at your stage of development, are extremely irrelevant nuances that you shouldn't even be worried about. In the production world, driving the best Ferrari vs. a family sedan is not the same as using top of the line plugins vs. in-the-box effects for things like EQ and compression, especially since you are so new.

The energy you are spending on this is the energy you should be using to understand the fundamental concepts of compression and EQ, and time you could be spending learning through practice of application.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Even though I have way more compressors/EQs that I'll ever use, I pretty much think that a decent suite includes the following: Compressors - one for general, all-around use (e.g., FabFilter Pro-C), one for "color" (e.g., NI VC 76 or similar), and one for buses (e.g., The Glue, Waves SSL 4000 bus comp). EQ's - one clean EQ for general-purpose and surgical work with plenty of bands (e.g., FabFilter Pro-Q, Waves H-EQ, or similar), and potentially another one with a vintage/colored vibe (e.g., UAD Neve 1073, Waves V-EQ, or similar).

THIS.

I now don't have to really post anything....

Though, I will say this: a channel strip can be useful, especially if you want a certain sound, or on a system where you need to use less (older systems), or if you like a more "all-in-one" plug for eq, compression, sometimes gating.

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