how do you tell a good compressor

Funkstar De Luxe · Post by **Funkstar De Luxe** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:43 am

djsynchro wrote:A good compressor sounds good.

At last, some common sense!

djsynchro · Post by **djsynchro** » Fri May 02, 2008 1:25 pm

To elaborate on that, some of the best sounding stuff doesn't have tons of knobs and switches and features. Famous example: Teletronix (Now Universal Audio) LA2A: One knob for compression (more/less) one knob for make-up gain. A switch for 2 different ratios (originally at the back of the unit meant to be set one way or the other then left alone) that's it.

Robert Henke · Post by **Robert Henke** » Fri May 02, 2008 2:28 pm

A good compressor is like a good screwdriver.

sparklepuff · Post by **sparklepuff** » Fri May 02, 2008 3:48 pm

Robert Henke wrote:A good compressor is like a good screwdriver.

You can use it to jimmy the door on your ex-girlfriends house?

djgroovy · Post by **djgroovy** » Fri May 02, 2008 4:17 pm

b0unce · Post by **b0unce** » Fri May 02, 2008 4:19 pm

you can use it to negotiate with hookers ?

blakbeltjonez · Post by **blakbeltjonez** » Mon May 05, 2008 2:41 pm

djsynchro wrote:To elaborate on that, some of the best sounding stuff doesn't have tons of knobs and switches and features. Famous example: Teletronix (Now Universal Audio) LA2A: One knob for compression (more/less) one knob for make-up gain. A switch for 2 different ratios (originally at the back of the unit meant to be set one way or the other then left alone) that's it.

some of my favorite compressors are the old dBx ones with the wood sides..... the 160, which only has a couple of knobs, ratio selector and a meter (kinda pricy these days, the later 160A and 160xt are great too, though, and quieter), and then the el cheapo 163/164's with a single slider that just says "more"...... you are stuck with dBx's preset time constant and attack/release curve, but that keeps you from getting in too much trouble. great for putting a little extra point on a kick, or for bass.

Dominik · Post by **Dominik** » Mon May 05, 2008 4:49 pm

a good compressor is just volume and wouldn't colour at all!

Mike Goodwin · Post by **Mike Goodwin** » Tue May 06, 2008 3:21 am

djsynchro wrote:A good compressor sounds good.

Ah ha!

djsynchro · Post by **djsynchro** » Tue May 06, 2008 1:00 pm

Dominik wrote:a good compressor is just volume and wouldn't colour at all!

That would be a bad compressor

doddolfur · Post by **doddolfur** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:22 am

Am I the only one that found previous versions of ableton's compressor crap?

The new one is really smoothe with all the settings and features you want. The old ones never gave me the sound I wanted. dunno why..

lesterdiamond · Post by **lesterdiamond** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:16 pm

Dominik wrote:a good compressor is just volume and wouldn't colour at all!

I disagree but I realize what you're getting at.

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:01 pm

A good compressor compresses good...

djgroovy · Post by **djgroovy** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:05 pm

... compresses real hard.

Dominik · Post by **Dominik** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:10 pm

lesterdiamond wrote:
Dominik wrote:a good compressor is just volume and wouldn't colour at all!
I disagree but I realize what you're getting at.

thanks,
i don't realize what you're getting at,though.