Ableton Forum

Hi all,

Maybe this question is personal, but I really want an advice...

What do you think about third party compressors? Are they really MUCH better than the Live´s built in?

I have $100,00 to spend and I think that maybe an good compressor can be an good choice for that money, but I have Zebra2, where comes with Zebrify with have an compressor, and have the Live´s built in.

I have installed demos of Voxengo and Cytomic Glue and does not see any great distance of sounds from one to another and compared to Live´s built in.

I had tested all in a master channel of a production, maybe one is more suitable to an specific instrument and other to another, but I don´t think that I need one type of compressor to each instrument, right??

In resume, there is an "overall" compressor that you use for all kind of instruments and for master channel ? If yes, it´s really better than Live´s built in?

Thanks!!!

Fabfilter c

A bit more expensive but their GUIs are fab

Rave wrote:Fabfilter c

A bit more expensive but there GUIs are fab

Looks really nice!!! Downloading the demo right now, but double the price

Thanks

Live's compressor is great ..

play with the different modes and models and enjoy.
(and save your money)

Please keep in mind that this is just a strangers opinion, however... If you cannot hear the difference I would advise you to spend your money elsewhere right now (if you must spend it at all). Seriously.

some wonderful free compressors for downloading at KVR.com

- Density II - I think fantastic on the drum bus
- Blockfish - also very nice on drums
- Stardust - for the master bus : multi-band compression

play with these a bit before spending any of your hard-earned cash on compress plugs

better? not necessarily. but different? yes.

I think Live's compressor is very versatile, and I like it better than most bundled with the DAW compressors. I use it a lot of generic compression.

Sometimes I want something specific... a snare that just cracks and sustains, or cymbals/OHs that pump. Sometimes I can't get that out of Live's compressor so I turn to 3rd party.

I'm no plugin whore, and I don't have to many and generally like to keep it that way, so just demo a bunch and find which you like. Do hesitate to spend on the one you like though, cause settle on a plugin when you probably won't be happy with it in the future.

You don't need to.

The differences between Live's comp and a decent 3rd party one aren't night & day, but they often have more control and a touch better at gain reduction, so you can often get an extra dB or 2 of gain out of them if necessary despite the settings being exactly the same. Then there's ones that model hardware...

Live's comp is decent though, far better than other DAWs, imo of course.

Thanks for the advices

To be honest, I cannot hear any BIG differences at all... Maybe my ears don´t have enought experience to compare, or my speakers doesn´t do the job.....

For instance I think I´ll stay with the built in and zebra compressor to not spend money on the wrong place...

Sometimes we doesn´t give credit to built in effects "just because" they are built in, and think that buying "professional" tools is better, but we have exceptions and I think reading all advices that at least Live´s compressor is an good exception!!!

Thanks again for the advices, save me some bucks to spend around other things, at least while I cannot see the need to...

even if you could hear the difference, the average listeners cannot... so save your money.

auto-lock wrote:even if you could hear the difference, the average listeners cannot... so save your money.

Good point too..

rsaulo wrote:

auto-lock wrote:even if you could hear the difference, the average listeners cannot... so save your money.

Good point too..

Lives compressor is one of my favorite native plugs. I use it a lot, only second to eq8. It sound good and clean, its very verstile, and eazy to side chain. Its part of my channel strip rack on every track. 2 in each! One for ducking and one for compression. I sometimes do 24 tracks. Thats a total of 48 compressors. The beauty of the native compressor is that it does not tax cpu when in standby mode, and it uses less then half a meg of ram. Even though I have 48 loaded, I might only use 8. Its very flexible!

But I learned compressors with Pro C. I recomend watching Pro C tutorrials on the web. Just for learning what happens to the signal and why, graphically.

I use abes comp too btw. It just depends on what ya want to do.

I would save your money for something your might really need. I own Fabfilter Pro-C, and it definitely is worth it for the interface and versatile controls and transparent character (VERY nice way to learn how a compressor is affecting the audio). But Live's compressor is really good, too. Though the gui is not as good compared to Pro-C, it works great on individual tracks, and Live's compressor is also the easiest to side chain that I've found.

ze2be wrote:Lives compressor is one of my favorite native plugs. I use it a lot, only second to eq8. It sound good and clean, its very versatile, and eazy to side chain.

Agreed