My top five for mixong at the moment: 1. DMG Track Comp (workflow, sound and versatility) 2. UAD 175B (vibe and action) 3. Wavegrove HCL Islander (smooth treble and saturation) 4. Airwindows Pop (smacka'di'smack NY-drum-compression) 5. SPL Iron (I don't even know why - it just works on my masterbus)
The VoostEQ channel N is great for me. The old 60s comp is so smooth and the newer one is really punchy but eats transients a bit too much so the old one is by far a winner. lots of character.
Arturia knocks it out of the park with their compressors. I have not heard many other companies that nail the color and action like they do. Only problem is that I wish they made more
I absolutly love the STA Level too, with the extra options and wet / dry knob, it can bring things alive like no other compressors do. Their 33609 is cool to, I would like to see a CL1B emulation one day.
I love Unisum. Here, the UAD 1176, LA-2 & Distressor get plenty of use, for individual tracks as well as the Overloud LA Comp. And also DMG Track Comp, for lots of use cases, e.g. on the mix bus, as an SSL G Buss type comp (as well as DMG Track Limit). FabFilter C2 is a really useful tool too, as well as Ozone. For Tubetech CL1B type comps, I like the Kiive KC1. Otherwise, on drum bus and mastering, the UAD API 2500 as well as the Brainworx SPL Iron & the Amek Mastering Compressor. Also, I just started playing with the Unfairchild plugin, and I do like it, and there's a sale on so ...
Great list 👍 Not a top 5 here but 2 Compressors I've gone back to recently which are of amazing quality are Klanghelm MJUC (this thing just sounds amazing with so many possibilities) and also Jon V Audio FirComp (which is free and so transparent, amazing for dynamic control that sounds natural).
Sonible smart comp2 on the master or api for flavour and punch. Love all the other ones on the mix uad la2a, sa176, purafied comp, waves puigchild, abbeyroad 124...
I never thought my Weiss DS-1 could be replaced but my Massenburg MDWDRC2 knocked it off it's perch and with no latency I can even rec and mix live with it on.
Love the CLA-2A and CLA-76 as well. I use the IK One Mastering Processor if I am doing that in the box and it really does an excellent job to finish things off.
@@danzo9528 It's all good and could be. I think what it boils down (for me) to is when you really learn a product (plugin or other) you really get used to what it does and what it doesn't do well and this might be the case. It sounds good to me and I always get what I want out of it. I also like the Tube-Tech CL-1B and the Softube FET plugin. 👍
I don't do any mastering, just mixing. My top 5 compressors are by far: Acme Opticom XLA-3 Klanghelm MJUC UAD 1176 UAD Teletronix LA-2A Brainworx Townhouse Buss Compressor As a reference compressor without coloring: sonible smart:comp2
I like the UAD Distressor more than the UAD 1176 at least for drums. The UAD Distressor came out Native only recently. I also like the UAD Fairchild 660/670, it just sounds good. I saw you use a 670 on your mixbus one time and tried it with this.
Unisum is an indispensible tool for me. It's perfect for mastering. :D All of the other ones are awesome, and I only know of some of them thanks to you!
My favourites: - Kiive Xtressor (love my 2 hardware Distressors, this one comes super close€ - UBK Silika, lives on my drumbus - Neold U17 - Neold U2A - Brainworx purple MC77 - this one combined with the Neold U2A is perfect for getting vocals to sit
no order my top 12 (mixing mostly hip hop/trap) Elysia alpha Weiss Ds1 mk 3 (and the mini version) UA LA-2 and LA-2A UA-LA-3 AVALON VT-747 sp (kazrog) compressor alone Kiive Xtressor SSL Blitzer SSL G3 UA DBX 160 SPL IRON UA NEVE 33609 Bettermaker Bus compressor been meaning to try the unisum tho...
The Fuse Audio Labs stuff is really unique and great sounding. I recently put their RCA 25A (VCL-25A) on drums and it just sounds amazing. Thanks for your great videos. Best to you in 2024!
Fuse Audio Labs, Black Rooster Audio and Klanghelm are all really good, all German, Germans know what sounds good and always make things of great quality.
Hi David, is it still worth it investing in plugin compressor for mastering duties (I mean UNISUM in particular) while having analogue TK BC1 - THD unit (which I often use for subtle compression while mastering). Do you still find it useful to use UNISUM when you have many analogue compressors that you can use for mastering?? Thank you.
Yes I did answer in the video 😄 but I confirm, yes. Your hw is an SSL style comp, and while those are used in mastering, it's a specific style (snappy vca) with some color, not something you want by default on everything. Unisum for me is like having a great transparent, gluey (not by color but by action) expensive analog mastering comp at the price of a plug-in..
David, THANK YOU for tips on Klanghelm MJUC and Tokyo Dawn Limiter 6... and of course your zillions of other great recommendations! You’re the best, mister!
I have a bit of a Frankenstein of choices within Studio One. Pulsar Audio 1178 into the free UAD LA-2A Silver, Pulsar Audio Mu after a bit of EQ, each about 2 dB gain reduction Pulsar Audio Smasher for NY parallel compression Melda basic compressor for sidechain ducking on effects sends I have klanghelm MJUC but it's idle at the moment No Mastering compressor but the Weiss sounds like a great choice, still doing an LVC Clipped-MAX to the Limited-MAX Happy New Year David and subscribers, safe travels
uad api 2500/waves for drums bus, PA ssl 4000 on master with UA studer A800 and softube drawmer S73, 1176 (antelope plugin) for vocal and Antelope distressor (the distressor is a swiss army knife in the compression domain) and my stock plugin in ableton
I tend to use Analogue Obsession's BusterSE and YALA quite a bit. I was using tne WD Magic 76 in Blue mode on my vocals a lot but I picked up the Universal Audio 1176 trio and Revision A has taken it's place.
I haven't tried UAD and I tried slate very briefly so I can't really answer that. BUT, Arousor is not a direct Distressor emulation, yet is one of my fav ever. Softube is close enough, altho' a bit softer overall. Slate was pretty good if I go with what I remember and I didn't try UAD but their Fatso didn't wow me. I was mixing at Dweezil and he doesn't have Fatsos so I tried that and I didn't get the feeling I get with the hw (I was also actually mixing and not messing around so I didn't dig, same settings didn't give me what I expected is all I can say)
acustica Sand and Gold are ones that i thought would have gotten a shout. they sound absolutely incredible. Im not an engineer. i'm an artist/producer and when im trying to get great punch on my drums, Sand literally transforms breaks into insane levels of punch.
In the digital world the definition of "mastering compressor" is kind of not needed, or I should say, it doesn't represent the same difference as it does in analog. In analog you pay about twice the price for the mastering version of a compressor, or a compressor meant for mastering, because if the switches instead of pots, so precision, for the difference range, for the two channels perfectly matched, and lower noise floor. In digital you already have all that by default on basically the stock compressor. This is to say, don't worry about what the name says, you can put it on cowbell if you want 😅
@@mixbustv I really appreciate this David, do you think could make a video about if you could only buy 1 piece of outboard for mastering what would it be or the best bang for your buck? I do mostly rap/hip-hop that heritage audio successor sounded great you used, but so did the 542's just looking to get started on gear to buy for mastering out the box. My goal is to be one of the best out here eventually.
I was rushing to conclude my indifference towards the arousor until I had a mix session where I had to incredibly precisely adjust dynamics on snare oh my god was I blown away on how good the controls were on the thing in that context. Like oh my gawd
Well since I, most unfortunately, dont have near the hardware you do I have to rely more on plug-ins. But your first 2/3 are my most used: UA 1176AE & CLA76. But I also use the SSL Native Bus Comp 2, UA API2500 and the Waves C4. And of course the SSL Channelstrip VCA (more specifically SSL 4K E & Waves SSL E Channel).
Hi David, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Im a channel member, but i do not know about doing mix consultation. Could you points me in the right direction?
If you have either the weekly or monthly consultation tier you can send your mix to bookinghfs@gmail.com along with your youtube name and you will receive the feedback as soon as I can get to it
Usually for dialogue : Pro-C2 , UAD 1176 (AE probably but it depends). For live voices I'll often use Analog Obsession. Some voice over it's MJUC, often model 1 on timing 5. Maybe one day the great, flexible Arouser.
Best in my opinion are - Overloud Gem Comp670 (first comp on many buses), CLA-76 (Best Vocal Comp), Ik-Multimedia White-2a, DMG Audio Compassion (Series Compression Killer), Baby Audio I Heart Ny (Best Parallel Comp), CLA-3A (On Heavy and Clean Guitars - Magic), Waves Dbx-160 (Best Bass Comp), strangely from Acustica Audio Coral (on super heavy guitars nice punch and texture, like finisher). And that's practically all, rarely like finisher Tone Projects Unisum yeah too.
Plugin junkie here. Someone needs to explain to me why the Weiss is worth three times what most good “mastering” compressors cost. Exactly what does it do that the other good ones don’t?
After nearly two decades I slowly went away from the Rvox to Voca from Sonnox. Especially for voice overs…the Rvox make it sound to ”round“ for a modern ear.
My top 5: Ableton Live Compressor Ableton Live Glue Compressor (made by Cytomic) That's it, I don't use anything else :P (i have tried them all *obviously all is an exaggeration, but you get the idea*)
The only Distressor plugin that's worth a damn, is The Arouser! All others are a waste of money imo. However because it's airways so giving expensive I won't buy it. Have used it a bunch in other studios, but like I've said so many times before.. Never but plugins that are more than 50$ because you never own them really. Spent tens of thousands on plugins(back in the 2000's, each plugin was crazy expensive), and most of those companies are either out of business, or quit updating their plugins, so when you upgrade your computer whey 5years or so, all this plugins will not work on your new computer. So it's a waste!
BUY THE COURSES AT www.mixbustv.com/
Arousor: tinyurl.com/225zwyup
UAD 1176: tinyurl.com/3dzdjrxf
UNISUM: tinyurl.com/2ew9dcxx
DS1: tinyurl.com/ms82tcr4
TUBE STA: tinyurl.com/yzuvundk
ROCKRUEPEL: tinyurl.com/4p3ptcbm
Hello master, what do you think about ANALOG OBSESSION? Happy Christmas.
My top five for mixong at the moment:
1. DMG Track Comp (workflow, sound and versatility)
2. UAD 175B (vibe and action)
3. Wavegrove HCL Islander (smooth treble and saturation)
4. Airwindows Pop (smacka'di'smack NY-drum-compression)
5. SPL Iron (I don't even know why - it just works on my masterbus)
I use Unisum a lot on individual tracks too.... I love the Arouser too but HCL Islander is my new favourite
The VoostEQ channel N is great for me. The old 60s comp is so smooth and the newer one is really punchy but eats transients a bit too much so the old one is by far a winner. lots of character.
Channel n is dope I definitely use that to get that umph on my kik drum, also use the compressor on the mixbus
The CL 1B is my Go To......And for "Special Interest" I´d recommend the TDR Molot GE! Such a hidden Gem!!
Arturia knocks it out of the park with their compressors. I have not heard many other companies that nail the color and action like they do. Only problem is that I wish they made more
I absolutly love the STA Level too, with the extra options and wet / dry knob, it can bring things alive like no other compressors do. Their 33609 is cool to, I would like to see a CL1B emulation one day.
I like their modern GUIs, but sound....
Great as always David! When are you going to do a review of the klanghelm tens?
My top compressors:
*Purple Audio MC77 (Brainworx)
*Black Rooster Audio VLA-2A markII (Black Rooster Audio)
*DC1A3 (Klanghelm)
*MUJC (Klanghelm)
*DBComp (Analog Obsession)
*Buster SE (Analog Obsession)
*FETpressor (PSP Audio)
*Red 3 Compressor (Focusrite)
*TDR Molotok (Tokyo Dawn Labs)
*Mix Box (Ik Multimedia, the Black 76, LA2A and SSL Bus comp are really good)
I love Unisum. Here, the UAD 1176, LA-2 & Distressor get plenty of use, for individual tracks as well as the Overloud LA Comp. And also DMG Track Comp, for lots of use cases, e.g. on the mix bus, as an SSL G Buss type comp (as well as DMG Track Limit). FabFilter C2 is a really useful tool too, as well as Ozone. For Tubetech CL1B type comps, I like the Kiive KC1. Otherwise, on drum bus and mastering, the UAD API 2500 as well as the Brainworx SPL Iron & the Amek Mastering Compressor. Also, I just started playing with the Unfairchild plugin, and I do like it, and there's a sale on so ...
My favourite ones: Pro-C, MJUC and DC8C by Klanghelm, and U-he's Presswerk. All the Arturia ones are great as well.
DMG Compassion, Softube 1178 and DS1 MK3, Arousor, Tokyo Dawn Labs Kotelnikov GE.
Great list 👍
Not a top 5 here but 2 Compressors I've gone back to recently which are of amazing quality are Klanghelm MJUC (this thing just sounds amazing with so many possibilities) and also Jon V Audio FirComp (which is free and so transparent, amazing for dynamic control that sounds natural).
I love it that there’s so many really good free stuff out there these days 😊
The Stock PT compressor is still my fav “first compressor” on vocals
Sonible smart comp2 on the master or api for flavour and punch. Love all the other ones on the mix uad la2a, sa176, purafied comp, waves puigchild, abbeyroad 124...
I never thought my Weiss DS-1 could be replaced but my Massenburg MDWDRC2 knocked it off it's perch and with no latency I can even rec and mix live with it on.
Love the CLA-2A and CLA-76 as well. I use the IK One Mastering Processor if I am doing that in the box and it really does an excellent job to finish things off.
The IK One is crazy good!!
With all respect you probably did not try many other emulations from brands like UAD Arturia or Softube. They all sound better than waves imo at least
@@danzo9528 It's all good and could be. I think what it boils down (for me) to is when you really learn a product (plugin or other) you really get used to what it does and what it doesn't do well and this might be the case. It sounds good to me and I always get what I want out of it. I also like the Tube-Tech CL-1B and the Softube FET plugin. 👍
I don't do any mastering, just mixing.
My top 5 compressors are by far:
Acme Opticom XLA-3
Klanghelm MJUC
UAD 1176
UAD Teletronix LA-2A
Brainworx Townhouse Buss Compressor
As a reference compressor without coloring: sonible smart:comp2
I've enjoyed Kazrog's True Dynamics lately, especially after an 1176 instead of an LA2A.
I like the UAD Distressor more than the UAD 1176 at least for drums. The UAD Distressor came out Native only recently.
I also like the UAD Fairchild 660/670, it just sounds good. I saw you use a 670 on your mixbus one time and tried it with this.
What is the difference between the Empirical Labs Arouser and the Softube Empirical Labs Mike-E Comp EL9?
Unisum is an indispensible tool for me. It's perfect for mastering. :D All of the other ones are awesome, and I only know of some of them thanks to you!
My favourites:
- Kiive Xtressor (love my 2 hardware Distressors, this one comes super close€
- UBK Silika, lives on my drumbus
- Neold U17
- Neold U2A
- Brainworx purple MC77 - this one combined with the Neold U2A is perfect for getting vocals to sit
no order my top 12
(mixing mostly hip hop/trap)
Elysia alpha
Weiss Ds1 mk 3 (and the mini version)
UA LA-2 and LA-2A
UA-LA-3
AVALON VT-747 sp (kazrog) compressor alone
Kiive Xtressor
SSL Blitzer
SSL G3
UA DBX 160
SPL IRON
UA NEVE 33609
Bettermaker Bus compressor
been meaning to try the unisum tho...
The Fuse Audio Labs stuff is really unique and great sounding. I recently put their RCA 25A (VCL-25A) on drums and it just sounds amazing. Thanks for your great videos. Best to you in 2024!
Never heard of them they look very cool!
Fuse Audio Labs, Black Rooster Audio and Klanghelm are all really good, all German, Germans know what sounds good and always make things of great quality.
@@Mike_Benz_ Love the black rooster stuff, just waiting for vst3 and oversampling.
@@Mike_Benz_ cant argue with that!
@@aaroncampmusic 🙏Thanks for sharing the love of Fuse Audio Labs, great company and so underrated.
Hi David, is it still worth it investing in plugin compressor for mastering duties (I mean UNISUM in particular) while having analogue TK BC1 - THD unit (which I often use for subtle compression while mastering). Do you still find it useful to use UNISUM when you have many analogue compressors that you can use for mastering?? Thank you.
He answered that in the video 😊
Yes I did answer in the video 😄 but I confirm, yes. Your hw is an SSL style comp, and while those are used in mastering, it's a specific style (snappy vca) with some color, not something you want by default on everything. Unisum for me is like having a great transparent, gluey (not by color but by action) expensive analog mastering comp at the price of a plug-in..
David, THANK YOU for tips on Klanghelm MJUC
and Tokyo Dawn Limiter 6... and of course your zillions
of other great recommendations! You’re the best, mister!
I have a bit of a Frankenstein of choices within Studio One.
Pulsar Audio 1178 into the free UAD LA-2A Silver,
Pulsar Audio Mu after a bit of EQ, each about 2 dB gain reduction
Pulsar Audio Smasher for NY parallel compression
Melda basic compressor for sidechain ducking on effects sends
I have klanghelm MJUC but it's idle at the moment
No Mastering compressor but the Weiss sounds like a great choice, still doing an LVC Clipped-MAX to the Limited-MAX
Happy New Year David and subscribers, safe travels
uad api 2500/waves for drums bus, PA ssl 4000 on master with UA studer A800 and softube drawmer S73, 1176 (antelope plugin) for vocal and Antelope distressor (the distressor is a swiss army knife in the compression domain) and my stock plugin in ableton
I tend to use Analogue Obsession's BusterSE and YALA quite a bit. I was using tne WD Magic 76 in Blue mode on my vocals a lot but I picked up the Universal Audio 1176 trio and Revision A has taken it's place.
Hi David. Which distressor plugin do you think is the closest to the real hardware? uad, slate, arousor, softube mike-e?
I haven't tried UAD and I tried slate very briefly so I can't really answer that. BUT, Arousor is not a direct Distressor emulation, yet is one of my fav ever. Softube is close enough, altho' a bit softer overall. Slate was pretty good if I go with what I remember and I didn't try UAD but their Fatso didn't wow me. I was mixing at Dweezil and he doesn't have Fatsos so I tried that and I didn't get the feeling I get with the hw (I was also actually mixing and not messing around so I didn't dig, same settings didn't give me what I expected is all I can say)
acustica Sand and Gold are ones that i thought would have gotten a shout. they sound absolutely incredible. Im not an engineer. i'm an artist/producer and when im trying to get great punch on my drums, Sand literally transforms breaks into insane levels of punch.
I like the spl iron on my drum buss, ik that's a mastering compressor but it almost makes snares sound like you put them inside the box of the song.
In the digital world the definition of "mastering compressor" is kind of not needed, or I should say, it doesn't represent the same difference as it does in analog. In analog you pay about twice the price for the mastering version of a compressor, or a compressor meant for mastering, because if the switches instead of pots, so precision, for the difference range, for the two channels perfectly matched, and lower noise floor. In digital you already have all that by default on basically the stock compressor. This is to say, don't worry about what the name says, you can put it on cowbell if you want 😅
@@mixbustv I really appreciate this David, do you think could make a video about if you could only buy 1 piece of outboard for mastering what would it be or the best bang for your buck? I do mostly rap/hip-hop that heritage audio successor sounded great you used, but so did the 542's just looking to get started on gear to buy for mastering out the box. My goal is to be one of the best out here eventually.
I was rushing to conclude my indifference towards the arousor until I had a mix session where I had to incredibly precisely adjust dynamics on snare oh my god was I blown away on how good the controls were on the thing in that context. Like oh my gawd
Well since I, most unfortunately, dont have near the hardware you do I have to rely more on plug-ins. But your first 2/3 are my most used: UA 1176AE & CLA76. But I also use the SSL Native Bus Comp 2, UA API2500 and the Waves C4. And of course the SSL Channelstrip VCA (more specifically SSL 4K E & Waves SSL E Channel).
Hi David, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Im a channel member, but i do not know about doing mix consultation. Could you points me in the right direction?
If you have either the weekly or monthly consultation tier you can send your mix to bookinghfs@gmail.com along with your youtube name and you will receive the feedback as soon as I can get to it
sonible smart bundle.
This is my most used plugins.
It saves much time and with little tweeks, good results can be acheived.
Usually for dialogue : Pro-C2 , UAD 1176 (AE probably but it depends). For live voices I'll often use Analog Obsession. Some voice over it's MJUC, often model 1 on timing 5. Maybe one day the great, flexible Arouser.
Best in my opinion are - Overloud Gem Comp670 (first comp on many buses), CLA-76 (Best Vocal Comp), Ik-Multimedia White-2a, DMG Audio Compassion (Series Compression Killer), Baby Audio I Heart Ny (Best Parallel Comp), CLA-3A (On Heavy and Clean Guitars - Magic), Waves Dbx-160 (Best Bass Comp), strangely from Acustica Audio Coral (on super heavy guitars nice punch and texture, like finisher). And that's practically all, rarely like finisher Tone Projects Unisum yeah too.
I really like the official SSL bus compressor v2 for clean and punchy edm mixes
Unisum by tone projects ❤ ( for me ) or uhe presswerk !!
How could i forget the Uvi la2a opal... i love it but its too heavy on my computer's resources
A nice compressor I like is the D16 Frontier which for my ears sounds really great and is totally free 😊
Plugin junkie here. Someone needs to explain to me why the Weiss is worth three times what most good “mastering” compressors cost. Exactly what does it do that the other good ones don’t?
start here: ruclips.net/video/b3wwpLeqbN8/видео.htmlsi=PPowE2qpJR0SYYHT
Hey David! Do you track through the 542 ever?
With the premise that I don't really track anymore (other than very very few people/projects) no, I wouldn't track with them. I only use them on 2bus
Thanks David.@@mixbustv
That's top praise for Unisum there and deservedly so
my most used plugin this year was david.=D
Thanks! Your videos are very helpful.
Thank you for the support Jeff!
My favourite plugin for compression is the AA Erin
Who won
BIG UP MISSBUSS TV,WHAT ABOUT ACUSTICA TIGER?
It's great, I didn't include it simply because for me is more of a specialty comp and I don't use it as often as others
Kotelnikov for mastering. Nearly every time.
That‘s the way to go!
After nearly two decades I slowly went away from the Rvox to Voca from Sonnox. Especially for voice overs…the Rvox make it sound to ”round“ for a modern ear.
it is a damn shame melda doesnt get mentioned enough. Mturbocomp is the only compressor I use
AMEK is the other mastering compressor that is slept on, but yes, UNISUM is the G.O.A.T. in the MC category.
Although an EQ, the Sontec q632 is so underestimated.
Mjuc by khlangelm - super compressor
Unisum and HCL Islander😎
My top 5:
Ableton Live Compressor
Ableton Live Glue Compressor (made by Cytomic)
That's it, I don't use anything else :P (i have tried them all *obviously all is an exaggeration, but you get the idea*)
Acoustica audio tiger of course
Still not one of you that do courses teach how to mix reggae music. Why is that...?
Because for my courses I use clients projects, real mixes, and they have to give me clearance to use their songs.
Elysia Alpha Master, UAD 1176 AE, and lately....OTT (not even joking)
Softube Bus Compressor is the best for mastering, hands down!
I love it for mixing too :-)
Melda MDynamics.
Omnipressor... Its somewhere now in every project.....
Every time David mentions January 6th, I chuckle so hard. IMagine DAvid as a Proud Boy storming the Capitol with those "guns" he got.
Ssl lmc ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Weiss DS1-MK3 tiene una latencia terrible... es antimusical. Eso si, suena muy bien.
El Rey 2 lol
fr... so slept on
Unisum is not an industry standard, hell no.
Oh well if *you* say it then must be true 😄
same goes for you@@mixbustv
The only Distressor plugin that's worth a damn, is The Arouser! All others are a waste of money imo. However because it's airways so giving expensive I won't buy it. Have used it a bunch in other studios, but like I've said so many times before.. Never but plugins that are more than 50$ because you never own them really. Spent tens of thousands on plugins(back in the 2000's, each plugin was crazy expensive), and most of those companies are either out of business, or quit updating their plugins, so when you upgrade your computer whey 5years or so, all this plugins will not work on your new computer. So it's a waste!