I have an Empirical Labs PUMP and while it's not a 1:1 of the Distressor it's DAMN close! The thing I love most about the PUMP and Distressor is the amount of GR you can get and have the compression still remain transparent. I've never head another compressor do that before. Some soft knee comps come close but you can have like 20dB of GR with a PUMP or Distressor and still have it sound pretty natural. They are great on anything but I really like them on Vocals and elec guitars.
The Urei LA-4 was the first Vactrol-based compressor but didn't have tubes in it. Still, the CL1B is very clean; it just adds some sheen because the tubes have a lot of headroom. Fuse Audio Labs has an emulation. The 33609 is also gluey but in a more creamier way.
If I were perfectly honest, I vastly prefer the Distressor over an 1176, because it's got a softer knee, and the attack time can be much slower. To me, this means you can do monstrous amounts of gain reduction without it sounding overcompressed. :D
All my stuff is DAW and plug-ins. I have a UAD version of Distressor, Manley Variable Mu, Fairchild 670 and 660, then versions elsewhere of LA-2A, 1176, a Pulsar Audio 1178, SSL native Bus Compressor 2 and G3, others in the SSL/Slate Complete, IK Multimedia, countless others that fall into these 4 categories. Great info, and nice hat.
Thanks Miami. Always enjoy your insights. My go to comp is an 1176....plugin version of course, for my initial compression. Then JST Bus Glues at the end of the chains.
🔥🔥🔥- dope overview. I didn't know that the modes in the JST BG Vocals had emulation for specific units- is there a cheat sheet for deciphering the modes and settings for actual compression types- this would make the plugin much more interesting to me?
New subscriber here. Your channel is the bomb. Very knowledgeable and smooth presentations. One quick question: I have the SSL Big Six and the Fusion. SSL Bus + or the Distressor? I can only afford one. Thanks in advance.
Ahhhh mannnn…. I’m gonna go with the distressor for now …. The thing is you already have a g comp in the big six… maybe not as flexible, but it’s SOMETHING. And between that and the fusion you have two different listen mic compressors for extreme compression.the distressor will handle the rest. But this is SUCH a tough question because the bus plus versatility on a two bus is INSANE… gah. Go distressor -Miami
Idk…6 times outta 10 im reaching for the DBX 160…vocals, drums, synth, snappy snare….nothing compares….i don’t really like the tube tech CL1-B maybe on some synths. But I would take the LA2A over the tube tech any time.
I thought that tubes didn’t color the sound at all, I thought that color only came from Transformers. So why would you swap tubes out of the hardware unit? Just wondering.
@phadrus tubes actually color the sound more than transformers. Swapping out tubes will change the type of coloration you get. You see this in guitar amplifiers as well. Plugin emulations of tube compressors also try to impart tone on to audio. Happy mixing!
@ wow that’s news to me. Everything I’ve ever read and seen says that tubes have little to no impact on sound, and the circuits and output transformers are what have a significant impact. I thought the idea of tubes coloring sound came from marketing. Didn’t Specter Sound do a few videos on this topic too? Anyways…
@@phadrus Tubes depending on the type of gear can dramatically effect the sound. Different types introduce different things such as low end, warmth, high end which can give the feeling of more transparency. For the CL1B the telefunken brings in a tighter low end.
@@phadrus It is a combination of things. If you have a mullard you will GET COLOR. telefunken would be closer to what the original tube sounds like with a nicer top end. I've swapped tubes in every mic i have and in my Chandler preamp. They all had a different vibe after.
Love this! Would love to see famous reverbs and famous eq’s next
I have an Empirical Labs PUMP and while it's not a 1:1 of the Distressor it's DAMN close! The thing I love most about the PUMP and Distressor is the amount of GR you can get and have the compression still remain transparent. I've never head another compressor do that before. Some soft knee comps come close but you can have like 20dB of GR with a PUMP or Distressor and still have it sound pretty natural. They are great on anything but I really like them on Vocals and elec guitars.
Exactly. :) I saw an overview of the Pump, and it sounds amazing as well!
Yeah that transparent GR is the thing that makes it so special.
I really don’t understand how you can put the warm audio version of a tube tech CL1-b in the same sentence.
i liked the video just because the transition game was still crazy. "Unbellievable" Even
11:46 foo fighters ‘nevermind’?? 😂😂
The Urei LA-4 was the first Vactrol-based compressor but didn't have tubes in it. Still, the CL1B is very clean; it just adds some sheen because the tubes have a lot of headroom. Fuse Audio Labs has an emulation. The 33609 is also gluey but in a more creamier way.
Thanks for the explanation!
If I were perfectly honest, I vastly prefer the Distressor over an 1176, because it's got a softer knee, and the attack time can be much slower. To me, this means you can do monstrous amounts of gain reduction without it sounding overcompressed. :D
I think it really depends on the source. That’s my takeaway.
All my stuff is DAW and plug-ins. I have a UAD version of Distressor, Manley Variable Mu, Fairchild 670 and 660, then versions elsewhere of LA-2A, 1176, a Pulsar Audio 1178, SSL native Bus Compressor 2 and G3, others in the SSL/Slate Complete, IK Multimedia, countless others that fall into these 4 categories.
Great info, and nice hat.
I'd be curious to hear how you use all of those!
Thanks Miami.
Always enjoy your insights.
My go to comp is an 1176....plugin version of course, for my initial compression. Then JST Bus Glues at the end of the chains.
Those are solid choices!
Nice video 👌
The Tech CL1b is NOT transparent.
Also, if you want a compressor that will get you that "feel"...Grace Design m103 Channel Strip.
GREAT VIDEO!
🔥🔥🔥- dope overview. I didn't know that the modes in the JST BG Vocals had emulation for specific units- is there a cheat sheet for deciphering the modes and settings for actual compression types- this would make the plugin much more interesting to me?
New subscriber here. Your channel is the bomb. Very knowledgeable and smooth presentations. One quick question:
I have the SSL Big Six and the Fusion. SSL Bus + or the Distressor? I can only afford one. Thanks in advance.
Ahhhh mannnn…. I’m gonna go with the distressor for now …. The thing is you already have a g comp in the big six… maybe not as flexible, but it’s SOMETHING. And between that and the fusion you have two different listen mic compressors for extreme compression.the distressor will handle the rest.
But this is SUCH a tough question because the bus plus versatility on a two bus is INSANE… gah. Go distressor
-Miami
Idk…6 times outta 10 im reaching for the DBX 160…vocals, drums, synth, snappy snare….nothing compares….i don’t really like the tube tech CL1-B maybe on some synths. But I would take the LA2A over the tube tech any time.
Amazing video
Glad you liked it!
I thought that tubes didn’t color the sound at all, I thought that color only came from Transformers. So why would you swap tubes out of the hardware unit? Just wondering.
@phadrus tubes actually color the sound more than transformers. Swapping out tubes will change the type of coloration you get. You see this in guitar amplifiers as well. Plugin emulations of tube compressors also try to impart tone on to audio. Happy mixing!
@ wow that’s news to me. Everything I’ve ever read and seen says that tubes have little to no impact on sound, and the circuits and output transformers are what have a significant impact. I thought the idea of tubes coloring sound came from marketing. Didn’t Specter Sound do a few videos on this topic too? Anyways…
@@phadrus Tubes depending on the type of gear can dramatically effect the sound. Different types introduce different things such as low end, warmth, high end which can give the feeling of more transparency. For the CL1B the telefunken brings in a tighter low end.
@@LashonEvans216 so because the telefunkin has a tube, the tube is what is coloring the sound?
@@phadrus It is a combination of things. If you have a mullard you will GET COLOR. telefunken would be closer to what the original tube sounds like with a nicer top end. I've swapped tubes in every mic i have and in my Chandler preamp. They all had a different vibe after.
Miami seems down here
I was gonna comment something has changed. Calmer maybe?
Oh yall miss the hype?! Alright I’m bringing it back, I got a gf and calmed down for a minute 😭
-Miami