another vote for the Vac Rac. It was the most dynamic to my ears. Could really hear the signal get more clear and tell where each instrument sat. it's funny cus it has barely any controls...
The C2 would be great ran in parallel on the drums. It would also sound great with the "Crush" feature turned on and ran in parallel for some aggressive drum tracks, or just room mics.
would absolutely love to see compressor death match volume 2! so enjoyable and informative. the some of the only TLM footage i've ever seen! well done, thank you very very much. please sir, may i have some more? :)
For just controlling the peaks and having a little more forwardness, the Manely ELOP with the 200 hz engaged was really nice. For a punchier clean sound the 1176 was my favorite.
The Compellor is designed for the radio broadcast industry to condition and protect studio-to-transmitter links from overload. That's why they're so transparent.
Freaking awesome video, have to share these. Thanks! Manley hardware had so beautiful depth to it and all hardware compressors had deeper lows than the plugins. Manley plugin sounded pretty nice actually, still it didn't have that depth, smoked the bm76 though hehe. 160 gave some nice snap there to the kick too. The "transparent one" really sounded transparent, might suit pretty amazingly for mastering.
I would choose Vac Rac anytime. I have never heard for this before, but after I heard it here, I was googling, and it really is a very special designed thing...Great demo!
Very useful - thank you! I'll throw my hat in for the Vac Rac as well - really fantastic sounding. Also, the hardware 1176 really does hold its own very well in context - making me consider a pair of those new Warm Audio clones.
Great demonstration! Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate the varying features found on each unit. Too many video demonstrations skip over this important factor for the sake of "fairness". What I consider fair is to demonstrate what features each unit offers that other units may not offer, and most importantly - how those features sound. Impressive video!
Thanks for that very informative video! I was really shocked by how much I liked the Aphex Compellor sound and how much I disliked the Neve. I think my favorite, though, was the Vac Rac (at least for that particular track).
I really liked the c2 - punchy!, the vac rac is nice and open, the hardware 1176 nice, open and weighty and dbx160 nice - very versatile both can be transparent and boombastic!
great stuff. really interesting, id like to see some of these tests run without images, or a plain generic interface indicating what is engaged and metres etc. its so easy to see a gorgeous looking thing and think... that's gotta sound great. when its not necessarily true.
Nice vid bro , i think narration was good it make you like you are in a class room I love the way the transparency of the Manely Elop especial wit the side chain and Massey
Man, music would sound a LOT different if there were no such thing as an 1176. Glad you had the Compellor to check out here. Used to use those things for talking heads on TV 25 years ago and thought they were pretty good for that job, but had never heard them on any music, and hey, I wouldn't buy one now! It's a bit boring for music!
I don't like the weird resonance in the actual room sound, but my favourite for me was the neve, because it's the cleanest and most subtle, I like the way it's not too obvious.
The Vac Rac is the single most beautiful instance of compression I've ever heard in my life. Why is it so thrilling whereas the cleanliness of an STC-8 sounds like boring mall muzak? Release curve?
Great video! I'd love to get my hands on the audio files you used to make the videos, both the compressed and uncompressed, or the original video file, just so I can hear them all without YT's sound processing.
Well, for this marginal medium for attempted critical listening comparison overviews, the Neve's (advanced slew rate head start) seems to contribute audible superiority despite it's configuration). Interestingly the VAC Rac is nearly as appealing. That's surprising. Wonder if you would be kind enough to display some pictures of your mic selection, placement, azimuth etc.?
I like the VR sounds pretty dope for modern rock ! would like to hear it on some heavy rock shizzzzz bet it would sound pretty awesome . Pretty hard to tell whats going on below 400 hz lol or maybe even higher as listening on a laptop with rubbish speakers and not rubbish room . Have u had the chance to hear a distressor ? do u think it sounds like the dbx 160 because for some reason the distressor springs to mind when i heard that one .
question: are these units in a similar price band - give or take $100 or so...? I do recall using the (now VERY outdated) pretty 'lo-mid price range' Behringer Autocom always seemed to give kicks a bit of OOTZ which I'm finding astouningly hard to emulate using plug-ins (which are still V new to me TBH)
HUGE difference between the plugin stuff and outboard hardware ... hardware gives you a completely different sound that is much more sonic and bigger in my opinion. the plugins all sound pretty similar ... computer emulation sounding of the real thing.
Hmm - this is making me think I really should have a play with the compressor/limiter settings on the ZOOM RFX2000 rack unit I've got kicking around...
Same settings? Attack and release times aren't accessable on most tested units. When time values can be set are they time for returning to unit gain, time for a 6 dB variation, or time for half gain reduction. Could clarify please?
I liked the C2 personally. I'm in undergrad studying audio technology and my school's studio has an LA2A, some UA 1176s, an API 2500 (my personal favorite), the dbx from this vid, and an SSL bus comp and some other crap that nobody uses bc why would you touch a 500$ drawmer when you have a 4000$ SSL. I generally prefer the SSL sound for drum rooms and I'm kinda used to it so thats just me
This is possibly the best clip on RUclips that demonstrates the REAL difference between hardware and plugins.
The Smart Comp is really nice on these drums .
Thanks for putting this up .
The Vac Rac has to be one of the best ones I've ever heard. New things to dream of owning.
That Vac Rac ta-1 was awesome
another vote for the Vac Rac. It was the most dynamic to my ears. Could really hear the signal get more clear and tell where each instrument sat. it's funny cus it has barely any controls...
I like the grab/ pump of the C2. Something I look for on drum bus/ mix bus.
Man the Manley is amazing. Also, the Vac Rac is so transparent. Amazing. The UA 1176 too, amazing. Big Fan of the 160 on snares.
the Aphex was even more transparent though
Best compressor video. Ever.
The C2 and the VR are amazing compressors. I think the DBX sounds very simular to the C2. Yeah they are both VCA's but damn that dbx is a workhorse.
The C2 would be great ran in parallel on the drums.
It would also sound great with the "Crush" feature turned on and ran in parallel for some aggressive drum tracks, or just room mics.
Love the manley space and depth! thanks for sharing
What a great demo. Enjoyed your commentary as well. Thanks!
would absolutely love to see compressor death match volume 2! so enjoyable and informative. the some of the only TLM footage i've ever seen! well done, thank you very very much. please sir, may i have some more? :)
For just controlling the peaks and having a little more forwardness, the Manely ELOP with the 200 hz engaged was really nice. For a punchier clean sound the 1176 was my favorite.
you are the best comp reviewer ive ever watched! your awsome! cant wait to see more reviews!
I was drooling the whole video haha! thanks, awesome comparisons!
Manley for me by far managed to get the most musical sound and manage the whole signal level at the 200Hz sidechain.
Great video!! That Crush button on the Smart Research OMG! I need one asap
Would love to see more videos like this
The Compellor is designed for the radio broadcast industry to condition and protect studio-to-transmitter links from overload. That's why they're so transparent.
Also a great provider of the "AIR" effect.
love how you mixed the plug-ins in, awesome work! thanks a bunch.
Freaking awesome video, have to share these. Thanks! Manley hardware had so beautiful depth to it and all hardware compressors had deeper lows than the plugins. Manley plugin sounded pretty nice actually, still it didn't have that depth, smoked the bm76 though hehe. 160 gave some nice snap there to the kick too. The "transparent one" really sounded transparent, might suit pretty amazingly for mastering.
I would choose Vac Rac anytime. I have never heard for this before, but after I heard it here, I was googling, and it really is a very special designed thing...Great demo!
That Manley really does something magical to the drums.
Very nice, well made video. The narration really helps.
Very useful - thank you! I'll throw my hat in for the Vac Rac as well - really fantastic sounding. Also, the hardware 1176 really does hold its own very well in context - making me consider a pair of those new Warm Audio clones.
great video. Wish more were like you!!
Yeah I love these type of videos. Great job!
My favorite was the Neve. I liked how it gave the drums a nice snap.
Really like the C2, fav was 1176, think my least fav was the Neve, oddly. Don't think I'd use it a ton but also really love the vacrac.
Because that's not by Rupert. It's AMS.
Dream match and a goal I will achieve. Excellent tutorial.
Fantastic, thanks for taking your time to do this.
Great demonstration! Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate the varying features found on each unit. Too many video demonstrations skip over this important factor for the sake of "fairness". What I consider fair is to demonstrate what features each unit offers that other units may not offer, and most importantly - how those features sound. Impressive video!
"Handcrafted in Chino, CA" - Hell yea! Go Chino!!!
VacRac! Thanks for sharing...
Thanks for that very informative video! I was really shocked by how much I liked the Aphex Compellor sound and how much I disliked the Neve. I think my favorite, though, was the Vac Rac (at least for that particular track).
I really liked the c2 - punchy!, the vac rac is nice and open, the hardware 1176 nice, open and weighty and dbx160 nice - very versatile both can be transparent and boombastic!
That last plugin was very nice. You bi-passed it and I was like wow it sounds bad without it.
Really good video comparison. Very impressed with that Vac Rac, and was actually surprised by the BF76. Better than I remember.
Wow, the VacRac was fat as hell. Love that one the most.
This was actually a really great video, thanks!
I was really surprised to find the C2 to be my least favorite (by a long shot). It never sounded good to me. My fave was the Manley with 200Hz HPF.
Cheers man . Nice comparison
Amazing video! Thank u
hardware compressors are the way to go!
oh yeah:)
Enjoyed the commentary too.
great stuff. really interesting, id like to see some of these tests run without images, or a plain generic interface indicating what is engaged and metres etc. its so easy to see a gorgeous looking thing and think... that's gotta sound great. when its not necessarily true.
Nice vid bro , i think narration was good it make you like you are in a class room
I love the way the transparency of the Manely Elop
especial wit the side chain and Massey
Truly the best, Most professional demonstration of studio compressors I've seen around here. One problem though, Where is the Teletronix LA-2A?? haha
Very well done! Wonderful insight & demo!
keep Kickin the Jamz
BTQ
C2 Hands down! :)
Me too, I though it was head and shoulders above
I just recently picked up an Aphex 320a and GEEEEZ this thing is so transparent! I almost thought it wasn't working!
great vid mixing analog and soft
c2 for me... but the vac rack and especially the dbx surprised me.
shit sounded mad compressed anyway
my favorite was the 1176
fantastic video! thx for share your knowledge
Man, music would sound a LOT different if there were no such thing as an 1176.
Glad you had the Compellor to check out here. Used to use those things for talking heads on TV 25 years ago and thought they were pretty good for that job, but had never heard them on any music, and hey, I wouldn't buy one now! It's a bit boring for music!
You know on the Protools BF 1176 plug-in, I believe if you hold shift you can select all 4 ratios to achieve a Crush effect.
best video review on youtube!
Decent video. My only hope is that one day we can see a video where these are tested on something i can relate to.. Like hip hop.
Ill see what I can do in the future
It’s ALL Kung Foo my friend;)
that vac rac sizzzzzles so nice
Thank you mate!!! You're the best!
MANLEY!.....AWESOME!!!!!
I don't like the weird resonance in the actual room sound, but my favourite for me was the neve, because it's the cleanest and most subtle, I like the way it's not too obvious.
Ben Tyreman i could see it working for Indie music
A valuable resource for real!
The Vac Rac is the single most beautiful instance of compression I've ever heard in my life. Why is it so thrilling whereas the cleanliness of an STC-8 sounds like boring mall muzak? Release curve?
Wow that smart seems to do a lot better at drum bus compared to a g bus. Never used a smart. Am I correct in assuming this ?
Like the Smart Research.
Great job sir, really! :-)
More please... :-)
The best,
Pete
I liked the UA 1176
Amazing videos man
Nice job!
Everythung that Massey makes is good!
The last one sounded the best lol
Excellent video, really well done. Not enough vocal-less drums on the DBX section though ;)
The 1176 hardware won on that particular drum track, my opinion of course. More meat in the toms and kick
Totally, and the Manley is just insane as well.
Many thanks!
I''m sold on the VAC RAC.
I always liked the natural non-compressed sound way better.
DBX 160X for me
Great video! I'd love to get my hands on the audio files you used to make the videos, both the compressed and uncompressed, or the original video file, just so I can hear them all without YT's sound processing.
i actually really liked the ELOP on here.
Well, for this marginal medium for attempted critical listening comparison overviews, the Neve's (advanced slew rate head start) seems to contribute audible superiority despite it's configuration). Interestingly the VAC Rac is nearly as appealing. That's surprising. Wonder if you would be kind enough to display some pictures of your mic selection, placement, azimuth etc.?
I was thinking off buying a distressor so just thought would see what u think ! Nice vid by the way pretty kool
i liked the massey plugin most.
Steve Pells I still do all of these years later!
I like the VR sounds pretty dope for modern rock ! would like to hear it on some heavy rock shizzzzz bet it would sound pretty awesome . Pretty hard to tell whats going on below 400 hz lol or maybe even higher as listening on a laptop with rubbish speakers and not rubbish room . Have u had the chance to hear a distressor ? do u think it sounds like the dbx 160 because for some reason the distressor springs to mind when i heard that one .
Dude, THANK you!
very nice video.thanks
question: are these units in a similar price band - give or take $100 or so...?
I do recall using the (now VERY outdated) pretty 'lo-mid price range' Behringer Autocom always seemed to give kicks a bit of OOTZ which I'm finding astouningly hard to emulate using plug-ins (which are still V new to me TBH)
Man those are expensive, I'd love to have one..
Thank you!
EV
OK anyone agree the Software was the worst?
Yes, I agree...
Its sounds fake (Toy, plastic), no balls!...
Nice accurate description lol. So why are people striving to get so many darn plugins
I don't get it
Agree, but would like to hear how the new Slate Digital VMR compressors stack up.
There are better plugins than BF 1176 ;)
HUGE difference between the plugin stuff and outboard hardware ... hardware gives you a completely different sound that is much more sonic and bigger in my opinion. the plugins all sound pretty similar ... computer emulation sounding of the real thing.
Hmm - this is making me think I really should have a play with the compressor/limiter settings on the ZOOM RFX2000 rack unit I've got kicking around...
The Aphex Compellor is a compressor without compression.
you should do both
i like the second one
Same settings?
Attack and release times aren't accessable on most tested units.
When time values can be set are they time for returning to unit gain, time for a 6 dB variation, or time for half gain reduction. Could clarify please?
I liked the C2 personally. I'm in undergrad studying audio technology and my school's studio has an LA2A, some UA 1176s, an API 2500 (my personal favorite), the dbx from this vid, and an SSL bus comp and some other crap that nobody uses bc why would you touch a 500$ drawmer when you have a 4000$ SSL. I generally prefer the SSL sound for drum rooms and I'm kinda used to it so thats just me
Fantastic ! thanks man