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Topic: Compressor/limiter |
Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 18 May 2016 6:38 am |
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I bought a cheap compressor (Behringer) just to fool around with and see if I like the idea, and I do.
However, I grew up in recording studios and my idea of a compressor is a device which begins to reduce gain at a selected threshold. The Behringer is really a limiter, as you set the output level first and then the slope up to it; to me this is back to front. I want to be able to push into a compressor and still have control of the final volume.
Does anyone know of a threshold+slope-type device that costs maybe just an arm or just a leg and doesn't need a 19" rack to put it in?
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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John Limbach
From:
Billings, Montana, USA
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Posted 18 May 2016 7:20 am
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| Markbass Compressore maybe. Tube type, all parameters adjustable |
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Gary Cosden
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 18 May 2016 7:51 am
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Here is a site with in depth reviews on pretty much every compressor pedal ever made.
http://www.ovnilab.com/ |
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Chris Tarrow
From:
Maplewood, NJ
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Dennis Anderson
From:
Chicago, Illinois
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Posted 18 May 2016 8:56 am Empress Compressor
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| Ian, I was a recording engineer for ten years and know where you're coming from. The Empress is expensive BUT it has variable compression ratios (2/1,4/1,10/1), variable attack and release, a mix knob to blend straight and compressed signal...AND it has LEDs to show dbs of compression. It was being able to see realtime gain reduction (just like watching the needles on the old 1176 limiters) that sold me. Excellent piece of gear for sure. For me it's worth the money. |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 18 May 2016 7:54 pm
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Origin Effects builds a "UREI 1176" in a pedal that is most awesome...they also have a dual 1176 type called the Slide Rig for Lowell George type compression...the build quality is exceptional...
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 19 May 2016 12:55 am Re: Compressor/limiter
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| Ian Rae wrote: |
| I grew up in recording studios and my idea of a compressor is a device which begins to reduce gain at a selected threshold. |
...a good place to start 
You are gonna use it for steel, right?
For steel I always come back to the same "box" - the LMB-3 - that some say isn't supposed to work on steel.
Yes, it has adjustable treshold.
Yes, it has adjustable compression rate.
But, it has both "Bass" and "Limiter" in its name, it doesn't have the best signal to noise ratio in the class (at least not on paper), it isn't really linear, it has no "compression" indicator, and, it is a BOSS 
It is easy to set, and has the irritating tendency to make all my 5 PSGs - with different PUs and inherent tone - sound "just right" (to me) with only minimal variations in settings. It behaves as if it isn't there, and (apparently) doesn't limit my ability to "play with the dynamics" as I want. And, it "emulates" a good buffer - with adjustable "sparkle" if I want to go that route.
I agree with most arguments against it: the LMB-3 is really a POS that costs so little that it sounds like a joke ... perfect for throwing away if it hadn't been for the fact that it happens to do exactly what I want and sound just fine in practical use. So, an LMB-3 is likely to stay in my PSG sound-chains and do its job until I can no longer put on a pick.
JMO, of course  |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 19 May 2016 3:47 am
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Thanks guys - great answers so far and all worth considering!
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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