Solid state vocal limiter / compressor

[53mph]

I'm used to using my DAW with software plug-ins but recently I've been toying with the idea of getting a solid state vocal limiter/compressor to set up permanently in my recording booth.As I've never bought any solid state gear before, except for a couple of Zoom effects racks about 10 years back (now sold) I'd be interested to know what people would recommend for vocals.I've got a PC laptop running Sonar and I use an Edirol FA101 firewire interface with pretty good mic pre-amp; but I guess I'll have to sacrifice the preamp if I use an eternal effect unit.Any ideas?

[billg]

Well, I'm using a first generation Joe Meek VC6 and love it. However, I've heard that the newer Joe Meek stuff isn't so hot. I use it for vocals & bass mainly. If it were to die today I would look at the Art Voice Channel. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... XSEM=0It's affordable (sorta), I've heard good things about it, AND it has a 45 day no questions asked return policy from MF so you really have nothing to loose.

[milfus]

i remember one of my first pre-amps was a bluetube from pre-sonus, it has tube and ssl on it, it might just be sentimental, but I still love the sound of that little thing. I can spot when someone is using one.

[ibanez468]

My producer buddy swears by this thing. He says he tried a few different ones, and nothin' has come close ta' this. Very pricey IMO, but he uses it on his vox, and my guitar & bass tracks, and he absolutely loves it. Check it out.http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/6176I-468

[mazz]

There's some distinctions on solid state gear. Most lower end solid state gear will use lots of integrated circuits (ICs) and will probably use surface mount components mass produced on circuit boards. Most higher end solid state gear will be mostly discrete (individual transistors, diodes, etc.) and may even be hand built with point to point wiring. The Universal Audio stuff has real pedigree (and prices to match) but that's a lifetime purchase. You'll never have to buy a pre-amp/compressor again unless you want to. That stuff does have a "sound" which all your recordings will reflect.If I was going to upgrade and wanted a real pristine signal path with no coloration, I'd forgo the compressor and get one of the Grace design preamps. Their one channel unit is supposed to "sound" fantastic and it's not that expensive, comparatively. Unless you really know what you're doing, compressing on input can be a dicey proposition. I'd recommend recording at a lower level at 24 bits and doing the compression/coloration "in the box" where you have the handy-dandy undo function.Just my 2 cents.Mazz

[milfus]

ah i used to work with a UA 610, those have a nice sound, I head the 6176's are built around a 610 *shrug*

[53mph]

Thanks for all the advise guys. However, my price range is seriously budget as it's just a whim buy. Does anyone have experience of PreSonus Tube Preamp or Art tube preamps? If I can get a budget pre-amp with tube valve I'm hoping I can get a vintage sound without a vintage price....or am I living in fantasy land?

[milfus]

yeah, I still have that blue tube in the rack, I use it on occasion still, its nothing fancy, but it gets the job done pretty nicely, though I am big on adding eq and coloration in the box too. the variable ssl/tube lets you swap it off the tube to give it more tube life too, pretty much, even like a super cheap tube preamp, is gonna sound way better, than any tube saturation plug in, in my experience anyhow.

[mojobone]

Jun 11, 2008, 4:01pm, ibanez468 wrote:My producer buddy swears by this thing. He says he tried a few different ones, and nothin' has come close ta' this. Very pricey IMO, but he uses it on his vox, and my guitar & bass tracks, and he absolutely loves it. Check it out.http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/6176I-468 Well, that's tube, not solid-state, but I can't argue with the choice; it's a good 'un. Studio Projects' VTB-1 ia a nice, affordable preamp, too,but I suspect you'd like the option of defeatable limiting and maybe EQ; Focusrite has a range of processors that you could hardly go wrong with.

[mazz]

These are all the "low end of the high end" and would be lifetime investments. They are preamps only:http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... .htmHere's some "all in one boxes" voice channels:http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... cat=1&id=4 (tube but probably pretty clean)http://www.dbxpro.com/376/376.php (again tube with with digital out)If you're going to get a vocal processor/all_in_one_box unit, I'd try to get one with a digital output. It will give you more flexibility in the long run. Well designed tube circuitry can be just as clean as solid state. When tubes are overdriven, they distort differently than transistors (even harmonic distortion). A lot of lower end tube designs "starve" the tubes by running them at a lower voltage. This basically forces them to distort sooner, giving that "desirable" tube sound. I prefer to have a choice.Good luck!Mazz