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?

[squids]

Well, jes throwin down my bit and it's totally not in the budget but did some work last week using a Duende SSL and have mercy.......that sucka can really make a recording pop. My voice has never sounded betta, ever and I've been doing studio stuff since I was a girl. I'm spoiled but it's way outside what I could afford. Would be a lifetime purchase for a busy engineer.

[squids]

As Mazz said, it won't do everything well, like live recording but you can work some of those bugs out like milf talks about. The only thing is, most of the bands that go to Tommy's studio don't do it live.....they're not all in separate booths doing separate things all at the same time. They generally come in one at a time and lay down their stuff. Anyway, it was fun, mazz. And part of what made it fun (besides the endless male-female jokes Tommy and I have based our relationship on (so immature!)), was how great my voice sounded. I've generally got presence when I sing but this thing coulda done it for me without me even working. It really brought out all the nuances in my voice that don't get heard a lot, fleshed it out in ways you can't have unless I'm sitting in your lap crooning to you. Brings up the intimacy level. Anyway, like I said, way out my range but I'm hopin one of my forum pals will hit it big and get one and I can ask them to fix me up on somethin.....that'd be the bomb. Of course, they'll be big and won't have time or I won't be able to afford them. Ah well. Another brill plan shot to smithereens. hahahahah

[devin]

Jun 15, 2008, 8:58am, mazz wrote: I don't know about every DAW out there but the one I use (DP) does with my UAD-1 card (which is another really cool unit but, alas, not real time either).Hey Mazz!Do you use the stock UAD-1 RealVerb Pro, or did you upgrade to something above that?Any experience with the UAD mastering set of plugs, or do you use something else?I use a JoeMeek TwinQ on the front end...but as you stated, compression on the way in should be as light as possible, with more emphasis on my consistency of playing/singing being the latest approach.At 24bit, I've been turning the optical compressor off lately for strings, but leaving it in for percussion. Although, since quitting coffee even my hand drumming has evened out!

[mazz]

Jun 15, 2008, 9:44am, devin wrote:Jun 15, 2008, 8:58am, mazz wrote: I don't know about every DAW out there but the one I use (DP) does with my UAD-1 card (which is another really cool unit but, alas, not real time either).Hey Mazz!Do you use the stock UAD-1 RealVerb Pro, or did you upgrade to something above that?Any experience with the UAD mastering set of plugs, or do you use something else?I use a JoeMeek TwinQ on the front end...but as you stated, compression on the way in should be as light as possible, with more emphasis on my consistency of playing/singing being the latest approach.At 24bit, I've been turning the optical compressor off lately for strings, but leaving it in for percussion. Although, since quitting coffee even my hand drumming has evened out! I LOVE the Plate 140, I hardly use the RealVerb anymore. On piano and horns it's just fantastic, IMO.As far as the mastering stuff on the UAD, I have the Precision Maximizer which I use for mostly electro stuff and I just picked up the Buss Compressor but haven't used it a ton yet.Besides the Plate, my go-to plugs on the UAD are, in no particular order: Fairchild Compressor (makes drums KILL), Pultec EQ (nice sounding for broad strokes), Roland Space Echo (great for spacey piano amongst others), Roland Dimension D (If you know what it is, then you are a fan), 1176 (usually for bass or vocals and sometimes lead acoustic guitar), LA2A (drums and backing vocal bussing for sure), Precision Maximizer (punch and glue).To go back to the initial subject of the thread, if you don't need compression on the way in and you don't mind having a PCI-type card in your computer, then the UAD is worth a look. They just lowered the prices and it comes with things like 1176 and LA-2A already installed. They have enticements and sales all year around so adding plugs a little at a time is an option. I wish they'd come out with a Firewire version. They have a laptop version but you have to buy a separate little doodad to hook it up to a desktop.Cheers!Mazz

[squids]

Jun 15, 2008, 9:53am, milfus wrote:I only use front end compression on screamers generally, or really over powered voices, you know how some of them girls get.....hahahaha, what girls? I wanna meet one!

[ernstinen]

I've owned a dbx 160X for years, and really like it a lot. I ALWAYS use it when recording vocals and bass. Live drums, too (kick & snare). It's real transparent and does a great job at getting levels as hot as possible. --- Don't know if they make 'em anymore, though.http://www.fmsystems.net/sp_160x.htmErn

[billg]

Jun 15, 2008, 12:00pm, ernstinen wrote:I've owned a dbx 160X for years, and really like it a lot. I ALWAYS use it when recording vocals and bass. Live drums, too (kick & snare). It's real transparent and does a great job at getting levels as hot as possible. --- Don't know if they make 'em anymore, though.http://www.fmsystems.net/sp_160x.htmErn Don't see a 160x, but here's a 160a. What's the diff?

[ibanez468]

Yeah, personally, I'm using the dbx 166A. Don't think it's even in circulation anymore. But it's been a true workhorse for me though, even after all of these years that I've had it.http://www.g2entertainment.com/sound/DB ... .htmlI-468

[ernstinen]

Jun 15, 2008, 12:39pm, billg wrote:Don't see a 160x, but here's a 160a. What's the diff?From another "gear" forum:"I have three DBX 160X's, 1 DBX 160XT, and 1 DBX 160A. The A feels more 'plasticy' and uses cheaper parts on the front. I think it's all machine assembled too on the inside...I've never compared them to each other though as far as sounds go...I just use the X's first, the XT next, and the A last in order of importance.""The DBX 160A sounds 'smaller' for some reason.""One reason to buy a 160x is that most SSL rooms still use them. Can't argue with that."There ya have it. There are a few on eBay, and with the 160X you can bridge them together if you want to use them in stereo.Also, the 160XT I believe has XLR ins and outs, whereas the 160X is 1/4" --- but most people think the 160X "sounds better," why I dunno. dbx probably used cheaper parts the more they "improved" the line. Ern