ART tube compressor
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:35 am
Hey Guys,
A few months ago I thought I'd take a chance on an Applied Research and Technology (ART) tube compressor/limiter for my mastering studio. I had read great things about it like "Makes everything I run through it sound better," and "Amazing bang for the buck." But I wasn't so sure, because ART has the reputation as being kind of the next step up from Behringer, i.e. El Cheapo! Well, the reviews were correct. For about $300 for a stereo tube compressor, this thing IS amazing! It really has professional components, like a +4/-10 switch (my board is +4), XLR inputs and outputs, real VU meters plus digital meters, an input/output level switch, and lots of adjustments for ratio, threshold, knee, you name it, its got it.
I used to rent real high-end gear for mastering, like a Massenburg parametric EQ (which goes up to 25 kHz to add some "air" on top), but this ART compressor makes the high frequencies/harmonics sound like that! Clean, glassy high end, even if you add just a tad of compression. Just going through tubes makes digital mixes sound better! Warmer, fuller, and that aforementioned sweet high end! It's the real deal, and its such a deal LOL!... The old adage of "never leaving the digital domain" is a bunch of b.s., IMHO. I say go for it, if it makes things sound better!
Ern
A few months ago I thought I'd take a chance on an Applied Research and Technology (ART) tube compressor/limiter for my mastering studio. I had read great things about it like "Makes everything I run through it sound better," and "Amazing bang for the buck." But I wasn't so sure, because ART has the reputation as being kind of the next step up from Behringer, i.e. El Cheapo! Well, the reviews were correct. For about $300 for a stereo tube compressor, this thing IS amazing! It really has professional components, like a +4/-10 switch (my board is +4), XLR inputs and outputs, real VU meters plus digital meters, an input/output level switch, and lots of adjustments for ratio, threshold, knee, you name it, its got it.
I used to rent real high-end gear for mastering, like a Massenburg parametric EQ (which goes up to 25 kHz to add some "air" on top), but this ART compressor makes the high frequencies/harmonics sound like that! Clean, glassy high end, even if you add just a tad of compression. Just going through tubes makes digital mixes sound better! Warmer, fuller, and that aforementioned sweet high end! It's the real deal, and its such a deal LOL!... The old adage of "never leaving the digital domain" is a bunch of b.s., IMHO. I say go for it, if it makes things sound better!
Ern