Neodynium or SV-315?

[Z]

I finally want to invest in a 'pro' compressor (as in not freeware). I've demoed both Neodynium and SV-315 (I will use the compressor on whatever you can throw at it, guitars, synths, drums --- in general what I need is an all-round compressor).
So far I have to say I like Neodynium best, it's also the cheapest of the two, but whenever I read this forum or cubase.net, people do seem to favour SV-317, or the UAD-1's (don't own it, probably won't own it, so please don't recommend it)

So SV-315 is mentioned by most but is it for a good reason, is it better than Neodynium or just simply more widespread? Or is chosing between these two like comparing apples and oranges?

I haven't considered any other compressors, I think I'd check out Kjaerhus' series, but so far the ayes have it for Neodynium.

All opinions welcomed.

[Vegetarian]

I think it doesn't really matter what everyone else says if you're already set on something. If it works well and you think it's the one to get then why not? Just because everyone else is saying to use the other one doesn't mean everyone else is right

I haven't actually tried them so I can't really say any advantages either one has over the other, but one advantage of the Neodynium is that you already like it

[Z]

I haven't actually tried them so I can't really say any advantages either one has over the other, but one advantage of the Neodynium is that you already like it

Okay, that was pretty vaguely formulated on my behalf, what I meant was that I like both very much, but Neodynium has the ayes because it's cheapest.

[Vegetarian]

Ah, right! In that case my post is pretty much useless. I thought you meant you liked the character of the compressor more than the other. Good luck anyway

[chagzuki]

I love the sonalksis. It behaves in an organic way, albeit with a rubbery feel. I know that sounds paradoxical, but it's not. Honest.
I think I bought Neodynium when it was first released and got a discount as I was a previous EA customer, but I never used it. It's a totally different type of compressor. The two have different uses. A fairer comparison would be between the sonalksis and voxengo's Crunchessor, which is also great. If you're just starting out, stick with Crunchessor - it's a great all-purpose compressor and it's cheap.







Then get the sonalksis.

[RapRogue]

Neodynium is not the type of compressor you just ignore
the manual and go. But it is very underrated, and in
comparison I feel Sonalksis is overrated in this regard.

[original flipper]

HI

I might consider CPU usage - in my case: one uses little and the other is a bit of a hog.

Flipper.

[Z]

I think I bought Neodynium when it was first released and got a discount as I was a previous EA customer, but I never used it. It's a totally different type of compressor. The two have different uses.

So in your opinion I was actually comparing apples and oranges? What are the different uses? Can one of them (or both) act as a bread and butter compressor?

[Z]

HI

I might consider CPU usage - in my case: one uses little and the other is a bit of a hog.

Flipper.

Which on is the easiest on the CPU?

[original flipper]

HI

Demo them both and see how your set-up responds to them.

I am only vague because saying plug-in X is a hog is not fair on the company unless lot's of users are saying the same thing - and to be honest I have only my experience to go by.

Flipper.

[chagzuki]

Look at the docs. Here's blurb from the website.

"Don't get confused - this is not multi-band compression. Neodynium is an entirely different beast. Why always apply the same compression to all audio levels? Compress the louder levels with a quick attack; expand the lower levels with a slow release and leave the mid level sounds alone. Try it with a traditional compressor - you won't get far. Neodynium lets you break your audio levels up into "zones" so you can control them exactly how you want. No one size fits all compression here."

This isn't your typical bread and butter compressor. The sonalksis is far more limited in terms of tweakable parameters, but is meant to exhibit a really pleasing compression behaviour, i.e. to have a 'nice' sound. Though it doesn't have saturation, whereas Crunshessor does.

Sounds like you are new to the ball game, and therefore I think you should get as many free compressor vsts as possible and work with them until you have a better idea of what you need.

[chagzuki]

I can say that personally, I never found a use for Neodynium, whereas the sonalkis gets used nearly everywhere. Alongside Crunchessor, most bases are covered.

[RapRogue]

I agree with Crunchessor, but Sonalksis like chagzuki
says is not tweakable, and thus not good on everything.
It has a 'sound', so either you like it or don't.

Crunchessor win on ease of use.

[chagzuki]

Yep. The sonalksis has a long release for some purposes, such as percussion compression. But sounds lovely over an entire mix. Whereas Crunchessor isn't really intended as a mix compressor, although it can do a reasonable job of that too.

[Z]

Thank you for your reply all, I will definiately check out Chrunchessor.