This is something I wanted to do for a longer time. I couldn't decide which compressor to get for my needs, so I decided to demo many of the available commercial ones.
I have setup a small test on the site below where you can download a drumloop processed by 10 of the big VST compressors (unfortunately I have no UAD). Whereas most of the time those comparisons are done in a rock context, I tried to get a good sound out of the 909ish loop in a soundsculpting way. So the comps are working hard and show what they can do to make a very raw loop sounding more professional in a dance context.
In the examples I have tried to match RMS and peak levels, but also to get a good sound out of every comp. As I'm no mixing expert the whole test may be contaminated with many flaws and therefore useless, but by checking the demos I came to the conclusion that I like Marquis the best, and the 1980 second! So the process has led to distinct final conclusions on my side, which is all I was hoping for!
For the start I won't tell you which loop got processed by what compressor, I'm interested to see what you like without influences coming from price etc. In the next couple of days I will bring light into this.
Link: http://alienleg.al.funpic.de/index.php
The contenders are:
1970
1975
1980
Am-Track
Compadre
GUP-1
Marquis
MixPressor
SV-315
Waves SSL G
cu, Markus
and c05 is almost as good, just different.
