10 commercial compressors compared in a dance context

[djdorian]

c05 and c08 are the best. Each in a slightly different way. They both have punch, snap, and character.

[kritikon]

Hard to tell after a while. The good ones stand out from the poor ones, but there were some aspects I like out of 3 of them.


Overall, I couldn't say 2 and 5 were "better" than each other, but I liked them the most in terms of keeping high clarity and not messing with the bass much. Ever so slightly different Eq spectra between the two of them, that only personal taste can tell apart.

An honourable mention to 8...not quite as good as the other two, and I thought it messed about with the subs a little too much, it altered the bass and seemed to make it a bit too boxy, but somehow that actually worked with that particular loop. Dunno why. It wasn't as accurate as 2 and 5 I thought, but definitely had its own character that I could use happily. Strangely enough I actually quite liked 6 too...it gave a nice quick oomph to the kick, but lost too much in other areas. I wouldn't want to use that one on many types of channels, but it did sound nice and "in yer face" particularly with those subby kicks - not too useful on the rest of the loop though. Nice attack, shame about the rest of it.

So...Equal first C02, C05.

Closely followed by C08 (but too many faults I could pick in it to win).

There were definitely 4 of those comps I'd happily use though. 2,5,8 and sometimes 6. From only that short test I think I'd happily use 2 and 5 on other material, but initial impression is the others probably only have niche uses (for me at least). But I'd happily change my mind if I heard them do good things on other loops etc. You really can't judge a compressor on one loop only, eh? I normally don't take part in these type of things, but I like compressors and it piqued my interest. I've been thinking about demoing Marquis for some time now, and am about to take the plunge, so it'll interest me to see which one is Marquis and in which mode etc (I know Marquis has good opinions about it all over the place, but I can just never work with Voxengo GUI for some particular reason...they just turn me off, depsite the sound of the plugins. Facile, but I can't help myself...

One thing that did surprise me (don't know why...I've heard some awful compressors in the past...) was the range of difference between them. Some did some nice things, a couple worked on the whole loop, and I was amazed at how badly some of those coped with bass and high clarity at the same time. It never ceases to amaze me how some vanilla s/w comps can be coded so poorly sometimes.


I'll add one thing though...it sounded like there was a reasonable amount of difference between peaks and RMS values in some of those loops. Might only be by a little, but could have been enough to sway my favourites. I know how easily volume can affect impressions...and my choices probably were swayed a little that way (at least to some...not sure how much) degree.

[contrast]

8, 2, 5 in that order, then I thought the rest were crap.

Of course it's not all that accurate to compare compressors like this, but anyway, I'm interested to hear what they are.

[kritikon]

I tried to pick a worst one - I initially thought 9 and 10 were contenders, but the more you go round with the loop, the more you can find redeeming factors...but number 1 seemed to be pretty cruddy. Grainy, poor control, fluttery and scratchy on the hats.

I don't want to buy C01 on that demo.

And now it'll turn out to be one I already own and like...I bet you.

[blortblort]

based on the examples posted, I'll have to agree with the majority: 2, 5, and 8 were the most listenable. no particular order, they just had characteristics that would remain interesting and mixable more than the others...well...8 left all the power in the kik...may have saturated a bit too...sounds like it may fit better in a mix...OK...I like 8 best in this context

[listmember]

I like c02 the most because I like the coloring of the snare in this very example (in other contexts, I wouldn't like it at all) and the bassdrum is just the punchiest of them all... It doesn't burry the closed hat on every 16th note and still a nice amount of bass

this thread comes just at the right time, I badly need a good compressor and when you reveal the results, I will go for the c02 comp unless it's the waves comp, I can't afford the SSL comp atm

[dalor]

I really hope C02 is not the SSL, that's out of question for me to buy it. I'm looking forward to see the result!

[listmember]

I really hope C02 is not the SSL, that's out of question for me to buy it. I'm looking forward to see the result!

hmm, c02 sounds pretty punch, and SSL is a synonyme for "punchy sound", isn't it

[dalor]

[hmm, c02 sounds pretty punch, and SSL is a synonyme for "punchy sound", isn't it

punchy smunchy - if c02 is Waves i gonna Please, let it be Kjaerhus or Voxengo please

[pendle]

it may be a volume thing and i might be missing the point , but after a quick listen i gotta say that the unprocessed version sounded much better.

don't shoot me.

[Alien Leg]

bmanic, thanx for your examples. If anyone could add UAD and Hardware examples it would be very interesting to hear it.
You can of course use my files for the all about compressors thread.

wsaidah, unfortunately there is no demo for am-track, you have to get the Samplitude demo to try it.

I will reveal the results tomorrow.

[fgimian]

c01 sounds great for a pumping type sound, gives the bass drum way more punch
c02 sounds really similar to c01 to me but with a tad more bass and less glue factor
c03 too pumpy for me destroys the hihats a tad
c04 sounds dull and lifeless
c05 sounds fantastic, longer snare with similar amount of pump to c01
c06 sounds blocky, don't like it at all
c07 is smooth and mellow, but sounds a little blocky on the attacks
c08 sounds like the sonalksis, I LOVE IT, very deep sound
c09 and c10 have too many low mids, dislike

Overall favs are c01, c05, c08
My guesses for compressors are...

c01: Marquis
c02: Kjaerhus GUP1
c03: MixPressor
c08: Sonalksis (I'm sure of this)

This was a lot of fun, thanks !
Fots

[bmanic]

Thanks, I'll put the files up on my server and add them to the compressor thread. In the mean time, hereis a quite a bit different sounding compressor. It's rather special with the way it operates the attack. I quite like it.

And here is the complete list of my examples so far (for easier browsing):

test 1
test 2
test 3
test 4

Pay attention to the volume while comparing. Louder will nearly always sound better so match the amplitude.

Cheers!
bManic

[fgimian]

it may be a volume thing and i might be missing the point , but after a quick listen i gotta say that the unprocessed version sounded much better.

don't shoot me.

(puts gun away).

The compressed versions have significantly more kick and punch ... even with the volume difference, don't you notice how detached and raw the original sounds ? The bass drum sounds too abrupt and blocky.

To each their own though Just thought I'd point out what I love so much about the compressed version in case you might hear it next time your listening.

Compare only against c08 and you'll see what I mean.

Cheers
Fots

[fgimian]

Thanks, I'll put the files up on my server and add them to the compressor thread. In the mean time, hereis a quite a bit different sounding compressor. It's rather special with the way it operates the attack. I quite like it.

And here is the complete list of my examples so far (for easier browsing):

test 1
test 2
test 3
test 4

Pay attention to the volume while comparing. Louder will nearly always sound better so match the amplitude.

Cheers!
bManic

For my taste I actually find the "pop" on the bass drum and snare of these examples a little annoying, they sound good though, but I'd probably go for a little faster attack.

Can you reveal if this is software or hardware ?

Cheers
Fots