KVR Audio

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:37 pm

sidrat wrote:if you don't have a uad card, check out blockfish!

Really? Over Voxengo, Sonalksis and Kjaerhus? A nice little freebie, but I'm amazed it still comes up as frequently as it does; much love for this little freebie!

smart · Post by **smart** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:39 pm

Blockfish is one of my favorites!

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:49 pm

smart wrote:Blockfish is one of my favorites!

Yeah, I used to use this a couple years ago, but I found I it eventually too typically VST-digital-compressor-sounding and kind of dropped it - especially with all these other ones to choose from. I also find the lack of specific control a little limiting for day-to-day track use, but then again, sometimes that's good. Not knocking it, I just thought Vox and Kjaer would be leading the pack these days. Interestingly, the suggestions are all over the map in this thread!

feyshay · Post by **feyshay** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:00 pm

bduffy wrote:I agree, there's something about that Sonalksis one...on drums it's just so round and punchy; you can apply a little with great transparency or a lot for killer compression. A real "gear"-like sound.
Marquis is amazing too, I just bought that; killer compressor. These are two VST "classics" in the making!

Also check out the underrated BuzComp CL series. These are pretty amazing-sounding compressors, great for the drum bus also, cheap as dirt.

What do you like about the Marquis and how does it compare the Sonalksis. I have considered the Marquis for the longest time. For now, I have a few compressors--PSP Mix Pack (good for dirt), Vintage Warmer, Master Comp, Neodynium (interesting on drums), and the Golden Audio Channel (clean, basic compression). I have not seen any additional compressor that cannot do with what I have now. Of course, my thought is that I only believe this because I don't understand the workings of the other plug-in compressors that I have only demoed a bit (like Marquis and Sonalksis compressors).

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:12 pm

I still like Neodynium and PSP Mixpressor. TRacks is good for a more agreesive sounds. I hear good things about the Voxengo stuff but I have not tried them. I've spent enough money on this class of audio processing.

Cheers,
Gordon

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:13 pm

feyshay wrote:
bduffy wrote:I agree, there's something about that Sonalksis one...on drums it's just so round and punchy; you can apply a little with great transparency or a lot for killer compression. A real "gear"-like sound.
Marquis is amazing too, I just bought that; killer compressor. These are two VST "classics" in the making!

Also check out the underrated BuzComp CL series. These are pretty amazing-sounding compressors, great for the drum bus also, cheap as dirt.
What do you like about the Marquis and how does it compare the Sonalksis. I have considered the Marquis for the longest time. For now, I have a few compressors--PSP Mix Pack (good for dirt), Vintage Warmer, Master Comp, Neodynium (interesting on drums), and the Golden Audio Channel (clean, basic compression). I have not seen any additional compressor that cannot do with what I have now. Of course, my thought is that I only believe this because I don't understand the workings of the other plug-in compressors that I have only demoed a bit (like Marquis and Sonalksis compressors).

I actually was a little reluctant with Marquis at first because I don't like the Voxengo GUI's, and find the naming conventions a little esoteric, but after someone here kinda talked me into trying the demo again, I was really impressed with Marquis. I found that I could work very quickly and get a great sound, and there are deeper features there for when one requires them, but the presets alone (I particularily like the SSL ones!) can give you and idea of how good this sucker can sound. It does use a little CPU, but in the same ballpark as Sonalksis and the big boys. Give it another try, I liked it better the second time around.

The Sonalksis, well, hard to describe. Like I said before, I find it really respects the transients on drums and has so many features on top of the standard compression, side-chaining, etc, that it's a joy to work with. Like another favourite of mine, the old TC Native Compressor, it just feels/sounds like outboard gear to me.

That being said, you already have some awesome compressors there. If you know your compressors, I wouldn't say you need anything on top of those! The MixPack is actually something I want to pick up, actually.

M'Snah · Post by **M'Snah** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:55 pm

Found one for you: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150434 (not mine).

loveless · Post by **loveless** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:01 pm

There are A LOT of compressors out there. I didn't see anyone mention the (free)LMC-1 from SSL

http://www.solid-state-logic.com/news/lmc1.html

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:02 pm

M'Snah wrote:Found one for you: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=150434 (not mine).

Ooh! Not now! Not now! Just fresh off the NI-versary sale!

sounddesigner · Post by **sounddesigner** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:04 pm

I'd go with either uad new Neve compressor or voxengo's, in some ways neve 33609 is the best, really high-end sounding. I'd also look at Voxengo's marquis and soniformer- for their the best in my eyes im some ways- their flexibility is at the top out here, you really can tailor the sound right for your tracks with voxengo's and their unparalleled flexibility. The new neve 33609 makes it easy to get that 'record sound' that most of our ears have become use to hearing, it seems to be a idiot proof compressor/limiter thats hard to get a bad sound.Handles every sound in your mix well, and brings them together well without any deformity in your sonic picture.Just a beautiful overall shape, even with some extreme settings. It's the best glue out here.

I find the voxengo marquis and soniformer and the uad's to be the best out here to my ears, each are very strong in some area that i don't find in other compressors, I'm not a compressor expert but i know what my ears like and the sound of them listed above is magical to me. My 2 cents.

funkadil · Post by **funkadil** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:08 pm

I just realized my favorite compressors have no gui. the mj one, the xhip one, and the vanilla one.

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:16 pm

sounddesigner wrote:I'd go with either uad new Neve compressor or voxengo's, in some ways neve 33609 is the best, really high-end sounding. I'd also look at Voxengo's marquis and soniformer- for their the best in my eyes im some ways- their flexibility is at the top out here, you really can tailor the sound right for your tracks with voxengo's and their unparalleled flexibility. The new neve 33609 makes it easy to get that 'record sound' that most of our ears have become use to hearing, it seems to be a idiot proof compressor/limiter thats hard to get a bad sound.Handles every sound in your mix well, and brings them together well without any deformity in your sonic picture.Just a beautiful overall shape, even with some extreme settings. It's the best glue out here.

I find the voxengo marquis and soniformer and the uad's to be the best out here to my ears, each are very strong in some area that i don't find in other compressors, I'm not a compressor expert but i know what my ears like and the sound of them listed above is magical to me. My 2 cents.

That's kind of how I feel about the Waves SSL stuff, I found it easy to just insert'n'get the commercial sound. Man, I wish UAD would stop sucking up all the exclusive licenses! I'd really love to try those Neves out.

stag · Post by **stag** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:32 pm

Digital Pish Phones and Waves SSL4000.
Also the Liquid Mix got 10\10 reviews everywhere, off course the usual suspects, read UAD fanboys, say it's no good.
Nevertheless UAD has good stuff, i would go with the Waves SSL 4000 alone. I don't know about you but maping everything that's released on SX is pretty hard... i don't use the UAD gear anymore, 4 cards and a chassis just laying on the studio floor.

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:44 pm

funkadil wrote:I just realized my favorite compressors have no gui. the mj one, the xhip one, and the vanilla one.

Yeah, that mjcompressor is a real sweetie. All of these are great, and they have a feature often overlooked in the big boys': the "Mix" control!

sounddesigner · Post by **sounddesigner** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:20 pm

bduffy wrote:
sounddesigner wrote:I'd go with either uad new Neve compressor or voxengo's, in some ways neve 33609 is the best, really high-end sounding. I'd also look at Voxengo's marquis and soniformer- for their the best in my eyes im some ways- their flexibility is at the top out here, you really can tailor the sound right for your tracks with voxengo's and their unparalleled flexibility. The new neve 33609 makes it easy to get that 'record sound' that most of our ears have become use to hearing, it seems to be a idiot proof compressor/limiter thats hard to get a bad sound.Handles every sound in your mix well, and brings them together well without any deformity in your sonic picture.Just a beautiful overall shape, even with some extreme settings. It's the best glue out here.

I find the voxengo marquis and soniformer and the uad's to be the best out here to my ears, each are very strong in some area that i don't find in other compressors, I'm not a compressor expert but i know what my ears like and the sound of them listed above is magical to me. My 2 cents.
That's kind of how I feel about the Waves SSL stuff, I found it easy to just insert'n'get the commercial sound. Man, I wish UAD would stop sucking up all the exclusive licenses! I'd really love to try those Neves out.

I have been reading great reviews on the waves ssl all over the net. Most people say their dynamite, I aims to try them in the future, What's been preventing me at the moment from demoing them is 1.the purchasing of a dongle to demo, 2.my fear of getting envolved with waves company do to horrer stories and personal experiences, 3.And lastly if i demo them and like them i don't have the money for them right now, knowing me i'll end up selling my house to buy them, correction my mothers house, i'm living with her right now

I'm about to burn the last $200 off one of my credit cards to get the neve 33609 plug, $800 for waves would hurt badly. But i plan to demo the Waves ssl in the future because there is alot of noise being made over them, and in this case i don't think everyone is wrong, plus it never hurts to see what all the fuss is about.

Need suggestions on channel compressor.