Cytomic 'The Glue' Compressor

[Igro]

I'm really enjoying this thing on dance productions! still not sure if it's better than anything else, enough to purchase...

What instruments have you used it on?

Mostly full mixes, but I tried it on drums, of course. Wouldn't be my first choice for drums, but it wasn't bad.

Hi bduffy,

I appreciate your opinon on The Glue, it's definitely not for everyone. How about we turn these statements around? Would you please let us know what your favorite compressors are? What is your first choice of compressor on drums? And if you don't mind, then what is your first choice on vocals, instruments, and entire mixes?

Andrew Simper

Yeah, i'm also curious.

[RawTech]

Thanks for the bug report. I just checked my os info, I'm on 10.5.5 and all is working well. Something must have changed with the .6 update. I'll look into it. Just wanting to double check is this with logic 8.0.2 ?

Andrew Simper

yes I use Logic 8.0.2 . I experienced that the glue is working fine in smaller or empty projects. When they are getting bigger, the chance that glue crashes all gets higher. Very mysterious.

[andy-cytomic]

I like to confirm minor problems with Logic too.

It crashes when you remove glue from channel strip if logic is playing....
I am on OSX 10.5.6 and Logic 8.0.2

although I didn't try glue 1.0.8 yet.

Thanks andy,

kind regards,
Bill.

It seems 10.5.6 is the critical factor here, as I am on 10.5.5 and have no trouble at all in Logic 8.0.2

Thanks for all the bug reports with version numbers and details I can use!

Andrew Simper

[bduffy]

I'm really enjoying this thing on dance productions! still not sure if it's better than anything else, enough to purchase...

What instruments have you used it on?

Mostly full mixes, but I tried it on drums, of course. Wouldn't be my first choice for drums, but it wasn't bad.

Hi bduffy,

I appreciate your opinon on The Glue, it's definitely not for everyone. How about we turn these statements around? Would you please let us know what your favorite compressors are? What is your first choice of compressor on drums? And if you don't mind, then what is your first choice on vocals, instruments, and entire mixes?

Andrew Simper

Really? All that? I could try...

Well, Andy, your response has led me to re-open a project and try The Glue out again in different situations. It's still early to say, but it looks like I may have been a version or two behind with The Glue, because I swear it sounds a bit different now. I'm having an eye-opening experience here with a dance song, and I'm impressed with the amount of compression and attack I can get and still maintain a nice balance with the rest of the sounds. Quite nice indeed!

I guess it just comes down to: can I get this sound with something else? I'm a/b-ing with the Waves RComp, and I can get quite close...I'd hate to talk anyone out of buying it; I might buy it just coz you're such a sweet guy, but I probably don't NEED it right now, know what I mean?

If it helps to know my favourites (I can confirm what everyone suspects: they tend to change from time to time), here they are:

Drums: Waves JJP; UAD Fairchild; Waves L2; FabFilter Pro-C
Vocals: Waves RVOx; UAD 1176LN; Pro-C
Bass: Waves JJP; 1176LN; LA-2A; CamelPhat; Waves RComp
Guitar: 1176LN; JJP; Pro-C; L2; RComp.

And a bunch of things I forgot. Frankly, I'm still adjusting from switching to Mac, so I've tended to fall back on standards like Waves (and even Cubase stuff!) and have begun a love affair with the UAD stuff. FWIW, I like yours better than the UAD Buss Compressor so far.

Yeah, I've really got this dance comp jumpin' now...huhn. Good stuff, Andy!

[andy-cytomic]

Really? All that? I could try...

Well, Andy, your response has led me to re-open a project and try The Glue out again in different situations. It's still early to say, but it looks like I may have been a version or two behind with The Glue, because I swear it sounds a bit different now. I'm having an eye-opening experience here with a dance song, and I'm impressed with the amount of compression and attack I can get and still maintain a nice balance with the rest of the sounds. Quite nice indeed!

Thanks dbuffy. FYI the main compressor algorithm has not changed at all, but I have removed the noise from the trial version.

I guess it just comes down to: can I get this sound with something else? I'm a/b-ing with the Waves RComp, and I can get quite close...I'd hate to talk anyone out of buying it; I might buy it just coz you're such a sweet guy, but I probably don't NEED it right now, know what I mean?

If it helps to know my favourites (I can confirm what everyone suspects: they tend to change from time to time), here they are:

Drums: Waves JJP; UAD Fairchild; Waves L2; FabFilter Pro-C
Vocals: Waves RVOx; UAD 1176LN; Pro-C
Bass: Waves JJP; 1176LN; LA-2A; CamelPhat; Waves RComp
Guitar: 1176LN; JJP; Pro-C; L2; RComp.

Wow, I completely understand about you thinking twice before purchasing The Glue! The Glue can do a couple of nice things, like being able to put the Range knob at about -15 dB to get a really nice but subtle lift on your master bus, but you do have loads of comps and could easily get some good sounding production out of them. I am completely up for getting the most out of what you have. It sounds like you probably would be better off getting analog kit rather than another plugin compressor. Do you have an analog 1176LN? From the above list it sounds like you like the sound. Either that or a distressor, both are absolutely killer analog compressors and I would highly recommend them to anyone.

And a bunch of things I forgot. Frankly, I'm still adjusting from switching to Mac, so I've tended to fall back on standards like Waves (and even Cubase stuff!) and have begun a love affair with the UAD stuff. FWIW, I like yours better than the UAD Buss Compressor so far.

Yeah, I've really got this dance comp jumpin' now...huhn. Good stuff, Andy!

Thanks for posting back! If you like The Glue as much as the UAD buss compressor then I'm happy, since being native The Glue will hopefully be a more attractive plugin.

Andrew Simper

[Agreed]

Andrew, I just got T-Racks 3 Deluxe. Its compressors are vintage-flavored, I especially love its Fairchild emulation. The Opto-Comp is quite transparent, however. I know it might sound odd but even though I play and mix heavy music, there's something about this vintage analog flavor that really gets everything together in a nice way, if that makes any sense.

However, I think I'm still going to have to get The Glue for its modern compression style... It just seems like between T-Racks 3 Deluxe and The Glue, I'll have all major points covered, and I can probably handle the rest in freeware thanks to the great freeware devs working on the scene.

[bduffy]

Really? All that? I could try...

Well, Andy, your response has led me to re-open a project and try The Glue out again in different situations. It's still early to say, but it looks like I may have been a version or two behind with The Glue, because I swear it sounds a bit different now. I'm having an eye-opening experience here with a dance song, and I'm impressed with the amount of compression and attack I can get and still maintain a nice balance with the rest of the sounds. Quite nice indeed!

Thanks dbuffy. FYI the main compressor algorithm has not changed at all, but I have removed the noise from the trial version.

Yeah? Well I guess I didn't try it hard enough. So to speak. I like it much better after spending some more time with it.

I guess it just comes down to: can I get this sound with something else? I'm a/b-ing with the Waves RComp, and I can get quite close...I'd hate to talk anyone out of buying it; I might buy it just coz you're such a sweet guy, but I probably don't NEED it right now, know what I mean?

If it helps to know my favourites (I can confirm what everyone suspects: they tend to change from time to time), here they are:

Drums: Waves JJP; UAD Fairchild; Waves L2; FabFilter Pro-C
Vocals: Waves RVOx; UAD 1176LN; Pro-C
Bass: Waves JJP; 1176LN; LA-2A; CamelPhat; Waves RComp
Guitar: 1176LN; JJP; Pro-C; L2; RComp.

Wow, I completely understand about you thinking twice before purchasing The Glue! The Glue can do a couple of nice things, like being able to put the Range knob at about -15 dB to get a really nice but subtle lift on your master bus, but you do have loads of comps and could easily get some good sounding production out of them. I am completely up for getting the most out of what you have. It sounds like you probably would be better off getting analog kit rather than another plugin compressor. Do you have an analog 1176LN? From the above list it sounds like you like the sound. Either that or a distressor, both are absolutely killer analog compressors and I would highly recommend them to anyone.

Yeah, yeah: totally the next step is analog kit, no doubt. I was only referring to the UAD 1176, sadly, I do not own one yet, and I'm sure the Distressor would put a smile on my face, from what I know of it. As you can tell, I'm not exactly Mr. Transparent-and-Gentle, but I do demand that from a buss compressor. I was pushing yours quite hard, and I like how it seemed to keep the kick drum "carved out" from the other program material. I quite liked that.

And a bunch of things I forgot. Frankly, I'm still adjusting from switching to Mac, so I've tended to fall back on standards like Waves (and even Cubase stuff!) and have begun a love affair with the UAD stuff. FWIW, I like yours better than the UAD Buss Compressor so far.

Yeah, I've really got this dance comp jumpin' now...huhn. Good stuff, Andy!

Thanks for posting back! If you like The Glue as much as the UAD buss compressor then I'm happy, since being native The Glue will hopefully be a more attractive plugin.

Andrew Simper

I definitely like it as much as the UAD Buss Comp! Stay tuned for more...

[eduardo_b]

Drums: Waves JJP; UAD Fairchild; Waves L2; FabFilter Pro-C
Vocals: Waves RVOx; UAD 1176LN; Pro-C
Bass: Waves JJP; 1176LN; LA-2A; CamelPhat; Waves RComp
Guitar: 1176LN; JJP; Pro-C; L2; RComp.

Are these in order of preference for each category? They look like they are...but just checking this is the case.

[pough]

I guess it just comes down to: can I get this sound with something else? I'm a/b-ing with the Waves RComp, and I can get quite close...I'd hate to talk anyone out of buying it; I might buy it just coz you're such a sweet guy, but I probably don't NEED it right now, know what I mean?

Where is the real bduffy and what have you done with him? Where is the compressor whore we all know and love?

[adl]

@bduffy
UAD is working on a Fatso emulation, so maybe you should wait with buying a Distressor (i heard these two are quiet similar but i haven't heard both of them...)

Try this, it made me buy "The Glue"

Put The Glue on some submix buss containing both transients and sustained sounds (say drums+bass). Dial in some really slamming compression on The Glue with range knob at default -40 dB (slamming as in virtual needle slammin' the virtual needle stop ). now back off range to taste, say somewhere between -20 and -10 dB. Do you like what you hear? Do you know any other compressor that can reproduce it easily, hard or soft?

[bduffy]

Drums: Waves JJP; UAD Fairchild; Waves L2; FabFilter Pro-C
Vocals: Waves RVOx; UAD 1176LN; Pro-C
Bass: Waves JJP; 1176LN; LA-2A; CamelPhat; Waves RComp
Guitar: 1176LN; JJP; Pro-C; L2; RComp.

Are these in order of preference for each category? They look like they are...but just checking this is the case.

No, no: quite random, except for RVox on vocals. First thing I try, but if it doesn't work, then I'll reach for something more gentle. It's best suited for rock vocals and things that need aggressive compression. Yes, sometimes I use gentle compression too.

[bduffy]

I guess it just comes down to: can I get this sound with something else? I'm a/b-ing with the Waves RComp, and I can get quite close...I'd hate to talk anyone out of buying it; I might buy it just coz you're such a sweet guy, but I probably don't NEED it right now, know what I mean?

Where is the real bduffy and what have you done with him? Where is the compressor whore we all know and love?

Ha ha ha! Actually, I'm trying to harmonize systems with my brother, so I'm trying to keep the purchases down, after the initial orgy. And, at the end of the day, I need to use what I got! But that doesn't stop me from trying every compressor known to man...

[bduffy]

@bduffy
UAD is working on a Fatso emulation, so maybe you should wait with buying a Distressor (i heard these two are quiet similar but i haven't heard both of them...)

That, sir, is MOST interesting!

Try this, it made me buy "The Glue"

Put The Glue on some submix buss containing both transients and sustained sounds (say drums+bass). Dial in some really slamming compression on The Glue with range knob at default -40 dB (slamming as in virtual needle slammin' the virtual needle stop ). now back off range to taste, say somewhere between -20 and -10 dB. Do you like what you hear? Do you know any other compressor that can reproduce it easily, hard or soft?

Hmm. I'll try this out now, although this is kind of what I was doing with the dance track last night. I usually start at that default Range setting and work back from there. Interesting. I am getting kind of attached to it...oh christ...

[adl]

@bduffy
Watch here at around 2 minutes:
Fatso will come, it's officially stated

For the "Range" thing on "the glue": that is really amazing! Also it is totally different to the regular "dry/wet" knob. When backing off the dry/wet knob, the drums loose this "smashing" sound. When backing off the Range knob the drums still smash really nicely

[jjsr]

too bad. The VU animation wasn't that bad at all. I mean this "smear"-like effect. Andy: How would it be when you implement some options on the "About" page of "the glue" to switch this effect and an option for finetuning the softclip?!?