Are we close to getting plugin compressors that sound like real ones?

[Uncle E]

Well, it's emulating whatever Shy has posted, which was supposed to be a 'stress' level test.

Compared to Shy's Slate Dragon example, your attack is slow, your transients are abrasive, and there is less gain reduction. Shy's Split Comp example and kvaca's example also exhibit these detriments, I don't think any of these software examples sound like the Slate Dragon.

FWIW, all of your examples are far better than anything I got from the DCAM Free Comp or any of the Guitar Rig compressors, including the Softube-made ones.

[Agemo]

Is a software compressor which tolerates a low threshold necessarily superior to one that doesn't? I don't see the need for rules about this.

[Uncle E]

Is a software compressor which tolerates a low threshold necessarily superior to one that doesn't? I don't see the need for rules about this.

Sorry, I don't understand what you're getting at.

[Agemo]

Uncle E, the point of Shy's Splitcomp example was not to show the best possible use of that compressor. It was to demonstrate that at settings approximating those in the Slate example, the Splitcomp choked. Shy anticipated the objections of those who might claim that software compressors are perfect just so long as you keep to a safe threshold. The point of my post was to question the assumptions of the 'stress test': there are some software compressors, such as the DC8C, which allow fairly low thresholds without choking. There are others which fall apart at low thresholds, for example the Sonalksis SV-315, which I happen to like a lot. So I am merely questioning whether a low threshold is a meaningful reference in all cases. That said, no one in this thread has claimed that software compressors can mimic the extreme settings of the Slate example.

You're not enamoured with the DCAM FreeComp, then?

[Uncle E]

Uncle E, the point of Shy's Splitcomp example was not to show the best possible use of that compressor. It was to demonstrate that at settings approximating those in the Slate example, the Splitcomp choked. Shy anticipated the objections of those who might claim that software compressors are perfect just so long as you keep to a safe threshold. The point of my post was to question the assumptions of the 'stress test': there are some software compressors, such as the DC8C, which allow fairly low thresholds without choking. There are others which fall apart at low thresholds, for example the Sonalksis SV-315, which I happen to like a lot. So I am merely questioning whether a low threshold is a meaningful reference in all cases.

Got it! No, certainly it isn't a meaningful reference in all cases. I'll be the first one to admit that the UAD 4K Buss Compressor can't be pushed nearly as hard as a hardware SSL yet I still continue to use the UAD in nearly every project I do. It may not sound exactly like the hardware but it does still sound great.

You're not enamoured with the DCAM FreeComp, then?

Not as a drum compressor, not even on the solo kick examples. It may still be great for other purposes, and perhaps the DCAM BusComp and ChanComp are better suited to these tasks.

[Agemo]

Thanks. I will get to the DCAM series.

Stillwell's Bombardier is another one which allows you to set low thresholds.

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[kvaca]

Uncle E, the point of Shy's Splitcomp example was not to show the best possible use of that compressor. It was to demonstrate that at settings approximating those in the Slate example, the Splitcomp choked.

not true at all - please reread his post on page 3...there is not any single word about choking in Splitcomp...actually he says that "Splitcomp is the only software compressor which can cope with anything nearly as well as any analog compressor" and thats why I have demostrated him that it is NOT the only one

[kvaca]

The example I posted earlier, does that also 'fall apart'?

Your example doesn't exhibit the kind of gain reduction I'm referring to. Try the same thing with a faster attack, a faster release, 2:1 ratio, and 8-10dB GR.

can you please post here an exaple of gain reduction you are referring to...like Shy did before /using the same dry example/??
otherwise we cannot compare, becouse Shy used apparently very different setting on Slate than you are suggesting here...

personally I think that 8-10 db of GR should not be a problem for any decent software compressor,but lets see what do you actually want to hear...

[warp x]

So, are we "almost there" with compressors?

No.

[kvaca]

So, are we "almost there" with compressors?

No.

...as Im sure you are not biased to hw

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[himalaya]

Uncle E, the point of Shy's Splitcomp example was not to show the best possible use of that compressor. It was to demonstrate that at settings approximating those in the Slate example, the Splitcomp choked.

not true at all - please reread his post on page 3...there is not any single word about choking in Splitcomp...actually he says that "Splitcomp is the only software compressor which can cope with anything nearly as well as any analog compressor" and thats why I have demostrated him that it is NOT the only one

Exactly. A good reminder kvaca, of what has been said.

So while I do appreciate that my example may exhibit harsher attack (I can't verify that on my headphones while I'm away from my studio monitors), I can't hear that 'breaking up', choking sound Shy is talking about and which he has demonstrated with an audio clip.

In any case, after tweaking some more, here is my attempt at emulation of the Slate Dragon sound:

www.electric-himalaya.com/stuff/Compression_match_c.wav