Compressor shopping list

[chemicalfan]

Ok, so this is mostly Waves' fault, them and their stupid addictive sales. They've kicked off this mindset!

I'm trying to rationalise whether I need certain plugins or not, when forming my wishlist (everyone has one, right?). I've made peace with synths, got enough of those for now, had a flurry of EQ purchases so I'm comfy there for the time being (more on that later though), and I'm a bit lost at sea with saturation/distortion, so I'm not focussing there at the moment, although I'm sure that will change soon. I should mention that I'm completely in-the-box, producing house/techno. I'm doing the whole lot, from composition, to mixing, to mastering for upload.

Anyway, here's the list of compressors I have:
SKnote Disto (Distressor emulation)
Waves CLA-2A (LA2A)
Roughrider
Waves H-Comp
Focusrite Red 3
TDR Kotelnikov
Klenghelm MJUCjr
Venomode Maximal CM (analogue limiter)
D16 Frontier CM (master limiter)

Now, the compressors that are on my shopping list, I think might be treading on the toes of the ones I have already (in which case, I'll save the cash!), but would appreciate some opinion:
Elysia Mpressor (does Disto have this covered?)
Eventide Omnipressor (again, does Disto cover it?)
Stillwell Major Tom (Disto again?)
Klenghelm DC8C (does H-Comp cover this?)
Waves Fairchild (does MJUC cover this?)
Dada Life Sausage Fattener (covered by LA2A or Roughrider?)

Hopefully you get what I mean by "covered" - basically if they both do the same job (e.g. drum compression, or 2-bus compression, bass compression, etc), and achieve very similar results, it's not worth the cash having both.

Quick word about EQ/channel strips: From Waves, I've got Scheps 73, Manny Marroquin EQ, their Pultecs, API 560, and Kramer HLS (also Focusrite Red 2 & DDMF LP10 for the clean stuff). Also got Waves' IM Pusher for tarting up the master bus. I have Waves REDD on my wishlist - shall I scratch it off? The SSL channels are too rich for my blood (if only they sold them outside of the bundle, I'd be in real trouble!).

Oh, real question about saturation - I've got Izotope Trash 2, it's a bit hardcore for a quick sprinkle of overdrive though (when the channel emulations, or Audiothing Valve Filter don't go far enough, and Waves CLA Guitars doesn't cut it either). Klenghelm's SDRR has caught my eye, as has Soundtoys Devil-Loc - is it worth it, or shall I look for a freeware one?


Sorry it's a bit long and ramble-y, just trying to justify my wishlist, to keep what is becoming a bit of an addition, in check!

[ATN69]

I only have one of those compressors you have and that is the Focusrite 3. Of the ones you want to buy there is only one I own and that is Puigchild from Waves. It is a good compressor for sure. I can't really say that the Puigchild have any match in any other compressor I tested, including the MJUC from Klanghelm. I have the Waves API2500, Elysia Alpha, The glue from Cytomic, MJUC Klanghelm, Midnight blue from Focusrite and a few others. The midnight compressor from Focusrite is surprisingly good when it comes to handling attack and transients. I picked it up very cheap at the KVR second hand market. A free plugin I also want to mention is Limiter no 6. It is very useful and it has both compression and limiters built in.

I can warmly recommend the SDRR. I use it a lot and It is certainly value for money. As always you should take the time and trouble to demo anything before you buy it. You might agree or disagree with mine or other peoples opinions. In the end it's only your own opinion that counts.

[Apratim]

if you are brawler and have 199$
Mturbocomp if for you
its got every thing to recreate old compressors
and also comes with a bunch load of presets which can replicate old consoles.

for free
reaXcomp(multiband compressor) and mcompressor(compressor with side-chaining and custom drawable shapes)

[risome]

FabFilter check them out. Awesome pro plugins including a multi band compressor as well.

[DJ Warmonger]

I don't believe in compressors

[do_androids_dream]

I would say you already have, more than likely, too many compressors. What do you personally use compressors for? Is to control things or for effect, colour etc.? Is it to slap on and get inspiration from? (serious question).

Compressors are really not Waves forte imo. I only like C1 and LinMB from their whole line up.

Also, IM Pusher may well be destroying your mixes. I liked it at first then realised that it just mushes everything up and messes with phase far too much. I really wouldn't use it on the master buss.

The only plugins I currently use for vibe/saturation is Waves Tonecentric - that is a true gem in their catalogue - and Softube Saturation Knob -again, one of the only itb saturation algos that actually sounds good imo.

[RichieWitch]

You haven't mentioned what you're trying to accomplish in your music that your current compressors can't do. You don't have to "rationalize". The music is the goal. If the music needs something more than you have, buy that. If not, throw your wishlist away.

Wish to be a better producer (we can all be better). Then do those things that make you better. Everything else is a distraction.

[chemicalfan]

Thanks for the posts, let the clear up some of the gaps.

I'll have a compressor on every channel, even if it's only pushing 1dB of GR. Some channels will get a bit more squashing, depending on the signal and what I'm trying to achieve. Some things like drum channels will get compressed to add punch, and the drum bus to create movement. The bass will get squashed with an opto compressor as it makes it feel fat. Sometimes I'll compress other elements to push them backwards in the mix, or bring the attack up to let them cut through.

All the compressors I've listed get used at some point on a track (ok, some are "one or the other"). I'm at a position where everything has its place; like all bases are covered. It's more a question of nice-to-haves, or to get a different flavour.

IM Pusher - doesn't get used heavily, it's A/B'd a LOT when it comes to tuning the final master. It's mainly used for the bass & treble enhancements, just to get the mix where I want it to be against reference material. Sometimes I'll use the dynamics functions of it, but mostly it's just the highs & lows.

Saturation - thanks for the vote for SDRR, it looks good, especially for the price! I've agonised over ToneCentric in the past, but the iffy reviews have put me off (that it's noisy, mostly). Never say never though, I'm sure with a big enough sale, I'll be tempted once again.

Fabfilter - too much for me, I'm afraid! I do have their One synth on my shopping list though, as the filters are just magic

Again, thanks for the posts everyone, I think I'll reign in some of my desires