Distressor Shootout: Arouser vs Comprexxor vs Deflector vs Disto-S vs FG-Stress (vs Mike-E)

[plexuss]

As a result of the discussions over in this thread here is a comparison of 5 compressors. I dialed each one in manually working to get all 5 to sound as close as possible. The exercise was a bit of a challenge to get them to sound the same, which is something to note.

I've posted the 5 tracks on Soundcloud and enabled downloads if you want to download the uncompressed files. I've also included the DRY version with no compression. I also ensured the tracks were loudness matched. Each track is processed through Limitless to target -16.0 LUFS and ensure no ISPs - there is little to no limiting on the final renders.

There is a poll. Listen to the 5 different compressors and vote which one you prefer. After awhile I will reveal which is which and some other info about them. I've enabled changing of your vote if you decide to.

NOTES
Compressors: IK Comrpexxor, SKnote Disto-S, Eperical Arouser, Sly-fi Deflector, Slate FG-Stress
Loudness matched: all tracks matched to dry, all mixes matched, -16 LUFS target +/- 0.3dB, no limiting
Process: Ratios set the same, GR set across compressors to be +/- 2dB, HP/Band/Distortion set the same, Output adjusted to loudness match tracks.

METHODOLOGY

1. Mix dry tracks by ear
2. Using Crave EQ, EQ tracks to-taste soloed, then mix EQ and level by ear to-taste
3. Bring up Nugen MasterCheck loudness meter on each track post-EQ (pre-compressor loudness)
4. Instantiate Slate FG-Stress on each track (The first compressor I decided to start with)
5. Mix each FG-Stress and track level by ear to-taste
6. Instatiate another MasterCheck post-compressor (post-compressor louddness)
7. Bring up all the loudness meters and play the track over and over adjusting the compressor output so the pre- and post- loudness of each track are within +/- 0.5dB LUFS
8. On the first pass, adjust track levels for a mixed master buss target of -16 LUFS +/- 0.5dB between renders.
9. Tweek the EQ and Compressor by ear to-taste until I felt it was a good mix
10. Bypass FG-Stress on each track
11. Instantiate the next compressor on each track. Set the compressor GUI options the same as FG-Stress.
12. Adjust compressor input, attack and release, to roughly the same GR meter dynamics and also by-ear
13. Adjust compressor output so post- loudness is within +/- 0.5dB of pre- loudness
14. Ensure master buss loudness is -16 LUFS
15. Render. Rinse. Repeat

https://soundcloud.com/musicofplexus/se ... sWz9WXvsWh


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[plexuss]

Here's a hint, if you want to bother. Download the waves from the tracks and look at their spectra. I use Audacity. Take a look at the tails in the breaks. There are some obvious spectral differences and some match up better than others. It won't reveal which is which but it will show which ones might sound similar...

[jamcat]

Wow! Thanks for this monumental effort!

[jamcat]

BTW, how are the plugins being applied?
On the whole mix, or on just one channel, or different channels at different sections, or an instance on each channel all at once?

Also, you list 'Distressor E' twice in the poll, I believe the first 'E' is supposed to be 'C'

[plexuss]

BTW, how are the plugins being applied?
On the mix buss, or to just one channel, or 1 instance per channel all at once?

Also, you list 'Distressor E' twice in the poll, I believe the first 'E' is supposed to be 'C'

Good catch and good question!

Each of the 3 tracks has the same plugin applied. Each track has a different setting suitable to the track. I then worked to match all the plugins on a given track to sound similar using knob position as a guide. And then all loudness matched using the output knob. Nothing on the mix buss.

Wow! Thanks for this monumental effort!

You're welcome! Skimping out on the source track was one thing, but excluding Deflector (that I own!) and Arouser (I paid for 1 month of use $5 for this test!) it just made sense to re-do the whole thing.

I have to say I am surprised at how subtle the compressor is. I usually smash Deflector because I figure it was made for that. I/ve not used either Deflector or Disto-S in a cleaner manner such as on these tracks. When you start to hear the subtlties then over-all differences are more acute. I am still trying to decide which I like better, if I need any/either/both Comprexxxor and FG-Stress...

[illegal4Hunna]

I like B or D the most. Hard to compare C to the rest as it sounds like it's not compressing enough. Voting for D because of the vocal, but I like the low end of B better. Really could go either/or.

[plexuss]

I like B or D the most. Hard to compare C to the rest as it sounds like it's not compressing enough. Voting for D because of the vocal, but I like the low end of B better. Really could go either/or.

There's a decent amount of gain reduction going on: The vocals have -9dB GR average -12 peaks. Guitar -7 average, -9 peak. Bass -10 average, -12 peak - values by eye-balling the plugin's GR meter.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Note: the ratios on Arousor are one off from the Distressor. So 4:1 on the Distressor is 6:1 on Arousor. If not making that adjustment, you’re going to get different results.

[plexuss]

Note: the ratios on Arousor are one off from the Distressor. So 4:1 on the Distressor is 6:1 on Arousor. If not making that adjustment, you’re going to get different results.

Good to know. Also here is the post you made in the locked thread moved over here, and my reply:

I posted this in the FG-Stress thread, but I'll repeat here because it's relevant...

Here's a quick tip: when comparing two emulations of the same piece of gear (or in Arousor's case, kind of an expanded Distressor against a Distressor), it's useful to throw the plugins up in Plugin Doctor to fine tune settings. Not every emulation is calibrated the same. Plugin Doctor lets you see the transfer curve, see the harmonics, see the attack and release shapes. You may find that attack = 5 on one device equals 5.9 on another and 4.6 on another, or that you have to adjust the input and output gain to get the compression happening at the right level... In the latest Plugin Doctor versions, it's easy to load two plugins and hide one with the Mute button to make sure you've got the settings dialed in as closely as possible. And if you find the release curve is all wrong and can't be fixed or the harmonics and their response are completely different, that's good information too. Dial in what you can.

Once you do that, take those dialed-in settings (or save the presets you created in Plugin Doctor] and bring them into your DAW to compare against actual audio to hear what it sounds like when fine tuned. It's a tedious, though insightful way of comparing one emulation to another. Has saved me money.

...this has been my kind of go-to approach to figure out "why doesn't TrackComp sound like my hardware LA-2A...oh the release and attack are way off or the make-up gain isn't high enough to boost the harmonics..." It really helps. So my plan was "if you send me your FG-Stress settings, I can match to that in PD as best I can to UAD and Arousor then post the audio output on the same loop."

Yes I saw your post in the FG thread. I agree that is a good way to do a comparison. I use PluginDoctor for EQ matching and comparing nuances in curves between different plugins. It is a valid way to do a test. I decided against it due to the amount of time it would take to set up and validate. It is also informative to do a "by ear" comparison such as the one in this thread.

I think there is an argument to be made against only using technical analysis to align two plugins for comparison purposes - just because they are aligned on a graph doesn't mean they are going to sound the same. Not that you said they would -
I am just pointing that out. There is something to be said for a test such as mine where the alignment was done by ear. I think both methodologies are useful to form a well rounded opinion.

But if someone wants to align the plugins using PluginDoctor and post their files that would be cool too.

[illegal4Hunna]

I like B or D the most. Hard to compare C to the rest as it sounds like it's not compressing enough. Voting for D because of the vocal, but I like the low end of B better. Really could go either/or.

There's a decent amount of gain reduction going on: The vocals have -9dB GR average -12 peaks. Guitar -7 average, -9 peak. Bass -10 average, -12 peak - values by eye-balling the plugin's GR meter.

I'm guessing that's the FG-Stress then

On listening again, I prefer B in all areas including vocal soooo vote change activated.

[plexuss]

Had some requests for the original shootout locked thread reveal: A: Complexxor, B: FG-Stress, C:Disto-S

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Thanks plexuss. Appreciate you doing these. Will listen to these tomorrow. I'd love to take the time to do a shoot-out at some point and may, but the limited time I spend on music stuff is better spent on music, and these things always end up taking longer than you first think they should, so again, much appreciated. Interesting that the 'C is definitely Slate - I hate it Slate, B is my favorite' poster, actually picked the Slate as his preference in that test.

[4damind]

Ok, for the other shootout it seems I liked FG-Stress the most. Btw. I expect that Arousor and FG-Stress (if they are correctly matched) are very close.

[illegal4Hunna]

Had some requests for the original shootout locked thread reveal: A: Complexxor, B: FG-Stress, C:Disto-S

Hahaha that's hilarious so my favourite on the last one was the one that always sounds like ass when I mix with it

[evo2slo]

I am still trying to decide which I like better, if I need any/either/both Comprexxxor and FG-Stress...

That is exactly the boat I am in, so I really appreciate you posting these blind tests! In the last test I thought my mind was made up because I liked A the best, which I thought was FG-Stress but turns out to be Comprexxor - which is kind of cool because I'm not crazy about the idea of having to open VMR just to use a single plugin. I like what you did with this one with the multitrack approach, so I just ranked them according to which I thought blended the best together, without the guitar or bass poking out too much and the vocals as the number one factor.
I went with E > B > D > C > A. The fullness of the vocals is what put E on top for me, but I slightly preferred the blend of bass and guitar on B. Thanks for putting this together.