KVR Audio

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:24 pm

I am looking to get a compressor which can provide different styles and is versatile.

There is a sale on ProC2 and it is around 100 USD and Presswerk is 129 USD, so they are around the same price. Which do you prefer and why?

I currently only have the stock Ableton Live Compressors and Supercharger GT which I am going to sell because it doesn't provide enough controls and it is not very versatile, so I am looking to add a quality compressor that can do a variety of tasks.

I am also considering DMG audio TrackComp but for 100 USD seems expensive vs ProC2 which seems more featured.

Soundplex · Post by **Soundplex** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:33 pm

ProC2 is a very good neutral compressor with visual feedback. It is my go-to comp because it is low on cpu consumption. Sidechain EQ is something it use often, its adjustable knee slope is useful and it has different envelope styles which of course make sense on different matieral.

Presswerk isn't bad either. Its strength are the different views for different purposes. In comparison it doesn't feel lightweighted to me but rather than something I'd use on some well chosen group busses.

masterhiggins · Post by **masterhiggins** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 4:08 pm

Presswerk can be pretty transparent, plus you can change the topology and it includes an output limiter, which is something lacking in pro-c. You could just add a limiter after pro-c, but that's an extra unnecessary step in the workflow. Plus fabfilter's upgrade policy is kind of crappy. I think the standard discount on future upgrades is about 40%. If you own a lot of their plugins then it's not bad, but if you just own one it's expensive.

3ee · Post by **3ee** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 4:41 pm

I got ProC2 today, took advantage of the deal

I also have Trackcomp and Presswerk...

it's a very tough question which is better cause they all offer different things at some point so it depends what do you need.

My bet with Trackcomp is on the SSL type modes, The DMG mode is versatile enough probably..

Pro-C2 seems like a great workhorse go-to compressor, quickly tested today and seems like quality for sure! (and with ideal amount of cool features) I love it so far!

Can't really comment cause I don't have too much experience with it yet..

Presswerk seems a bit more "premium" and takes more CPU, it's great that it can be put in M/S mode and have individual controls for each channel, has a saturation section and the "dual-phase rotator" switch which simply sounds good on certain material.

They are all great, play with them at least a week..

3ee · Post by **3ee** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 4:49 pm

also to mention, Trackcomp is the only one I found that can be turned into a "serious" distortion shaper (DMG and G-Bus modes especially) AND sound great! ... throw in the sidechain filter for a tasty slew dist. type of sound..

rod_zero · Post by **rod_zero** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 6:27 pm

WHile having some character in the compressor is nice is something I have never got much into, Supercharger GT is flexible in that respect and I found it hard to use. Lately I am preferring saturating and overdriving with Elysia karacter which is dedicated to such task, and use the compressor for dynamics and loudness.

I will continue deciding this till the sale ends, so interested in reading more opinions.

hivkorn · Post by **hivkorn** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 6:45 pm

I have them both in the past,personnaly,i would go for presswerk.it is full of character and you can have very good result , you should consider te GE version of kotelnitov of TDR

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 7:09 pm

In my work, Pro-C2 is my go-to easy to use visual compressor that I don't have to worry too much about not sounding good because its pretty transparent and smooth sounding. Presswerk is a compressor I'd use when I want more character than C2 and a little more control over the compressor curve and action. If I had to pick one, it'd be Presswerk because it has a wider range of action/sound but I'd really miss the fast workflow and visualization of C2.

Shuffle34 · Post by **Shuffle34** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 2:00 am

Great price on Pro-C2. I might get it.

Elektronisch · Post by **Elektronisch** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 5:45 am

I personaly only own and use Presswerk in most of the times (Mastering, Bus, single tracks). I dont really hear the character there as i always turn down the saturation so i guess it can be transparent (at least to my ears)

For those who own both compressors, wich one of those is more CPU efficient?

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:05 am

Elektronisch wrote:I personaly only own and use Presswerk in most of the times (Mastering, Bus, single tracks). I dont really hear the character there as i always turn down the saturation so i guess it can be transparent (at least to my ears)

For those who own both compressors, wich one of those is more CPU efficient?

I use Logic and I dont know how to get a load metric other than the CPU meter which doesn't have graduations. But doing a test just down with 16 tracks with the same instances of C2 and Presswerk I would say Presswork uses 3x what C2 uses. I had similar settings on each. Oversampling is off on C2 - I dont know if Presswerk is oversampling interally - I didn't want to guess.

Elektronisch · Post by **Elektronisch** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:13 am

plexuss wrote:
Elektronisch wrote:I personaly only own and use Presswerk in most of the times (Mastering, Bus, single tracks). I dont really hear the character there as i always turn down the saturation so i guess it can be transparent (at least to my ears)

For those who own both compressors, wich one of those is more CPU efficient?
I use Logic and I dont know how to get a load metric other than the CPU meter which doesn't have graduations. But doing a test just down with 16 tracks with the same instances of C2 and Presswerk I would say Presswork uses 3x what C2 uses. I had similar settings on each. Oversampling is off on C2 - I dont know if Presswerk is oversampling interally - I didn't want to guess.

Thanks Plexuss, when you used Presswerk did it had HQ off?

I thought Presswerk was fairly efficient on my oldie core i7 4790k

Its a bit different plugin, but what about Fabfilter L2 (if you own)? how is that compared in efficienty?

plexuss · Post by **plexuss** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:19 am

Elektronisch wrote:
plexuss wrote:
Elektronisch wrote:I personaly only own and use Presswerk in most of the times (Mastering, Bus, single tracks). I dont really hear the character there as i always turn down the saturation so i guess it can be transparent (at least to my ears)

For those who own both compressors, wich one of those is more CPU efficient?
I use Logic and I dont know how to get a load metric other than the CPU meter which doesn't have graduations. But doing a test just down with 16 tracks with the same instances of C2 and Presswerk I would say Presswork uses 3x what C2 uses. I had similar settings on each. Oversampling is off on C2 - I dont know if Presswerk is oversampling interally - I didn't want to guess.
Thanks Plexuss, when you used Presswerk did it had HQ off?

I thought Presswerk was fairly efficient on my oldie core i7 4790k

Its a bit different plugin, but what about Fabfilter L2 (if you own)? how is that compared in efficienty?

HQ was off on Presswerk. I'll have to try L2 tomorrow. I wonder if there is some way to get a numeric metric of CPU load of a specific plugin... if not I could try using the system load meters but they tend to jump around alot and incorporate all system processes. Perhaps the CPU load on Logic itself... I'll report back.

Elektronisch · Post by **Elektronisch** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:26 am

plexuss wrote:
Elektronisch wrote:
plexuss wrote:
Elektronisch wrote:I personaly only own and use Presswerk in most of the times (Mastering, Bus, single tracks). I dont really hear the character there as i always turn down the saturation so i guess it can be transparent (at least to my ears)

For those who own both compressors, wich one of those is more CPU efficient?
I use Logic and I dont know how to get a load metric other than the CPU meter which doesn't have graduations. But doing a test just down with 16 tracks with the same instances of C2 and Presswerk I would say Presswork uses 3x what C2 uses. I had similar settings on each. Oversampling is off on C2 - I dont know if Presswerk is oversampling interally - I didn't want to guess.
Thanks Plexuss, when you used Presswerk did it had HQ off?

I thought Presswerk was fairly efficient on my oldie core i7 4790k

Its a bit different plugin, but what about Fabfilter L2 (if you own)? how is that compared in efficienty?
HQ was off on Presswerk. I'll have to try L2 tomorrow. I wonder if there is some way to get a numeric metric of CPU load of a specific plugin... if not I could try using the system load meters but they tend to jump around alot and incorporate all system processes. Perhaps the CPU load on Logic itself... I'll report back.

Thank you!

MogwaiBoy · Post by **MogwaiBoy** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 6:28 am

Never tried Presswerk but from what I hear they are quite different.

Pro-C 2 is classic Fabfilter through and through.. elegant user-friendly interface design meets classy, pristine sound. If I had to live with just one compressor (I own a bunch) this might be it.

Re: Pro-L2 CPU - it's low on normal setting but ramps up with oversampling. Just use the highest setting you can when you're working on the mix and then just switch to X32 when you export.

Fabfilter Pro C2 vs Presswerk