Budget Limiter to run stuff through?

[Blizzy-Blim]

So, I'm doing everything in the box, but I'm looking to experiment with sending my tracks through some outboard gear. Maybe just like a little "magic-izing" if you know what I mean...

Have got a dbx 163 slide compressor, a presonus bluemax stereo smart compressor something or other, a dbx dual gate, a PQ3 eq, a midiverb 3 -just some odds and ends that I've picked up over time. Thinking about putting a limiter in the mix. Just looking for that extra 2% or "glue" maybe, if you will. It's just an experiment...

Suggestions?

[Uncle E]

Drawmer or Aphex are usually a good bet. The cool sounding budget DBX's (118 or 119, for example) are noisy, need to be modded and are probably then still too noisy for most DAW users. Aphex Expressor is super quiet and transparent, you can push it hard. My all time favorite is the Drawmer 1973 but it's expensive.

[Blizzy-Blim]

Drawmer or Aphex are usually a good bet. The cool sounding budget DBX's (118 or 119, for example) are noisy, need to be modded and are probably then still too noisy for most DAW users. Aphex Expressor is super quiet and transparent, you can push it hard. My all time favorite is the Drawmer 1973 but it's expensive.

Hey, thanks a bunch! Yeah, I was looking at some budget behringer and Alesis stuff, but i'm sure those will pribably be a little noisy as well?

[Uncle E]

Alesis 3630's need to be modded. Pretty easy mod, actually, you just jumper it to get the gate out of the circuit, which is (ironically) the major source of noise. There aren't any cool Behringer's. It's not that they're awful, they're just not going to add the "magic-izing" you're looking for (not even the tube ones). Used Aphex is likely going to give you the most for the least money. Aphex Dominators used to be sought after, big ticket items. I think I sold one for around $800 in the 90's and you can find them for under $200 now.

[Blizzy-Blim]

Alesis 3630's need to be modded. Pretty easy mod, actually, you just jumper it to get the gate out of the circuit, which is (ironically) the major source of noise. There aren't any cool Behringer's. It's not that they're awful, they're just not going to add the "magic-izing" you're looking for (not even the tube ones). Used Aphex is likely going to give you the most for the least money. Aphex Dominators used to be sought after, big ticket items. I think I sold one for around $800 in the 90's and you can find them for under $200 now.

Okay, sweet! Gonna look for one!

Specific model?

[anotherscott]

The most effective budget limiter is a wife. Get a divorce, and all the limits on your budget for gear will disappear.

[Uncle E]

Okay, sweet! Gonna look for one!

Specific model?

Aphex Dominator

[guitarzan]

Okay, sweet! Gonna look for one!

Specific model?

Aphex Dominator

So just the Aphex Dominator 700 then, not Dominator II (Dominator II 700, Dominator II 720, Dominator II 723…)? Or any Aphex Dominator?

I’ve had the Aphex Compellor on my Watch List for a while based on a similar, but not so specific, recommendation (not for DAW use specifically, not specifically as a limiter, more for general "magic-izing"). What is your opinion of those?

[Uncle E]

The first Dominator was the one Bernie Grundman used. The Compellor is also good, especially if you’re not looking for color. Dominator has color, drive, and smash.

[Blizzy-Blim]

The first Dominator was the one Bernie Grundman used. The Compellor is also good, especially if you’re not looking for color. Dominator has color, drive, and smash.

So how do you use yours? -Do you just pass all your tracks through it and mix "through" it??

[Uncle E]

It would be a good way for you to do it since you want color. Personally, I only use hardware at the end because I’m on my laptop out of the studio so often.