Rackable Compressors?

[glpg80]

looking for a decent compressor to use for volume swells, cleans, and possibly unhook from my rig for vocals as well.

anything anyone loves? whats cookin?

thanks

 

[Klark]

How much do you want to spend?

 

[glpg80]

at this point, all price levels. ill choose the end winner after researching each model that is described, just looking for any and every recommendation to be honest.

to narrow it down though a price is important, but the function is the end result. so i dont mind paying more to get more in return, it just depends on the models after this point if you get what i mean. would be nice to get it for ~$500-$800 range. but again, that all depends

 

[Jordon]

I've been using the 2-channel Alesis 3630 for a few years now. I use one side as a gate and one side as a slight comp that is on all the time to even out the difference in my guitars live.

 

[Klark]

Well for that kinda money, you can pretty buy anything. I would not recommend a dbx product for guitar. It's a great durable product without a doubt, but they're known for a little coloration, which is not good for guitar tone nuts. I'd look for a used BSS DPR-402, or a Klark Teknik DN500, both of which can be found for under $500 used. They're both 2ch, single rack space, and without any doubt, the two best industry standard high-end compressors you can buy.

The built in de-esser in the BSS is pretty much useless for guitar, so I'd lean towards the Klark Teknik DN-500, as it's expander section can be quite useful for volume swell tweaking and acoustic guitar use.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

lately I have been GAsing for the TC electronic triple-c, now discontinued.

http://www.tcelectronic.com/triple-c.asp

 

[blackba]

Check this site out. Mainly reviewed with a bass perspective, but still great info. I have been happy with my FMR audio RNC for PA work...

http://www.ovnilab.com/

 

[glpg80]

thank you very much for the replies and info. plenty of reading and researching to do now. most appreciated

 

[guitarslinger]

two that came to mind.

CAD CGM-2 "champ" - worked for Landau and a BUNCH of Bradshaw rigs in the late80's/early90's. Rare, and discontinued, but they pop up every now and then.

FMR Audio - RNC. Supposed to be just killer, plus it only takes a half space.

 

[Phrygian]

For $1000 (maybe a little less) you could get a used Empirical Labs Distressor. The swiss army knife of compressors really, killer on all sources.

 

[killertone]

FMR Audio RNC. Good ol' Austin, Texas company. The designer, Mark McQuilken is extremely ocd about how his products sound and they are all awesome. I use my RNC every time I track clean guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, and vocals. Can't recommend highly enough.

 

[glpg80]

For $1000 (maybe a little less) you could get a used Empirical Labs Distressor. The swiss army knife of compressors really, killer on all sources.

so far the emperical labs distressor and the triple C from TC are the 2 that have caught my eye the most.

im wondering if the emperical is supposed to be used mainly for vocals? its intended purpose? it seems promising.

the MIDI functions of the TC unit seems amazing - that would be nice. also, the fact that it splits the signal into 3 bands, and not just a high or low 2 band like the emperical FATSO unit (smaller than the distressor)

the holding function of the TC is larger than the emperical's 3.5 seconds at maximum, and the distortion level of the emperical is > .02% which is pretty high. because its an analog circuit digitally controlled, im wondering if the intended colouration is intended mainly for vocal use.

i still havent checked out the FMR unit yet. mainly for cleans and volume swells, right now the biggest seller is the TC unit because of its full functionality and MIDI use - it seems i would get somewhat more use out of that unit. but i believe the empericals could sound much better, just a little wiery at this point for guitar use and not just vocals - im really iffy about colouration.

still looking into the FMR unit.

 

[chunktone]

Emperical Labs Distressors are GREAT! Each is mono so you will need two to run stereo.

http://www.mercenary.com/emladielstpa.html

 

[Phrygian]

The Distressor is definitely not just for vocals. It's killer on guitars, snares, kicks, smashing a drum buss or running on the master (you'll need two as mentioned), bass, synths, etc. I've used it on so many things. One of the best investments I've ever made!

 

[mboogman]

+1 for the Distressor.

Also check out Manly Labs/Langevin if you want really high end, but prepare to offer your first born as payment.

 

[AssfaceRules]

another vote for the FMR Really Nice Compressor.

 

[Klark]

Distressor = Over-hyped, flavor of the month, and unreliable on the road. I've been on & off the road for 20 years and have maybe seen a total of 10 or 11 Klark, BSS, or dbx compressors that died and didn't make it to the end of the tour. Distressors were only released maybe 10 years ago, and I've already seen at least 6 or 7 that died for no reason. You do the math. I'll take a 25 year old dbx 160x covered in a thick layer of nicotine & beer over a new in the box Distressor.

The RNC is cool, for a while, til the hype wears off. It sounds pretty good, for a BUDGET compressor. The original Behringer Composers weren't bad BUDGET compressors either, but at least the Behringer was 2ch, stereo linkable, had a chassis that you could drive over, and didn't require a fucking WALL WART. The hype wore off on the Composers after a few years as well. Now they're total junk and you can't give 'em away.

No hype needed for the Klark or BSS to sell. They've been sounding awesome, working flawlessly, and living comfortably in the touring racks of countless world wide tours for 25+ years. Sure there are boutique compressors out there like Summit or Manley, but those are NOT road pieces. glpg80 said he wanted a compressor for his rig, not his studio rack.

 

[mboogman]

No hype needed for the Klark or BSS to sell.

I think I mis-read your earlier post about the Klark and BSS. Definitely would go with either one of these for reliability and sound quality. Ashly also makes a similar compressor (or at least used to) to the BSS, but is a little less pricey. For live compressor though, (at least in a FOH rack, where I spend a lot of time) the BSS would take the prize in my opinion.

 

[guitarslinger]

Klark,

what do you think of the CAD CGM2?

They were all over the LA guitar scene about 20 years ago.

 

[Klark]

Klark, what do you think of the CAD CGM2? They were all over the LA guitar scene about 20 years ago.

I've never used one in a guitar rig, but I do remember seeing them in a couple bass rigs back in the mid 90's or so. I also remember hearing a story or two about how acoustic bands were assigning every acoustic onstage (even mandos, violins, and acoustic bass) to a single subgroup, and using the CAD across that group. Something about it had a magical blending quality, compared to other compressors. Probably just hype, but that's what I remember.