What is a good compressor for drums?

[[email protected]]

I have a pro tool HD system. Mix rock r&b. In the pro tools I have the
compressor that comes with pro tools and the dynamic 3 new one and a
focusrite..Also I have a 1176 software. As far as hardware I have one
distressor, one dbx 1066 or so and an old dbx 166. Some engineer told
me that an Allan Smart or a SSL is the one to slam drums? Are there any
others less costly? Joe meek,I found a guy selling a valley people comp
Any thoughts would help!
Thanks Glenn Taylor .

[studiorat]

Did you get a Massive Plugin bundle???
I like to use the McDSP 4 band multi for drums and then the Fairchild
660.

[studiorat]

Oh Yeah,
Drums sound great through the SSL master compressor. Bounce the kit
onto 2 tracks and then bring it back with the other drum faders.
You should give the SPL transient designer a go to. Great as an aux or
an insert.
Dave

[[email protected]]

studiorat wrote:
> Did you get a Massive Plugin bundle???
> I like to use the McDSP 4 band multi for drums and then the Fairchild
> 660.


No I have not tried the McDsp. Is it pretty good. I might look into
the price.

[[email protected]]

studiorat wrote:
> Oh Yeah,
> Drums sound great through the SSL master compressor. Bounce the kit
> onto 2 tracks and then bring it back with the other drum faders.
> You should give the SPL transient designer a go to. Great as an aux or
> an insert.
> Dave


So you are talking about the SSL and the SPL plug ins?
GT

[studiorat]

>
> So you are talking about the SSL and the SPL plug ins?
> GT

No GT,
The real deal, the SPL comes as a two or four channel box. Them's that
know say the 2 channel version works better. I dunno really. You should
pick up a second hand one easy enough, mine cost €250.00.
The SSL is another kettle of fish.
Dave.

[Scott Fraser]

<<I found a guy selling a valley people comp >>

I've found the hard knee on the Valley People Gain Brains to be too
unnatural. Very audible pumping at anything more than just a few db of
gain reduction.

Scott Fraser

[Scott Dorsey]

> wrote:
>I have a pro tool HD system. Mix rock r&b. In the pro tools I have the
>compressor that comes with pro tools and the dynamic 3 new one and a
>focusrite..Also I have a 1176 software. As far as hardware I have one
>distressor, one dbx 1066 or so and an old dbx 166. Some engineer told
>me that an Allan Smart or a SSL is the one to slam drums? Are there any
>others less costly? Joe meek,I found a guy selling a valley people comp
>Any thoughts would help!

What sort of miking do you tend to use on drums, in what kind of room?
What do you want the drums to sound like?

You can get much of the SSL compressor sound from the Distressor if you
spend some time with it.... I bet you can do it so that nobody can tell
the difference other than by direct comparison. But with the SSL, you
just patch it in and that sound is there, which could be useful.

Are you normally using very heavy compression to accentuate the room sound
or are you just limiting peaks? You don't have anything in there that is
a fast limiter and that can be a useful drum tool.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Michael Wozniak]

"Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
...
> > wrote:
>>I have a pro tool HD system. Mix rock r&b. In the pro tools I have the
>>compressor that comes with pro tools and the dynamic 3 new one and a
>>focusrite..Also I have a 1176 software. As far as hardware I have one
>>distressor, one dbx 1066 or so and an old dbx 166. Some engineer told
>>me that an Allan Smart or a SSL is the one to slam drums? Are there any
>>others less costly? Joe meek,I found a guy selling a valley people comp
>>Any thoughts would help!
>
> What sort of miking do you tend to use on drums, in what kind of room?
> What do you want the drums to sound like?
>
> You can get much of the SSL compressor sound from the Distressor if you
> spend some time with it.... I bet you can do it so that nobody can tell
> the difference other than by direct comparison. But with the SSL, you
> just patch it in and that sound is there, which could be useful.
>
> Are you normally using very heavy compression to accentuate the room sound
> or are you just limiting peaks? You don't have anything in there that is
> a fast limiter and that can be a useful drum tool.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Plus, you could get another Distressor, and link them up stereo for a drum
2-buss scenario, and still use them dual mono for tracking or other apps. As
noted, the EL8s are very adaptable - the swiss army knife of hi-end
compressors. But you didn't say if you're looking for hardware or software -
or maybe it's not important to you.

Mikey
Nova Music Productions

[Scott Dorsey]

Scott Fraser > wrote:
><<I found a guy selling a valley people comp >>
>
>I've found the hard knee on the Valley People Gain Brains to be too
>unnatural. Very audible pumping at anything more than just a few db of
>gain reduction.

That's what it's useful for! Put it on snare and it pumps insanely.
Very popular as an effect.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Fraser]

> That's what it's useful for! Put it on snare and it pumps insanely.
> Very popular as an effect.
> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis.">>

Have I got a deal for you then.

Scott Fraser

[[email protected]]

Michael Wozniak wrote:
> "Scott Dorsey" > wrote in message
> ...
> > > wrote:
> >>I have a pro tool HD system. Mix rock r&b. In the pro tools I have the
> >>compressor that comes with pro tools and the dynamic 3 new one and a
> >>focusrite..Also I have a 1176 software. As far as hardware I have one
> >>distressor, one dbx 1066 or so and an old dbx 166. Some engineer told
> >>me that an Allan Smart or a SSL is the one to slam drums? Are there any
> >>others less costly? Joe meek,I found a guy selling a valley people comp
> >>Any thoughts would help!
> >
> > What sort of miking do you tend to use on drums, in what kind of room?
> > What do you want the drums to sound like?
> >
> > You can get much of the SSL compressor sound from the Distressor if you
> > spend some time with it.... I bet you can do it so that nobody can tell
> > the difference other than by direct comparison. But with the SSL, you
> > just patch it in and that sound is there, which could be useful.
> >
> > Are you normally using very heavy compression to accentuate the room sound
> > or are you just limiting peaks? You don't have anything in there that is
> > a fast limiter and that can be a useful drum tool.
> > --scott
> > --
> > "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
>
> Plus, you could get another Distressor, and link them up stereo for a drum
> 2-buss scenario, and still use them dual mono for tracking or other apps. As
> noted, the EL8s are very adaptable - the swiss army knife of hi-end
> compressors. But you didn't say if you're looking for hardware or software -
> or maybe it's not important to you.
>
> Mikey
> Nova Music Productions

[[email protected]]

Scott Fraser wrote:
> > That's what it's useful for! Put it on snare and it pumps insanely.
> > Very popular as an effect.
> > --scott
> > --
> > "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis.">>
>
> Have I got a deal for you then.
>
> Scott Fraser

[[email protected]]

Scott Fraser wrote:
> > That's what it's useful for! Put it on snare and it pumps insanely.
> > Very popular as an effect.
> > --scott
> > --
> > "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis.">>
>
> Have I got a deal for you then.
>
> Scott Fraser Ok here is the deal, I have been on the road, I just got
back. If anyone is
still there ,I'm sorry about the delay ,
old band reunion. Now I'm
back, I would buy software or
hardware. I do like my
distressor and thought about
getting another. I also
have two aphex 651 mono
compressors.. Also a
bellari tube 351? just in my
un used rack in a back
storage room.
I was just told that
the ssl was the
one a lot of studios
used.My studio is in a 1958 old two
story house with wood
floors.Rock walls I deadend it up
a little bit however.
I like slamming live and
alittle roomy drums. I use 10
mics or so.neve ,api
precision 8 hhb pres.
d112 on kick 57 top sn
58 bottom 421 toms akg 352
two or three room
mikes.I,m hoping to work with Stan
Lynch
from Tom Petty soon.
He's a hard hitter. Any
compressor ideas or
would be helpful!!
I,m ready to go on a

compressor buying
binge I'll even throw in a spl.
. you only live
once. Good toys that sound good
make people think
you're good ha ha
thanks
Glenn.

[Scott Dorsey]

In article . com>,
> wrote:
> I,m ready to go on a
>
> compressor buying
>binge I'll even throw in a spl.
> . you only live
>once. Good toys that sound good
> make people think
>you're good ha ha

The reason the SSL is the one most studios use is because it's the one
in the console and it only takes a minute to switch it into place. It's
always more convenient to use the processing on the console.

My suggestion is that you play around with your Distressor more. If you
can imagine a sound in your head and you can't get that sound with the
Distressor, THAT is when you need to buy a new compressor.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."