Just need to listen to the kick and snare to really hear it. The hardware is way more pleasant sounding, it doesn't choke the snare transient, and it grabs the kick in a much cleaner way. I love having a hardware bus compressor, I won't go back to only plugins.
Hey Fluff, longtime subscriber. Would love to see a video on why you switched from the Neumann KH310s down to the smaller Neumanns and then to Genelec. How have these changes affected your mixes? Thanks!
Compressors are pretty subtle anyway... or at least they should be. I think the thing to remember when you're doing a mix is that there's usually more than one compressor. I usually have a compressor on bass, at least one on drums, usually one on vocals and sometimes even buss compressors gluing tracks together and then one on the master... Besides the fact that doing it with hardware would be expensive (5 compressors adds up), I may want different compressors on different tracks, or I might want another one of a compressor that I only have one of... With digital I have as many of each as I want. BUT, I think that's something to test. One compressor didn't change much, but if you're using 3-5 or even more compressors on a song: How much does it change the sound? I would expect the differences to become much more noticeable. Then again, I think my takeaway from this is that hearing the difference between hardware and software compressors is hard to describe and subtle. But changing a knob slightly had a real impact. So worry less about which gear you use and more about how you use it.
That free compressor from Analog Obsession that is similar is really really good , i know a video game composer who will use it over any of this stuff cuz it's more subtle and gentle than these compressors. it works really good
They are all fairly similar. The action/reaction is all pretty close and they definitely sound like different versions of the same type of compressor. Wouldn't say i prefer one over the other. The hardware seemed a little more open EQ wise, like it was a little more saturated in the top end or not darkening the sound as much. Waves seemed to be the darkest of the bunch and emphasized the mids a lil more. Any of this could probably be accounted for with some bus EQ. All are great. If you have money for the hardware, obviously you're result is gonna be stellar. If you only have the $29.99 for the waves, grab the waves puiqtec while you're at it and boost some top and youll be 98% the way there. Good vid Fluff 👍
I agree that the Hardware Comp has a little more "pop" That being said i've been using the SSL plugin for years and enjoy it. If money were not a factor I'd jump to hardware but meh.
I've been using the waves one for years and ive been eyeballing the G-Comp. It may sound a bit different but it doesnt actually sound "better" to me. i think i just want some thousand dollar knobs to fiddle with
If money were no object, then hardware for sure. Given that most folks listen to music on their phones, I don't know that the differences aren't mostly academic, though.
The analog stuff has a “dirtyness” and “vibe” to it that plugins don’t. But, I’m still a fan of plugins. I don’t want to pay the cash for analog. lol so idk if the plugin fandom is legit or if I’ve fooled myself into it.
I hear the width change on a laptop shitty speakers! Hardware all the way and the top end dimension is better. For me anyway. The town house from plugin is a great one too but i use the hardware all day difference between 3% is monkeys vs us Just saying!
Just need to listen to the kick and snare to really hear it. The hardware is way more pleasant sounding, it doesn't choke the snare transient, and it grabs the kick in a much cleaner way. I love having a hardware bus compressor, I won't go back to only plugins.
Hey Fluff, longtime subscriber. Would love to see a video on why you switched from the Neumann KH310s down to the smaller Neumanns and then to Genelec. How have these changes affected your mixes?
Thanks!
Compressors are pretty subtle anyway... or at least they should be.
I think the thing to remember when you're doing a mix is that there's usually more than one compressor. I usually have a compressor on bass, at least one on drums, usually one on vocals and sometimes even buss compressors gluing tracks together and then one on the master...
Besides the fact that doing it with hardware would be expensive (5 compressors adds up), I may want different compressors on different tracks, or I might want another one of a compressor that I only have one of... With digital I have as many of each as I want.
BUT, I think that's something to test. One compressor didn't change much, but if you're using 3-5 or even more compressors on a song: How much does it change the sound? I would expect the differences to become much more noticeable.
Then again, I think my takeaway from this is that hearing the difference between hardware and software compressors is hard to describe and subtle. But changing a knob slightly had a real impact. So worry less about which gear you use and more about how you use it.
Not subtle at all when used on drums in modern metal.
I wish The Glue from Cytomic had been included. That one seems to get a lot of praise and is even included in Ableton Live.
Never even heard of that one, I will check that out!
That free compressor from Analog Obsession that is similar is really really good , i know a video game composer who will use it over any of this stuff cuz it's more subtle and gentle than these compressors. it works really good
What model?
Thanks! For me:
1) hardware
2) waves
3) ssl (had a feeling that earplugs were engaged suddenly)
So, i believe, plugins will do it for now 😅
They are all fairly similar. The action/reaction is all pretty close and they definitely sound like different versions of the same type of compressor. Wouldn't say i prefer one over the other. The hardware seemed a little more open EQ wise, like it was a little more saturated in the top end or not darkening the sound as much. Waves seemed to be the darkest of the bunch and emphasized the mids a lil more. Any of this could probably be accounted for with some bus EQ. All are great. If you have money for the hardware, obviously you're result is gonna be stellar. If you only have the $29.99 for the waves, grab the waves puiqtec while you're at it and boost some top and youll be 98% the way there. Good vid Fluff 👍
Never used bus comp on a whole mix. Just on different things in the mix.
I agree that the Hardware Comp has a little more "pop"
That being said i've been using the SSL plugin for years and enjoy it. If money were not a factor I'd jump to hardware but meh.
I've been using the waves one for years and ive been eyeballing the G-Comp. It may sound a bit different but it doesnt actually sound "better" to me. i think i just want some thousand dollar knobs to fiddle with
If money were no object, then hardware for sure. Given that most folks listen to music on their phones, I don't know that the differences aren't mostly academic, though.
The analog stuff has a “dirtyness” and “vibe” to it that plugins don’t. But, I’m still a fan of plugins. I don’t want to pay the cash for analog. lol so idk if the plugin fandom is legit or if I’ve fooled myself into it.
I hear the width change on a laptop shitty speakers! Hardware all the way and the top end dimension is better. For me anyway. The town house from plugin is a great one too but i use the hardware all day difference between 3% is monkeys vs us Just saying!