Love this video. Good stuff out of you, and great sounds in and out of bypass...any chance you could do some more with your other gear? Am going to take the plunge soon to work with my Bus+ and really looking forward to it. You're more than welcome to visit the University studio in Athlone anytime you happen to be up this way.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I will absolutely try and get another video done after your feedback, delighted! I hope you get great enjoyment out of the Bus+, looks like an amazing unit.
Thank you again and again for this fantastic and inspiring video. The song from Paddy Dennehy is beautiful. You made my day ! The only downside for me about this video is that I own a VariMu style compressor, 2 VCAs and a Diode Bridge one, and after seeing your video, I sadly discovered that I don't have a Zenner style one ! How will I find the money now that I love this Zen ? hahaha ! I can sell one kidney, that's a solution :)))
Just wanted to come back and say that on this recording I actually didn’t want to use much in the box processing, so to avoid using eq on the reverb I recorded the vocal using one close mic and two fairly distant small diaphragm condensers which fed the reverb. That saved me needing to use eq on the reverb as the low was already much less.
@@marbelis-my8xo the small condensers are on a stereo bar and which I’ve gotten fairly used over time and the distance from the close mic was just guesstimated by ear and wasn’t an over priority because I knew I was not going to use the dry signal at all for the verb. Worked out ok, I do like having a room mic (or two) going as much as possible because I find it’s almost like having an umbrella in Europe. Better have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
thank you for your demo but please next time do a proper volume levels when comparing on/off. especialy around 8:30 when playing electronic track this comparison is useless as the levels are too different. regards.
Hey! Thank you very much for your feedback ,I do appreciate it. In terms of level matching for this particular audio example I think you’ll find that if you listen to the attack/click of the kick drum, you’ll notice that that is around about the same level when the unit is engaged/bypassed. Naturally when engaging the high pass filter I am bringing the overall levels up for the hats and pads, but the true peak is in and around the same. Just goes to show how amazing this unit is!
@@marbelis-my8xo it won’t sound identical but better or worse is entirely subjective. Even blind comparing between the two would be hard to determine which is which, only that there is a difference. Some Interfaces/converters offer different features to others outside of Ad/Da conversion.
I do, often! Individual tracks usually get a fair bit of drive with slow attacks and master bus a very light touch with another coloured unit after. Usually a vari mu or a vca
@@soundsendreturn : Great man. I am currently waiting to get my Zen and planning on using it on the 2bus. What do you feel that using a vari -mu after the Zen imparts? More defined bass tones? I am wondering exactly what the Zen will add..... is it more specialised in the higher frequencies ( in your use ) ? Cheers. In my chain I have a VCA into a vari mu and I am finding more bass presence. Wondering what the Zen will do for me.
For me, when I started to understand the technology used for the unit, I started to figure out how it’s going to sound. The solid state transistor amp circuit sounds like a quality solid state amp should, it’s not exactly transparent its more like that said transparency is its sound, the tonal characteristics of the amplification stage doesn't modify the source material all that much. A single zener diode can clip a waveform to a square wave as it gets closer to 0db. A multitude of diodes in series can make that square wave less square and more in the direction of a soft clipper, which then offers from subtile to not so subtile harmonic distortion which is entirely program dependent and changes ad hoc depending on the amount of compression used. I find its the combination of the clean amp circuit, the soft/hard clipping and the transformers (I have a few DIY colour boxes made with different transformers, Carnhil, Lundahl and IGS Custom transformers and IGS are absolutely my favourite) that makes this such as unique device and when you get used to the sound you start to hear it all over the place. Beyonce & Lady Gaga vocals (more the clean and solid transistor sound with the brighter harmonics from faster release times), The White Stripes, Pink Floyd (more so the beautiful darker harmonics from the compression in action with slower release times) and Im sure the list goes on.
It definitely has a sound, but putting this before another character peice really lets that next units sonic characteristics shine through brilliantly. I have a few units that sound ok but when combined don’t quite work. This unit doesn’t have that issue, in fact I find it helps that next unit shine a little clearer.
@@soundsendreturn From what I could hear from the demo, it sounds like the perfect tool for series compression or to smooth peaks, especially with that 4x mode. Definitely could be a Swiss Army knife.
Piano example sounds pretty horrible, to be honest. Just use an electric piano. From a user’s pov, I see pointlessly expensive design in the switched controls, a hindrance in any compressor. I’d pass.
This was the artists piano, who was happy with the result. The switched controls are actually a preference for most who require recall-ability, that’s why most analog mastering outboard is switched.
@@soundsendreturn I’m aware of the reasoning and the preference for mastering. I’ve used numerous switchable units and even own an MCI console with such EQ control. I find its use in compressors to be questionable.
@@artysanmobile Hey, I master for a living, and if a unit is not stepped and easy to calibrate then it doesn't get bought by us. This is a very colourful niche unit that will not work much of the time but might be the perfect thing if you are looking for that kind of 60s style flattening.
@@GingerDrums My work is mostly live recording and post production, including mastering, for stream, film and video release. Every software based plug-in is by very definition, infinitely stepped. Physically stepped controls, of which I was unaware until you pointed them out, on a control surface are, please forgive me, a stupid design. One more reason to have zero interest in such a product.
Great demo mate!
Uuuughhh…. It’s pretty sexy sounding unit when it’s driven. I love it! Thanks for the video
Was Tony Slemon's track ever released? I cant seems to find it.
Might be on SoundCloud but I dunno.
Would love more videos like this from you. Excellent content !
awesome music
Top notch review!
Finally a video about this compressor! Thank you!
Love this video. Good stuff out of you, and great sounds in and out of bypass...any chance you could do some more with your other gear? Am going to take the plunge soon to work with my Bus+ and really looking forward to it. You're more than welcome to visit the University studio in Athlone anytime you happen to be up this way.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I will absolutely try and get another video done after your feedback, delighted! I hope you get great enjoyment out of the Bus+, looks like an amazing unit.
Great review, thanks!!!
Thank you again and again for this fantastic and inspiring video. The song from Paddy Dennehy is beautiful. You made my day ! The only downside for me about this video is that I own a VariMu style compressor, 2 VCAs and a Diode Bridge one, and after seeing your video, I sadly discovered that I don't have a Zenner style one ! How will I find the money now that I love this Zen ? hahaha ! I can sell one kidney, that's a solution :)))
Or you can sell 2 and get more gear
Which mic was used for recording Paddy's great vocal performance?
That was a Warm Audio U 47 clone. Very lovely sounding mic!
Ok. now I want one
I got to be honest, I have a few units now from IGS Audio and none of them feel or sound in anyway cheap. They really do make quality hardware.
Been thinking about getting this one for a while, thanks for a great detailed review, now def ordering it.
Why is this compressor working in stereo with the mono vocal? Great video!
Great question, sorry for the delayed response. The vocal was processed with the reverb.
And thank you for the compliment!
Just wanted to come back and say that on this recording I actually didn’t want to use much in the box processing, so to avoid using eq on the reverb I recorded the vocal using one close mic and two fairly distant small diaphragm condensers which fed the reverb. That saved me needing to use eq on the reverb as the low was already much less.
@@soundsendreturn great technique! 3 inputs at once, that’s awesome. How did you deal with phase issues?
@@marbelis-my8xo the small condensers are on a stereo bar and which I’ve gotten fairly used over time and the distance from the close mic was just guesstimated by ear and wasn’t an over priority because I knew I was not going to use the dry signal at all for the verb. Worked out ok, I do like having a room mic (or two) going as much as possible because I find it’s almost like having an umbrella in Europe. Better have it and not need it than need it and not have it!
Did you use both left and right on the Zen or was this using only 1 channel?
When you see the lower lights engaged on the channel that means that channel is active. Hope that makes sense!
thank you for your demo but please next time do a proper volume levels when comparing on/off. especialy around 8:30 when playing electronic track this comparison is useless as the levels are too different. regards.
Hey! Thank you very much for your feedback ,I do appreciate it. In terms of level matching for this particular audio example I think you’ll find that if you listen to the attack/click of the kick drum, you’ll notice that that is around about the same level when the unit is engaged/bypassed. Naturally when engaging the high pass filter I am bringing the overall levels up for the hats and pads, but the true peak is in and around the same. Just goes to show how amazing this unit is!
♥☺♪
What interface did you use for this?
I’m using a Metric Halo LIO 8
@@soundsendreturn would a 2023 Apollo x6 sound the same or better/worse?
@@marbelis-my8xo it won’t sound identical but better or worse is entirely subjective. Even blind comparing between the two would be hard to determine which is which, only that there is a difference. Some Interfaces/converters offer different features to others outside of Ad/Da conversion.
🔥🐙🔥
Do you still have and use the Zen ?
I do, often! Individual tracks usually get a fair bit of drive with slow attacks and master bus a very light touch with another coloured unit after. Usually a vari mu or a vca
@@soundsendreturn : Great man. I am currently waiting to get my Zen and planning on using it on the 2bus.
What do you feel that using a vari -mu after the Zen imparts? More defined bass tones? I am wondering exactly what the Zen will add..... is it more specialised in the higher frequencies ( in your use ) ? Cheers. In my chain I have a VCA into a vari mu and I am finding more bass presence. Wondering what the Zen will do for me.
@@DanglyLingham the zen has a colour of its own but works nicly with other coloured boxes I find. Enjoy !!
@@soundsendreturn : so it came in. It seems to impart a degree of presence in the highs and mids. Would you agree ?
For me, when I started to understand the technology used for the unit, I started to figure out how it’s going to sound. The solid state transistor amp circuit sounds like a quality solid state amp should, it’s not exactly transparent its more like that said transparency is its sound, the tonal characteristics of the amplification stage doesn't modify the source material all that much. A single zener diode can clip a waveform to a square wave as it gets closer to 0db. A multitude of diodes in series can make that square wave less square and more in the direction of a soft clipper, which then offers from subtile to not so subtile harmonic distortion which is entirely program dependent and changes ad hoc depending on the amount of compression used. I find its the combination of the clean amp circuit, the soft/hard clipping and the transformers (I have a few DIY colour boxes made with different transformers, Carnhil, Lundahl and IGS Custom transformers and IGS are absolutely my favourite) that makes this such as unique device and when you get used to the sound you start to hear it all over the place. Beyonce & Lady Gaga vocals (more the clean and solid transistor sound with the brighter harmonics from faster release times), The White Stripes, Pink Floyd (more so the beautiful darker harmonics from the compression in action with slower release times) and Im sure the list goes on.
Good tool, a bit sterile in terms of sauce.
It definitely has a sound, but putting this before another character peice really lets that next units sonic characteristics shine through brilliantly. I have a few units that sound ok but when combined don’t quite work. This unit doesn’t have that issue, in fact I find it helps that next unit shine a little clearer.
@@soundsendreturn From what I could hear from the demo, it sounds like the perfect tool for series compression or to smooth peaks, especially with that 4x mode. Definitely could be a Swiss Army knife.
Piano example sounds pretty horrible, to be honest. Just use an electric piano. From a user’s pov, I see pointlessly expensive design in the switched controls, a hindrance in any compressor. I’d pass.
This was the artists piano, who was happy with the result. The switched controls are actually a preference for most who require recall-ability, that’s why most analog mastering outboard is switched.
@@soundsendreturn I’m aware of the reasoning and the preference for mastering. I’ve used numerous switchable units and even own an MCI console with such EQ control. I find its use in compressors to be questionable.
@@artysanmobile Hey, I master for a living, and if a unit is not stepped and easy to calibrate then it doesn't get bought by us. This is a very colourful niche unit that will not work much of the time but might be the perfect thing if you are looking for that kind of 60s style flattening.
@@GingerDrums My work is mostly live recording and post production, including mastering, for stream, film and video release. Every software based plug-in is by very definition, infinitely stepped. Physically stepped controls, of which I was unaware until you pointed them out, on a control surface are, please forgive me, a stupid design. One more reason to have zero interest in such a product.
@@GingerDrums From my observations, haptic feedback is the one and only plus this surface has, and that isn’t nearly enough for me.