Mixdown thru valve compressor?

30 Replies, 7418 Views

ok im at uni checking the forums and i see the fanu thread about digital to analog mixdowns etc..

so im thinking does sending a bounced mixdown thru a good valve compressor have a decent effect, i.e add a warth? ...being a novice i wouldn't know so i just want to know what the more experienced creux think

Grin
Fushara
Scope will be able to help you with this one i think Smile
Be very very careful unless you really know what you're doing. Go VERY VERY gently with any compression. Just running the tune through a good unit without actually doing anything may help a bit too, depending on the unit.

Also be aware that it will most likely show some problems with or change your mix a bit if you do choose to compress. Watch that bass Wink
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
Dont be confused into thinking that solid state gear cannot add 'warmth'.....its all in the iron Wink
Or certain software stuff *dons flame retardant suit*
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
What compressor were you thinking of??

If it is a really good bit of kit like Macc says you could run your mix through it without actually compressing, just to get the vibe of the valves.

How are you planning to re-record the output of the compressor?
" i.e add a warth?"

What's a warth?? Teef



I've run a lot of tunes through good/premium analog gear, such as a compressor, during mastering. Don't even add compression, just send it through and see what it sounds like Wink Worked well for me.
Macc Wrote:Or certain software stuff *dons flame retardant suit*



well, i think this is very worthy of discussion.


i have heard from other audio professionals and read some interviews where engineers said they can't really tell the difference anymore (in blindfold test) and in some instances actually reported PREFERING the software equivalent.


has anyone on here done any A > B testing with i.e) a vintage neve comp. vs. the URS equivalent ?
Macc Wrote:Or certain software stuff *dons flame retardant suit*



flame the retard! Lol




...seriously, i don't use compression on a mixdown anymore, unless something seriously needs therapy that couldn't be fixed any other way.. compression is for radio broadcast :P
well thats your view. mine is different, as is that of most engineers who ever used large format consoles such as SSLs for the last 25 years.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, its an artistic choice. I do it from the start of a mix, and every mix decision is then based on the action of the buss comp. Almost always individual elements end up being compressed less as a result.

Regardless though. This thread isnt about compression. Its about running signals through analog gear to attain that 'warmth'. If its a comp, it doesnt even need to be acting.
scope Wrote:well thats your view. mine is different, as is that of most engineers who ever used large format consoles such as SSLs for the last 25 years.


Icon_eek you've been using SSL desks for the last 25 years?? i thought i was old!!!


:P


-yep, it's true, it doesn't even need to be ticking, but if everything's going thru the pres/channels you're getting the sound anyway aren't you? -i mean, i did an album of stuff in '99 on an SSL 6000 series desk, with that comp on there.. it got used, we seriously enjoyed it, it was at a big studio school and we weren't even students, we snuck in thru somebody we knew for some sessions.. we also did an album on their Neve desk, and both times we were going onto 2" tape.. we used the desk comp a couple of times on the SSL, but not with the Neve, and we came out with some really nice sounding stuff both times and didn't need to squash everything, the sounds were already nice in there. -so count me into the crowd of "old guys who used large format desks" as well if you must. Grin
haha no, im not that old Smile

but i have the same views of buss compression as those guys Xyxthumbs

i dont know much about the 6000; ive used an old 4000e (and own a couple of rack 4000 buss comps) and a much newer 9000k

of course with your example you were getting the lovely tape compression anyway....
scope Wrote:haha no, im not that old Smile

You look it though Teef
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
too many pies Icon_sad
Not pies...

Zeus = [Image: cookie_narrowweb__200x277.jpg]


Teef
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
Falcon
Goldenchild found an old akai reel to reel tape machine (actual macahnical switches)... I wonder how that would sound just running a mix throught it???? mmm??? Got to try it, at some point!! Cool
Don't start me about my tape machine Homerdrool
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
well i have been winding down the compression tip i was on in the last 6 months and im hearing the benefits for sure

what i was thinking was just to run a mix through a good valve compressor just too hear for myself...

i don't believe that upgrading my kit is the way forward..its just an angle i was curiuos about..im happy learning with my set up of hardware synths running into a soundcard and mixing down all in cubase

im too preoccupied with my paradidles at the mo to want to change too much Wink

Macc and Shiva i will get in touch soon man...college is hectic till chrimbo so all my free time is spent on tracks and college work Icon_sad
Fushara
thush-ara Wrote:im too preoccupied with my paradidles at the mo to want to change too much Wink

Hahaha Xyxthumbs
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
Macc Wrote:Don't start me about my tape machine Homerdrool

Worth playing around with it then??
Wodju fink Homerdrool
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
Macc Wrote:Wodju fink Homerdrool

Do you actually use the tape and push the levels to get a bit of tape comp goin' on, or just run shit through it?
depends Smile it's only mono, which is a bit dry, but it more than makes up for it.

i love tracking through it (on the rare occasion i actually record something), it sounds proper fat just going through it (it has 2 valves in the preamp). if i do run something onto tape then i get to use the eq - which only affects stuff coming off the tape - and beliiiiiieve that eq is fat. 3 valves in the eq, two knobs, bass and treble Falcon

it drifts a bit, timing-wise, so anything that comes out has to be chopped up to get it in time. cos of that i usually use it just for preprocessing.

but believe me - Homerdrool
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Don Cherry Wrote:Every human is blessed in her or his life with one love (passion), no matter how long it may last. This Absolute love will last in one's heart and soul forever.
macc Wrote:depends Smile it's only mono, which is a bit dry, but it more than makes up for it.

i love tracking through it (on the rare occasion i actually record something), it sounds proper fat just going through it (it has 2 valves in the preamp). if i do run something onto tape then i get to use the eq - which only affects stuff coming off the tape - and beliiiiiieve that eq is fat. 3 valves in the eq, two knobs, bass and treble Falcon

it drifts a bit, timing-wise, so anything that comes out has to be chopped up to get it in time. cos of that i usually use it just for preprocessing.

but believe me - Homerdrool

sounds fat, deff gonna have a flex Homerdrool

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