clintmartin
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What's your favorite mastering compressor?
Hey, someone was going to do it right?
I'll start with a few of my favorites. TDR Kotelnikov, TDR Feedback I and II, TB Bus Compressor, DC8C2, T-Racks Bus Comp, Precision Comp, Opto Comp, Fab Filter Pro-C, and the Pro Channel Bus Comp.
I probably use the Pro Channel bus comp and Kotelnikov the most, but I like everyone of these compressors a lot.
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bitflipper
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/04 20:02:00
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 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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gswitz
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/04 20:11:54
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I also use MSpectralDynamics a lot, but keep in mind that if you use the 64 bit multiband that ships with Sonar and turn the threshold down and the ration down, it works kinda sorta similarly. I guess it's a poor man's version.
StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen. I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
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clintmartin
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/04 20:35:08
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I'm too stupid for MSpectralDynamics.
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Leadfoot
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/04 21:06:22
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I prefer to use the Manley Variable Mu emulation on the Focusrite Liquid Mix on all my songs.
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Amine Belkhouche
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/04 21:22:35
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Pro-Channel Bus Comp and Virtual Bus Compressors are my main go-to compressors for mastering.
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Sycraft
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/04 21:53:45
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clintmartin
I'm too stupid for MSpectralDynamics.
That's actually why I like it. After following Bitflipper's guide I can make use of it. I don't have the training, skill, or any of that to actually make any intelligent choices with a multi-band compressor. However with MSpectralDynamics all I do is drop it on the master bus and basically play with the wet/dry setting, and maybe the slope. I'm sure I could get better results if I knew what I was doing, but doing that very often gives nice results. It often needs no tweaking to improve the sound. And if I find it doesn't, I just leave it off.
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brconflict
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/05 00:59:04
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My chain usually starts with Waves S1 if balance is off. Then I will use a Flux Alchemist multi-band compressor. The beauty of this one is that it allows you to Expand one band, while compressing another. I can typically punch up a kick or snare, but smooth out guitars. The Waves Linear-Phase Multi-band compressor is great, as is the C6. Other compressors I use for loudness or otherwise just power, are the Waves API-2500 or PuigChild 670. I've used the Waves SSL Compressor, but I find it too limiting (no pun intended). It doesn't always provide excellent results in a master for me. However, these can all add both glue and punch, if used with care. DMG Audio's Compassion is quite great but I haven't spent enough time with it in Mastering yet. It's feature-rich and flexible. If the kick is too punchy and the bass is buried, I will use the Sonalkis CQ1 dynamic compressor. If you've listened to Rush's Roll The Bones album, you can easily tell the kick drum is just to up front and punchy. That 18" kick was just wrong for that album, IMO. So, I ran that '97 re-master through the CQ1 and balances the bass vs. kick better. Now, I can listen and enjoy the Wal bass more. Same with Presto. Depending on the recording, I might even add the Waves J37 or Kramer Tape to gain another 3db of loudness. Lastly, I typically use the Waves L3-16 for limiting.
post edited by brconflict - 2015/07/05 01:07:08
Brian Sonar Platinum, Steinberg Wavelab Pro 9, MOTU 24CoreIO w/ low-slew OP-AMP mods and BLA external clock, True P8, Audient ASP008, API 512c, Chandler Germ500, Summit 2ba-221, GAP Pre-73, Peluso 22251, Peluso 2247LE, Mackie HR824, Polk Audio SRS-SDA 2.3tl w/upgraded Soniccraft crossovers and Goertz cables, powered by Pass-X350. All wiring Star-Quad XLR or Monster Cable. Power by Monster Power Signature AVS2000 voltage stabilizer and Signature Pro Power 5100 PowerCenter on a 20A isolation shielded circuit.
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synkrotron
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/05 02:01:32
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I haven't purchased the FabFilter compressor yet, but it is on my shopping list, as is the multi-band version.
I've downloaded TDR Kotelnikov but have yet to try it out.
http://www.synkrotron.co.uk/Intel Core™i7-3820QM Quad Core Mobile Processor 2.70GHz 8MB cache | Intel HM77 Express Chipset | 16GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 RAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM | 500GB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | 1TB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | Windows 10 Pro | Roland OCTA-CAPTURE | SONAR Platinum ∞ FFS| Too many VSTi's to list here | KRK KNS-8400 Headphones | Roland JP-8000 | Oberheim OB12 | Novation Nova | Gibson SG Special | PRS Studio
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LANEY
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/05 22:50:16
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I just picked up SKNote SDC- Stereo Double compressor. It is a copy of the best hardware out there the shadow hills comp. It has tons of knobs but you just dial til you get a great sound! Presets for it would be nice but, I am having tons of fun dialing it in.
i7/16GB ram Win 7 x64 SONAR Platinum Producer x64 VS-700 C&R Octa-Capture and VS-100 for live recording
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Vastman
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/06 20:30:08
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Fab, baby... love um both
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clintmartin
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/06 22:07:14
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I have Pro-C...it's a keeper.
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Zo
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/06 22:14:05
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For sale (PM me) : transfert ilok includedEventide Ultrachannel make offersSoftube Summit EQIK Neve 1081 , Neve precision Comp/LimEastWest GoshtwriterSoundforge Pro 12
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yorolpal
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/06 23:17:26
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Take a listen to Rob Chiarelli's stuff. It's cheap and works amazingly well.
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SF_Green
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/06 23:52:59
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I either use iZotope Ozone or PSP's Xenon (a limiter - so cheating a little on the topic!). Also, the UAD SSL Buss compressor.
I've demoed PSP's MasterComp which is really clear and sweet sounding. Next time they have a big sale I might have to get that.
AMD FX-8370, Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3, Win7x64 SP1, 16Gb CorsairDDR3-1600, GeForce GTX 950 (390.65), SSD 525Gb (OS), SATA 3 & 1.5Tb, MOTU microlite, RME FireFace 800 (D 3.124, fw 2.77), UAD-2Q, Adam A7X, A-800 PRO, CC121 Cubase Pro 10.0.5, SonarPt- 2017.10 (x64), Reason10.2, Live 10.0.5 Suite, Wavelab Elements 9.5.40, Komplete10Ult, POD Farm2.5, Omnisphere2.5, BFD3, Alesis QS7.1, Arturia BeatStep Pro, POD HD500, Alesis ControlPad, ARP Omni, many things with strings. GrSltz My Studio
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synkrotron
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 00:14:37
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clintmartin
I have Pro-C...it's a keeper.
Noted 
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SF_Green
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 00:28:04
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bitflipper
Darn Dave! Your responses to these types of questions ALWAYS inspire G.A.S. ! 
AMD FX-8370, Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3, Win7x64 SP1, 16Gb CorsairDDR3-1600, GeForce GTX 950 (390.65), SSD 525Gb (OS), SATA 3 & 1.5Tb, MOTU microlite, RME FireFace 800 (D 3.124, fw 2.77), UAD-2Q, Adam A7X, A-800 PRO, CC121 Cubase Pro 10.0.5, SonarPt- 2017.10 (x64), Reason10.2, Live 10.0.5 Suite, Wavelab Elements 9.5.40, Komplete10Ult, POD Farm2.5, Omnisphere2.5, BFD3, Alesis QS7.1, Arturia BeatStep Pro, POD HD500, Alesis ControlPad, ARP Omni, many things with strings. GrSltz My Studio
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synkrotron
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 03:18:42
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SF_Green
Darn Dave! Your responses to these types of questions ALWAYS inspire G.A.S. !
Yeah... He cost me a fortune over at FabFilter LOL! I'm trying hard to ignore his Melda recommendations....... (my loss, of course )
http://www.synkrotron.co.uk/Intel Core™i7-3820QM Quad Core Mobile Processor 2.70GHz 8MB cache | Intel HM77 Express Chipset | 16GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 RAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM | 500GB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | 1TB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | Windows 10 Pro | Roland OCTA-CAPTURE | SONAR Platinum ∞ FFS| Too many VSTi's to list here | KRK KNS-8400 Headphones | Roland JP-8000 | Oberheim OB12 | Novation Nova | Gibson SG Special | PRS Studio
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brconflict
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 11:55:58
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Sycraft
clintmartin
I'm too stupid for MSpectralDynamics.
That's actually why I like it. After following Bitflipper's guide I can make use of it. I don't have the training, skill, or any of that to actually make any intelligent choices with a multi-band compressor. However with MSpectralDynamics all I do is drop it on the master bus and basically play with the wet/dry setting, and maybe the slope. I'm sure I could get better results if I knew what I was doing, but doing that very often gives nice results. It often needs no tweaking to improve the sound.
And if I find it doesn't, I just leave it off.
Yeah, I can say that about Alchemist. It takes a good bit of training. heh.
Brian Sonar Platinum, Steinberg Wavelab Pro 9, MOTU 24CoreIO w/ low-slew OP-AMP mods and BLA external clock, True P8, Audient ASP008, API 512c, Chandler Germ500, Summit 2ba-221, GAP Pre-73, Peluso 22251, Peluso 2247LE, Mackie HR824, Polk Audio SRS-SDA 2.3tl w/upgraded Soniccraft crossovers and Goertz cables, powered by Pass-X350. All wiring Star-Quad XLR or Monster Cable. Power by Monster Power Signature AVS2000 voltage stabilizer and Signature Pro Power 5100 PowerCenter on a 20A isolation shielded circuit.
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thornton
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 13:09:01
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Dbx160 waves version or kramer pie
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SF_Green
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 16:18:28
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synkrotron
SF_Green
Darn Dave! Your responses to these types of questions ALWAYS inspire G.A.S. !
Yeah... He cost me a fortune over at FabFilter LOL!
I'm trying hard to ignore his Melda recommendations....... (my loss, of course )
Same here, but don't regret it a bit. FF's are a good investment and great plugs. I don't think I've gotten as good sounding results as quickly with any other plugins. They are great both in sound and ease of use.
AMD FX-8370, Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3, Win7x64 SP1, 16Gb CorsairDDR3-1600, GeForce GTX 950 (390.65), SSD 525Gb (OS), SATA 3 & 1.5Tb, MOTU microlite, RME FireFace 800 (D 3.124, fw 2.77), UAD-2Q, Adam A7X, A-800 PRO, CC121 Cubase Pro 10.0.5, SonarPt- 2017.10 (x64), Reason10.2, Live 10.0.5 Suite, Wavelab Elements 9.5.40, Komplete10Ult, POD Farm2.5, Omnisphere2.5, BFD3, Alesis QS7.1, Arturia BeatStep Pro, POD HD500, Alesis ControlPad, ARP Omni, many things with strings. GrSltz My Studio
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backwoods
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 21:29:08
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SF_Green
I either use iZotope Ozone or PSP's Xenon (a limiter - so cheating a little on the topic!). Also, the UAD SSL Buss compressor.
I've demoed PSP's MasterComp which is really clear and sweet sounding. Next time they have a big sale I might have to get that.
They had Mastercomp for $50 a little while back. not only that but if you had other things from them the ussual cumulative discount applied to the $50 price. I think I snapped it up for about 30. Another one that gets lots of raves- and comes bundled with Ableton- is "The Glue"
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Chandler
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 21:55:07
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I'm going to go with SDC too. I've only had I for a little while, but it really seems to add some "sheen" or " weight" to the sound. For the price it's hard to beat. The SL model from SKnote stripbus is also really nice. It just glues things together.
When it comes to value in analog modeled plugins SKnote is unbeatable.
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Chandler
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 21:55:07
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Double post
post edited by Chandler - 2015/07/07 22:02:05
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SF_Green
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Re: What's your favorite mastering compressor?
2015/07/07 22:06:12
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backwoods
SF_Green
I either use iZotope Ozone or PSP's Xenon (a limiter - so cheating a little on the topic!). Also, the UAD SSL Buss compressor.
I've demoed PSP's MasterComp which is really clear and sweet sounding. Next time they have a big sale I might have to get that.
They had Mastercomp for $50 a little while back. not only that but if you had other things from them the ussual cumulative discount applied to the $50 price. I think I snapped it up for about 30.
Another one that gets lots of raves- and comes bundled with Ableton- is "The Glue"
Dang! That's the kind of sake I'm looking for! Isn't The Glue supposed to be a version of the SSL Buss Comp?
AMD FX-8370, Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3, Win7x64 SP1, 16Gb CorsairDDR3-1600, GeForce GTX 950 (390.65), SSD 525Gb (OS), SATA 3 & 1.5Tb, MOTU microlite, RME FireFace 800 (D 3.124, fw 2.77), UAD-2Q, Adam A7X, A-800 PRO, CC121 Cubase Pro 10.0.5, SonarPt- 2017.10 (x64), Reason10.2, Live 10.0.5 Suite, Wavelab Elements 9.5.40, Komplete10Ult, POD Farm2.5, Omnisphere2.5, BFD3, Alesis QS7.1, Arturia BeatStep Pro, POD HD500, Alesis ControlPad, ARP Omni, many things with strings. GrSltz My Studio
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