Helpful ReplyBest Compressor vst plugin for vocals?

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Malakidreams
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2016/12/06 11:55:41 (permalink)

Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals?

I'm looking for a really good go to vst compressor for vocals? What do you all use?
#1
KingsMix
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 12:05:04 (permalink)
CLA-2A (Waves) : Lead Vocals
 
CA-2A (Cakewalk) BGV's
#2
bapu
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 12:06:16 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby cclarry 2016/12/06 12:30:29
BOZ Mainc Compressor is a good one.
 
There's also about 100 others and I probably own most of them.
post edited by bapu - 2016/12/06 12:32:26
#3
Lynn
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 12:48:01 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby jude77 2016/12/06 17:56:03
Sonar's own CA-2A is very good for vocals and many other things.  If you already have it, you can save some money.

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#4
patriciocs
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 13:23:56 (permalink)
+1 to  CA-2A
 
Also you can use Waves Renaissance Vox. Pretty good for vocals too.
 
If you are looking to invest a little more, iZotope Nectar have an excellent vocal compressor, along with several other voice processors.
#5
Rob[at]Sound-Rehab
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 13:34:37 (permalink)
Actually the "PC76 U-Type Compressor" that comes with the ProChannel has been of good use in many occasions ... and it's right there in the channel strip ...
 
But there are many others which are good depending on the situation.
 
What every vocal compressors needs is either a knob to blend compressed and dry signal or application in a parallel bus.

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jude77
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 18:00:37 (permalink)
Lynn
Sonar's own CA-2A is very good for vocals and many other things.  If you already have it, you can save some money.


Those are good words.  Try the stuff that comes with SONAR, some of it is very good.  As a sort of "all-in-one" solution I like Waves JJP vocals.  It has compressor-eq-de-esser-and delay in one package.  You don't get much control over individual parameters, but it sounds very good.

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#7
dwardzala
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 18:45:39 (permalink)
I also use the 1176 in the Prochannel and really like it.

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#8
gswitz
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 20:22:41 (permalink)
I like trying different compressors.
 
I just try using different tools and trying to get nice sounds.
 
CA2A is certainly easy. Lots of the other juans require more listening before you settle on an array of settings for the compressor.

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.
#9
JohanSebatianGremlin
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 20:27:39 (permalink)
What VST compressor is best is best for <x> is more or less the same as asking what camera is best for shooting <X>. And the answer is the same in both cases. Which one is best? The one in your hand.
Seriously it really is very similar to photography in that truly great results are almost always much more the result of the talent of the user than the tools the user choose to use. Cameras take pictures, its what they do. Compressors compress, its what they do. The difference between horrible results and awesome results lies completely in the user.
 
#10
Fleer
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/06 21:57:21 (permalink)
Do a search for Vocal King by jhudstudio. You'll find it worth your while.

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#11
bapu
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 00:50:08 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Fleer 2016/12/07 11:27:12
Fleer
Do a search for Vocal King by jhudstudio. You'll find it worth your while.

It's not a bad starter kit for sure. EasyPeasy.
#12
bitflipper
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 10:59:51 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby ampfixer 2016/12/08 00:28:51
JohanSebatianGremlin
...The difference between horrible results and awesome results lies completely in the user.

Well said. To paraphrase Thomas Edison, quality audio is 1% gear and 99% knowing wtf you're doing in the first place.
 
That said, Cakewalk's CA-2A (or any of the many other LA-2A clones) would be a good place to start. The compressor it's modeled after has been a standard for vocal compression for over 60 years.
 
However, more aggressive processing has become popular in recent years, at least for modern pop. For that up-front, slightly distorted sound you'll probably want to try a faster compressor such as one of the 1176 clones. SONAR's got one, it's called the PC-76. Other options (not already in SONAR) would be one of the Fairchild 670 or dbx 160 clones.


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#13
bapu
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 11:30:29 (permalink)
bitflipper
To paraphrase Thomas Edison, quality audio is 1% gear and 99% knowing wtf you're doing in the first place.
 

Bapu's corollary: I'm over compressed. 
#14
Fleer
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 11:36:12 (permalink)
bitflipper
To paraphrase Thomas Edison, life is 1% gear and 99% knowing what to do with it in the first place.

True, very true. Edith concurs. 

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
#15
JohanSebatianGremlin
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 12:09:20 (permalink)
I've never seen that Thomas Edison quote before. It is very spot on.

And I'll second the comments regarding the LA2A and 1176. The hardware versions of both have long been widely used and respected. I have the Sonar versions of each and I use one or the other for about 98% of my compression needs these days. 


But I should clarify something. When someone says they use a specific plugin or two for 98% of something, it kind of suggests that said plugin must therefore be awesome at that particular task. And I don't think its exactly accurate to suggest that. Yes it is my opinion that both of those plugins are decent at what they do. But the main reason I use them so much isn't because of how they sound. The main reason I use them so much is because I know them fairly well. I know what each control does and where their particular quirks are. Therefore I can get the particular results I'm looking for from each of the them fairly quickly.
 
I could get the same results with lots of other compressor plugs, but I don't know them as well so it would take more fiddling with controls to get them dialed in. I use the ones I use because I know them and know how to set them quickly.

Like I said earlier, compressors compress its what they do. Are there specific sonic differences between various models? Sure. But in my experience, those differences are EXTREMELY subtle in almost every case. It would take a very talented and experienced ear to be able to listen to a source and tell just from the sound what particular model of compressor was used.
#16
Zo
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 23:33:16 (permalink)
It really depends of the source , type of voice , delivery ect...

One classic and all arounder is the softube CL1 B it can handle form rap voclas to singers , and even busses ( drums master ect ...)

I would also recommend the signature series from waves , some have built in waves exelent renaissance vox compressor and way more ..

I usually also put vocal ridee first to help the comp on heavy unlinear dynamic material.

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#17
Fleer
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 23:47:34 (permalink)
And also, have a look at iZotope's Nectar.

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl" (Wish You Were Here)
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The Grim
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Re: Best Compressor vst plugin for vocals? 2016/12/07 23:51:37 (permalink)
bitflipper
 
Well said. To paraphrase Thomas Edison, quality audio is 1% gear and 99% knowing wtf you're doing in the first place.





i am glad you said "To paraphrase"
 
Fleer
 
Vocal King
 

 
certainly a nice little tool, awesome price, and can hold it's head high considering. may or may not make it to the final, but easy as to get something goodish sounding, even if only as a place holder you can't go wrong
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