10 Quality Compressors under $500.00 USD

Can any one name 10 Quality compressors under 5 bills!! Besides Dbx Brand


Thanks in Advance !


Low Stress AKA Philly Stress

rnc 1773 compressor made by fmr audio.. about 200 bucks

butcher wrote:rnc 1773 compressor made by fmr audio.. about 200 bucks

yes, it's the best value you'll get for sub-500

I'll co-sign the RNC.

You could probably score a focusrite Compounder for under $500 these days, or a Focusrite Penta for less. TL Audio FatMan if you want a tube (valve) compressor, or those half-rack JoeMeek ones if you like optical compression.

Or, if you're really handy with a soldering iron, you could build a STEREO clone of the famed Urei 1176 compressor:

Picture: http://www.synthforum.nl/forums/attachm ... tid=484297

er you need to be more than just handy with a soldering iron...components?

greg

If you use a computer, the UAD-1 projekt pack run under $500.

lo-fi wrote:I'll co-sign the RNC.

You could probably score a focusrite Compounder for under $500 these days, or a Focusrite Penta for less. TL Audio FatMan if you want a tube (valve) compressor, or those half-rack JoeMeek ones if you like optical compression.

Or, if you're really handy with a soldering iron, you could build a STEREO clone of the famed Urei 1176 compressor:

Picture: http://www.synthforum.nl/forums/attachm ... tid=484297

I 've Been Told Joe Meek Cmpressors are no good for all around Compression ,because it Colors Your Sound

lo-fi wrote:
Or, if you're really handy with a soldering iron, you could build a STEREO clone of the famed Urei 1176 compressor:

Picture: http://www.synthforum.nl/forums/attachm ... tid=484297

how would you build it? any links?

Another vote for the RNC... IMO one of the best even at double it's price.... the UAD is very sweet too(as a software solution) check-out mercenaryaudio.

peace

The RNC is probably the best of the "cheap" compressors available.

As for building one, there are some links at www.prosoundweb.com and via the google group rec.audio.pro . Good luck with that work though.

..and Stress where did you get that girl?


Peace.

Philly Stress wrote:I 've Been Told Joe Meek Cmpressors are no good for all around Compression ,because it Colors Your Sound

That can be a good thing

DBX 160x......fuc the rest, its a workhorse and found in just about all pro studios and pro live racks.


my .02

jaem wrote:DBX 160x......fuc the rest, its a workhorse and found in just about all pro studios and pro live racks.


my .02

Yeah, but see it's only one Channel for Like 300.00.

I'd recommend the Joe Meek SC2 if you can get one2nd hand for under $500 dollars great for getting that real dirty sounding hiphop sound not so good for subtle things. Loads of hiphop artists use them.

I just use a cheap beringer composer, not great but does the job its not warm but is makes your drums pump you could probably get one for less than $100....

Yeah, a Joemeek will color your sound a LOT, but that may be just what you want. Optical compressors were used a lot in the '60s and early '70s, and some of the illest drums were recorded in that era... you do the math.

I found that 'DIY 1176' on a Dutch forum. You can check the thread here, skip the dutch and look for links. Apparently there are schematics and kits available to build your own 1176 (stereo if need be), Pultec and SSL compressors. Pretty much exact copies, for a fraction of the price of the originals. You really have to know what you're doing to make it work though.
The main reason you can build a top-end compressor for next to nothing, is because you cut out the R&D costs: you're basically bootlegging someone else's creative product, I'm not sure how legal it is to do this for your own enjoyment, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be legal to start mass-producing these units and selling them. Just some things to take into account...

here's the link to a report of a guy building his own SSL compressor.