compressor or eq?

[enharmonic]

I'm thinking of expanding my front end a bit. I have an MP2NV going into a Hedd 192 feeding Cubase SX3. would I get more mileage from a stereo eq like the EQ2NV, or a compressor like the STC8?

I welcome any and all opinions :)

[-momo-]

That front end is pretty impressive as it is. :)

[Grun]

Going in I'd definitely go with the compressor. I have an MP1NV with an FMR RNC chained in. I use that on most everything (vox/guit/bass) in varying degrees. I avoid EQ on the input side. My $.02.

[redfro]

Depends on what you're trying to accomplish. For my money a good EQ will go farther. That being said, I don't mix ITB so there you go.

Also I almost never compress on the way to tape. On alot of things I'll eq the crap out of it going to tape. I like to get my sounds the way I want them from the start, so all I have to do is pull up the faders and I have my mix 75% there.

Why don't you call up Mercenary (http://www.mercenary.com) and try them out? Whichever one you don't like, send it back.

[enharmonic]

I sacrificed quantity of inputs for 2 channels of "no excuse for bad tracks" gear. I wanted the limitation to be me.

I'm ITB for the forseeable future, and don't have enough faith in eq or compressor plugs to forego good hardware just yet. My tracking is limited to acoustic and electric guitars and male vocals.

I love Mercenary :)

[Dave Klausner]

I have an HD system, and some of the EQ's for it are quite good - GML, Sony, McDSP. The software compressors aren't bad, but don't stack up to the EQ's yet for me. Also, I would rather change mics or mic position before resorting to EQ on the front end, although I definitely agree with the philosophy of getting tracks recorded the way you'll want them in the mix.

My vote would be a compressor, but choose a compressor based on the character it has, since you really don't need dynamics management on the front end. If you like the Cranesong stuff (and who doesn't) you may find the Trakker more useful (although it's single channel).

[elambo]

There are some incredibly good plugin eqs if you decide to take that route (URS, SSL Duende, Sonalksis come to mind) but we have yet to see compressors in a software domain that sound equally incredible (although Duende and Steven Massey's plugins will get you close).

An 1176 or LA-2A would certainly help push you to the next level. It depends on what you tend to record, but I'd generally favor the LA-2A for vocals and the 1176 for instruments. That being said, either one can handle just about anything you throw at it. Both are mono units, so if you need two, you need two. If you can't find a good one vintage, Purple Audio is the maker of the best reissue 1176, and although I haven't used one personally Universal Audio is supposed to make a good LA-2A.

Add either of these to your stable and you'll REALLY have no excuse for a bad recording ;)

[Denyle_Guitars]

I don't particularly like the RNC on bass but it's great for so many other things, if you don't have any hardware comps, it's a good place to start. For high end, the Purple MC77 is great. I'm really anxious to try the Buzz Potion. That'll be my next comp, after I finish building some 525 clones.
For EQ, check out the Toft AFC-2 dual pre/eq. Forget the preamps, just buy it for the EQ. It's fairly cheap but don't let that fool you.

[enharmonic]

Tom, are those the reproductions of the old Trident eq's, or a new design?

[Denyle_Guitars]

Tom, are those the reproductions of the old Trident eq's, or a new design?

It's the same as some old Trident circuit w/ the buffered mids, so it's like 80C console's group EQ. They aren't exactly clinical but there's no wrong setting with them either. Lots of happy accidents when you start turning the knobs.
The comp on the ATC-2 is supposed to be decent from what I hear, but I've never tried that one. I don't think there's any way to bypass the pre/line amp though.

[KungFuLio]

That's a really tough call...

If E.Q., you might consider (given the rest of your front end) a Manley Masssive Passive. It's a wonderful E.Q. for shaping sound, not so great for surgery though. The GML E.Q. is great for surgery and a very transparent E.Q.

In the land of compression, if you're looking high end a Neve 33609A (think e-bay) would make the STC8 look silly (I've worked a lot with both). OTOH, there isn't a tracking day that goes by that I'm not using my Distressors (ok, maybe not on vocals... always).

I think plug-in e.q. is sounding better than plug-in compression at this point IMHO. Given that, I might opt for compression first but save some fun tickets to buy a great e.q. in the future!

Enjoy...

[enharmonic]

I wish someone would reisuue the A range EQ's that I've heard tell about. I've always wanted to hear what the fuss was about with them. :)

[Denyle_Guitars]

I wish someone would reisuue the A range EQ's that I've heard tell about. I've always wanted to hear what the fuss was about with them. :)

Yeah, Malcolm & Co. are already working on it. Maybe out this summer and it won't be cheap.

[enharmonic]

That's a really tough call...

If E.Q., you might consider (given the rest of your front end) a Manley Masssive Passive. It's a wonderful E.Q. for shaping sound, not so great for surgery though. The GML E.Q. is great for surgery and a very transparent E.Q.

In the land of compression, if you're looking high end a Neve 33609A (think e-bay) would make the STC8 look silly (I've worked a lot with both). OTOH, there isn't a tracking day that goes by that I'm not using my Distressors (ok, maybe not on vocals... always).

I think plug-in e.q. is sounding better than plug-in compression at this point IMHO. Given that, I might opt for compression first but save some fun tickets to buy a great e.q. in the future!

Enjoy...

Thanks for the tips! Saw that your studio received a mention in Tape Op this month for the Decemberists record. Very cool! :dude

[MichaelK]

My personal favorite opto compressor is the TubeTech CL1B. Granted, there are dozens I haven't used, but this is really something. It's great on vocals, very sweet. I don't know how, but it somehow preserves high frequencies even when compressing very hard, so it's even more transparent than many other "transparent" optos. I've also used it on bass and kick, sometimes as the first in a chain of two.

They now make a 2-channel opto based on this called the CL-2A but I have not heard it. That big-ass old single-channel is a tough act to follow.

Geoff Daking makes a lovely compressor, too.

[MichaelK]

P.S. - I do not use a standalone EQ on the front end, but if I did it would probably be an Avalon AD2055. I just love the sound of that thing.