suggest a good hardware limiter

[sinkmusic]

Hi
My compressor/limiter seem to be broken, so i may have to find a replacement one.
I already have some gritty & pumpy compressors, so i think i will look for a clean reliable stereo limiter to put between my mixer and my soundcard, in order to record beatboxes, analog basses and some other stuff.
Is there any recommendation for a budget but clean ad reliable limiter/compressor ?
thank you !

[beatbybit]

i think you should give an EMT266X a try.

i have one, i love it.
if you "push" it hard, it has a _sound_.

a big one.

[sinkmusic]

thank you for the tip.
It is discontinued, isn't it ? I haven't found a delaer or some info on it on the web.

[sinkmusic]

Yes, the FMR has a big bunch of very good reviews (and so does the RNLA).
But I had comments from people owning it, and the only annoying thing for me is that it seems more aimed at vocal/guitar/accoustic compression, and not so good on basses or "mixdown overall limiter" (the 2 things i will use it for).

I was wondering if a cheap Dbx266XL could be alright ?
In that price range, there is also Alesis3630, or Behringer Autocom or Composer, but i fear a little bit that it makes the sound worse... ?!

[sinkmusic]

Well, this is what comes around :
- FMR rnla : great hype around it ;
- Dbx 266XL : good brand reputation ;
- Samson S com Plus : cheap, good review in SOund On Sound, does compressing AND limiting ;
- Art Pro VLA : more expensive, rather different (maybe better quality?) ;

Does any of you have any experience with one of these units (I can't try any of it) ?
(This is to use with drumboxes & synths, no need for vocal or guitar)

Thank you !

[antiClick]

Haven't tried other models, but ART VLA is amazing...... a real bargain!

Change its chinese stock tubes and put some Mullards, and this unit will compete in the thousands$ league


It's not a limiter, it's a compressor.
I use it in the mastering stage also, but put a Voxengo limiter after it.

[sinkmusic]

Haven't tried other models, but ART VLA is amazing...... a real bargain!

Change its chinese stock tubes and put some Mullards, and this unit will compete in the thousands$ league


It's not a limiter, it's a compressor.
I use it in the mastering stage also, but put a Voxengo limiter after it.

Ok.
So with opto, even with a huge ratio & short attack, it will not act as a limiter, that's it ?

[sinkmusic]

... and does anyone knows the Drawmer MX30 ?
It is in the same price range than the Art Pro VLA... (but it is vca and has a limiter)

[chip mcdonald]

IMO Distressor if you can afford it, otherwise the FMR or a modded Alesis 3630 (which I think works better than the cheap DBX stuff)...

[sinkmusic]

Hi
... back from the dead, nearly 2 years later, i haven't bought anything and tried to record at quieter levels and do most of the compression job "in the box", but still sometimes have loudness peaks i don't like and have found someone selling me for cheap a Symetrix compressor/limiter...
It is simple and powerful in design, as it includes an expander, a compressor, and a limiter...

Do any of you know the Symetrix 524 or the Symetrix 565E, and do you know if it is safe for the signal cleanness and intergrity to use such a unit after the mixer's output ?

Thanks !

[maa]

Go for a DBX 1066 - a little more expensive but what a difference!


cheers

maa

[Dstruct]

Jünger Audio accent1/accent2

http://www.junger-audio.com

[Count Bassie]

Go to Talkbass.com, look for a dude named "Bongomania" (Members List at top of page), and click on the links in his signature. There is a nice layout of information on compressors, etc; what they do and what is good for what. It's a nice primer and he talks about a few really good units in some detail. Tell 'em Count Bassie sent you.

[sinkmusic]

Thank you
I'll check that.

At the moment, i like the way the Drawmer MX30 or the Symetrix 525 are designed (downward expander > compressor > limiter). Few settings, but the ones i'd need.
DOes anyone have any experience about the Symetrix ?

[matey]

RNLA is a comp with its own character, actually focused on single instruments (vocals, bass, guitars...), great on the whole drum thing as well...

I tried it as a limiter in/out putting it on different channels through my audio card on Reaper (limiting is up to my firebox internal limiting circuitry to prevent peaks), and all I do is tweaking with a fair comp ratio and proper attack...

it sounds good, depending on the genre of your music of course...

[sonusman]

Thank you
I'll check that.

At the moment, i like the way the Drawmer MX30 or the Symetrix 525 are designed (downward expander > compressor > limiter). Few settings, but the ones i'd need.
DOes anyone have any experience about the Symetrix ?

I have used both of these extensively.

I would get the 525 any day over the MX30. I was VERY under-whelmed with the MX30 at it's price point. For a LOT less, you can get a Behringer Composer Pro which works equally as good!

My fave Symetrix unit was the 501.

[sinkmusic]

Thank you for your feedback.

Really ? You'd chose a Behringer over a Drawmer ?
The Composer Pro seems a bit too over-featured for a dirt cheap price to be honnest, so i never considered it a a possible option, but well, if it sounds good... ?

Is the Symetrix ok on bass and drums ?

[sonusman]

Thank you for your feedback.

Really ? You'd chose a Behringer over a Drawmer ?
The Composer Pro seems a bit too over-featured for a dirt cheap price to be honnest, so i never considered it a a possible option, but well, if it sounds good... ?

Is the Symetrix ok on bass and drums ?

Behringer more or less copied the lower end Drawmer compressor/limiter for the Composer. The Composer sold for $700 when it first released!

NO low end compressor sounds good on drums and bass. Anybody saying otherwise, is, well, deaf?