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chrislieck « Great for MASTERING »
Published on 09/25/12 at 21:38I have the hardware unit of this device. I have used it for 6 years and used SSL for 20 years. This plug in is very close to the $6,000 unit. I only use this for sub mixes and mastering. I don't use this on much else than mastering and overheads or sub mixing drums. If your input is hot in level you can really hear the compression kicking in. There are shelved settings and variable knobs like the unit. But it is not like the original and few can say they own the original. I have heard many people say they use this on a vocal or a snare drum. I only use the SSL channel strip for that. I don't use this plug in for snare or kick or toms. This compressor when used on kicks for example it won't be heard unless you hit the compressor hard and so to me it is not effective when used that way and I don't like the use of this plug in or the hardware unit for much else other than overheads on drums and room mics depending on what mics I have used to record the room sounds and or overheads. I like to allow some transients through and attack the compression with at max a 4:1 compression setting. I am not a fan of this unit on mastering. It is one of the best units for mastering you can use but very few are familiar or have ever used this unit so they just play around with it and use what ever they land on. I use this plug in for mastering all the time and it is my favorite go to piece or plug in I have.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
I have used it for 4 years the plug in and the real unit for 6. Love it and it is stable, performs as advertised and sounds as advertised. I have spent 10 years using SSL for mastering so with the release of this product I was happy to find that it is very close to the original hardware piece. I like the fact that the make up gain has head room and that fact that when you have on a buss it has a real subtle effect for grouping drum compression or if I use it on backing vocals so long as they are grouped and compressed lightly. SSL has a specific tone and if you have worked on one you will know what I am saying.
OVERALL OPINION
For mastering it is must have and for soft compression on sub mixing it is a must have. This is an industry standard for most pros who like to use professional sounding compression. If you have no experience with SSL it is a good place to start. I like the fact that you can make the compressor sing by hitting it hard but you can also have a soft compression if used on a buss send and aux return. For mastering I use it on a buss so that I can control the compression.
SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE
I have used it for 4 years the plug in and the real unit for 6. Love it and it is stable, performs as advertised and sounds as advertised. I have spent 10 years using SSL for mastering so with the release of this product I was happy to find that it is very close to the original hardware piece. I like the fact that the make up gain has head room and that fact that when you have on a buss it has a real subtle effect for grouping drum compression or if I use it on backing vocals so long as they are grouped and compressed lightly. SSL has a specific tone and if you have worked on one you will know what I am saying.
OVERALL OPINION
For mastering it is must have and for soft compression on sub mixing it is a must have. This is an industry standard for most pros who like to use professional sounding compression. If you have no experience with SSL it is a good place to start. I like the fact that you can make the compressor sing by hitting it hard but you can also have a soft compression if used on a buss send and aux return. For mastering I use it on a buss so that I can control the compression.
