I own the Chandler germanium’s and I got to say they are probably the most versatile tone shaping compressor I’ve ever used. All of the different options for circuitry choices make that thing the best tone shaping compressor on the market hands-down. I also on LA 2a , API 2500, Distressors etc. The DBX 160 XT and A are probably the best value for a compressor on the market today especially for the home recording people. I own eight of them and have used them touring all over the world across my mix bus in my drive systems for years. Thanks for taking the time to do this video. It would be really cool if you could do a full on demo of the germanium’s and let people see what those bad boys could do! Not enough people pay attention to that unit but they are spectacular!
A guy just asked me last week, what compressor do I know of that has a lot of color and thickness. Right away the first thing that came to mind I replied. By far without a doubt the chandler germanium compressors are thick, gooey, colorful, comps. And the parallel Wet/Dry makes them so versatile. You can do a mix completely ITB and you strap those Germs on the Mixbuss and it adds the weight of a console. Lots of top mix and mastering engineers use the Germs on the mixbuss. It takes away all the Digi-Shits.
@@RiotHomeRecording I haven’t use mine on the mix bus but I use them on everything else. My API 2500 pretty much lives on the two bus along with my Avalon 2055EQ. I wonder why there’s not more discussion about the germanium‘s online? Chandler makes such great stuff and things like their Zenor limiter, TG 2, Curve Bender etc get a lot of attention. The wet dry mix right on the Germ unit is spectacular. I’m actually in the market for new compressors to stick in my rack and I’m thinking I’ll probably end up with a couple of Drummer DL 241 units. I used those back in my touring there’s a lot as well and they’re just so good. Probably the best value on the market for two channels in one rack space. When you run your distress or’s together are you strapping them in the back using the TRS Jack’s? Or how about the Germs?
@@nicefish10 A lot of times, I use my Allen Smart C2 and Eylsia Xfilter on the Mixbuss. Api 2500 on Drum Buss Chandler Germs on Guitars, I do not strap my distressors, There’s a trick with the distressors you can do if you don’t strap them together. I go over it in one of my videos. I do keep the germs strapped but don’t always link them, it just depends on the track.
My fav from your video are the 160 VU, the Dynamite and the api2500, gonna try to get a Dynamite 220v pair here in Europe. I own a Distressor, aphex 561 and 551, DBX 160SL and several Focusrites and a pair of vintage160X one USA other Japan ( big difference@@RiotHomeRecording I love compressors after 70´s analogue synths, i do Detroit techno here in Europe. Will sell the 160 SL and will get an API, do not find the 4000$ retail of the SL on it´s sound. Vintage DBX rules and +90s are mediocre. best from Spain my friend, I suscribe to your channel.
I've never had the chance to listen and compare these particular comps. in these circumstances and that order with that kind of drums rec. like that. Thank you for this. I mean they were really putt to work significantly, that dry sound is lifeless even though I don't like when ambient adding decay time fx comes out. I worked on MCI on our national TV station in 2008/2009 and than on the radio the smaller one like yours but with pick meters with diodes. Very cool. Ok distressor we know but dbx160Vu the first dbx, my god what a release curve on that kick, not much pedal hum and the sound of the membrane shaking in between kicks and yet all is tight but huge and round and smooth made of hard polished material and they produce not even the smallest issues on this drums that I've noticed, but that's individual opinion, like Fatso for example and dyna-mite is squashing that kick like some rubber into iron wall. You can hear the collapsing of that transient's att. and body almost to the end of the tale like spring into itself . I expected more from 1176 but I wasn't trying to notice the settings may be it can be adjusted better, just dials and led diodes. 1176 with the Bronx Beat long decay, I think had the thing when the dial haven't got the time to go back all the way but almost and then the heavy loud transient hits, but general sound is very good. This C2 I see and hear for the first time very plane and clean that is bus com like ssl or 33609 or vertigo. I'll look it up. . And the best of all, the one with the most character and very sexy color and movement, it doesn't have the classic hp "s-ch", here with very basic settings, the Api2500...! OMG I didn't expect it to be that good when compared next to all these champions after all this time. I have to reevaluate my view of the present state of audio gear in the world. Thank you so very, very much.
Random appreciate post for you all at AudioScape. You're consistently the most positive and engaged brand I see on youtube. One day I would definitely like to have some of your gear in my studio. Thanks for being such rad members of this wild community.
Great video, I love the DBX160A on snare. The API how much I want to like it doesn’t jump out for me. The distressors are amazing on the drumbus, my favorite. Also really love the dynamites. I’m a Drawmer fan and love the 1978 on my drumbus. Thanks again for this awesome comparison 👌🏼
To me personally, nothing beats a pair of Distressors on a drum bus - although I prefer the 6:1 ratio with the British version engaged (depending on the model of the units of course)
havent seen the valley people in years, i used to love its smack. this guy really knows how to dial in a reverb too! great tone. all the comps sounded great id take any of them. the fast attack on the 1176s might not work depending on the rest of the track though
Thank you for making and sharing this video. Helps a lot to choose right Comp for right thing. I love DBX 160Vu on snare and kick. Own API2500 and it just works on plenty of things incl. master bus with right EQ and Converter. Germaniums and DBX are my next purchace. I wish for Christmas 2x Gates Sta-Levels. Would be great to hear the Chandler TG1 or D-Comp from AudioScape here too. Cheers!
Thanks for your time making this comparison video. Very helpful. I’ve just purchased a dbx 160 stereo clone and a roger mayer rm58 stereo clone. I can’t wait to beef up my drums😊
Thanks bro I’m in the process of getting the compressors I need to cover my needs in the studio and you gave me the opportunity to sample what each of your compressors sound like and that’s just what I needed
Thank you man! I grew up next to the first mci factory! Looooove them. Thank u for ur vid, love your straightforward technique. Very musical and on the fly! Thank u! Beautiful sound, and learned so much. Wish i lived near there to apprentice. :( Thank u though!
@@RiotHomeRecording Just watched it again and the API 2500 sound really good, probably the best to me but not by a huge margin as they all sound great. I have some DBX 160XTs that were modded and have output transformers so I'll fire those up again. I still say that the 1176Fs do a great job.
I have used the UAD plugin on snare tracks and the Dyna-mite gives it an aggressive grabby punch, sounds rad, I could imagine what the hardware version would do!
The only one I have direct experience with - and this was back in the '80's - are the "Dyna-Mite's". I really liked them, they were cool and quite versatile, though I never thought they were the top of anyone's list. I had six channels of them (three units) so I used them a lot, for ducking, expanding, side chain, and compression and limiting of course. Cool video!
Thanks Raul! I agree the api and the Dbx 162 in this would be my first 2 choices for a mix. If you listen with halfway decent headphones the differences are apparent.
Very much appreciated! I have a fatso, UA LA610 and DPR-44 in my rack. Love that first dbx 160VU; so smooth and chunky at the same time. The Chandler and Smart sound the most expensive/transparent/beautiful, the Gates sounds simply lovely, API the most energetic and pushy, while the Dyn-o-mite is just plain nuts!! :D The Distressor sounding wonky here, like too 'pokey; and groaning in the lower hundred(s)-Hz range. That fast release wasn't helping; perhaps some pre-EQ _would._ The Fatso fared better on that kit & pattern, albeit at a softer knee and it would benefit from a specific HP sidechain control.
Great comparison! I like the germ and the dbx 160 vu and 162 for the smoothness. I like the punch of the dynamite. They all sound pretty good although i find the two E.L too aggressive.
If you are compressing tha drums only on tha compressor, for some reason I think tha Distressor won. Not 100 % sure though, it was tha loudest but I think tha sound changed a bit as well if that makes sense.
Thanks, Steve! Really really enjoyed hearing these. The C2 was my favorite. Pristine! Were those drums tracked to tape or straight into the DAW?Really nice recording. Thank you again for the video. Loved it!
Thanks for doing this. I have to agree with you, for the money those dbx boxes are a great financial deal. Now I know why so many swear by the API 2500 for drum bus duties. You have to listen repeatedly to gain a better understanding of the nuances between these units besides the obvious differences, of course. This makes for good ear training. Thanks again. I’m on the hunt for a drum Buss compressor and I’m really glad I came across your video here. The reason is, some compressors I’ve heard work exceptionally well for the room mics. Like the ADR COMPEX 7600 RS. This has me thinking perhaps I need to get two drum bus compressors; one for the room and one for the Mics. What’s your take on that idea?
There’s nothing wrong with using different comps on the drum room and the drum buss. I do that sometimes in the mix it just all depends on the song and what sound/feel I’m going for. The api 2500 is great on drum Buss.
you have to check out the vertico comp from germany ... thats a cool drum bus comp ... you will like ... .. and i realy need a fatso and a distressor !!
Dude, what a great comparison, instant sub ! But also, oh no, this is the WORST comparison for me to watch just as I'm already falling out of love with the Smart C2 for being too spongy and nice, and this cements it. The Germanium is fantastic, gutsy and mean in all the right ways, the 160VU is bouncy and 3D, no surprise there, I could use about a dozen of them lmao, but the surprise here is the Audioscape 76F, it really held its own in an application I'd never think to put a FET compressor in. Really gets my brain juices flowing. Great video man ! !
@@joecal2360 I will be posting some mixing videos of a band I recorded here in my home studio coming up soon. I’ll be mixing on my console with outboard along with plug in in the box.
2500 is just right. Unsurprising the 76F had a thing going on that i liked. Dynamite is interesting thats for sure. The DBXs are good always have been. The sta was.... vibey? I could actually see it being used in the right context on snare.
Cool comparison! One thing I’m unclear on, when each clip cuts to the “drum bus only”, is that showing the “compression only”, and then the first clip is the compression mixed in with raw drums, aka parallel?
Such a killer shootout! That C2, do you mostly just use it for drums/rooms etc, or do you ever use it on your Mixbuss? Ever tried the C1's? I was back and forth between which to get, but ultimately chose the C1, and got a pretty insane deal on a new one, but part of me wonders at times if I should have got a C2. It was tough, because a lot of Engineers I look up to have the C2's, but I also had some personal, and technical reasons for getting the C1, besides the price I got it for.
Steve were those two el8m you were using? Not the stereo version? I have one el8m and wondering if I should get a second one or just sell the one I have and buy the stereo elf pair. Would appreciate your input. Thx for you time.
@@RiotHomeRecording Why do you prefer them unlinked? Is phase shifting not an issue? I'm very curious because I own one el8 mono and I'm wondering if I can just grab another regular mono unit and have them work for me. Would you recommend this? Or advice against this? It'd sure save me some money haha. Thanks for your time brother. I really appreciate it.
