What compressors do you use in Live?

**daviedavedave** · 09-16-2014, 04:41 PM

I've looked around on other forums and people generally seem pretty happy with the built in ones, particularly the Glue Compressor (although mainly for mastering). I'm interested to know what compressors Live users on here tend to prefer.

In terms of VST plugins I've played around with the TDR Feedback compressor II (on top of the built in ones) and I quite like it, but haven't got any others. Any other personal recommendations would be great!

**Kwal** · 09-16-2014, 06:05 PM

I managed to get Supercharger from NI when they were giving it away, I like it. I also use Fabfilters compressor which is nice. Anything by Waves will of course be amazing. I also use Kickstart for side chain compression as well.

**ImNotDedYet** · 09-16-2014, 10:08 PM

The Glue's nice. I also have the FabFilter suite, so Fab-C is my go-to, but it's a pain to setup sidechain compression. The Glue and FabFilter are very clean compressors though and I've been looking into some of the compressors that impart some grit/tone/musicality to the things they're compressing. I also have the TDR Feedback Compressor and Klanghelm's DC1A and DC8C2 or whatever along with the Solid Bus Comp from NI. I haven't played much w/ TDR or DC82 yet. DC1A and Solid Bus Comp are nice on occasion.

I tried out a number of compressors from Stillwell to get the "dirty" compressor sound. They've got a solid 1176 emulation: The Rocket. Very cool. I'm also playing around with the Bombardier (buss comp) and Major Tom (similar to dbx160) from them. Basically freeware to demo and the license never technically expires. They just ask that you delete it or pay them $50/per after a month - on your honor stuff. Cool concept, but I'm assuming they get ripped off a lot on that. They do have "reminders" that pop up when you open their stuff on occasion. Nonetheless, good stuff from what I've heard so far.

I also gave a play to IK Multimedia's Classic Compressors and channel strips and bought those recently. Good sounding stuff. The 1176 in particular. (black76) It's definitely got a better tone than the Stillwell, but the Stillwell's Rocket offers a bit more functionality-wise. They also have White 2A (based on the LA-2A) which is decent. Buying the British Channel to get the two SSL busses, you also get their Maser Buss Compressor which has gotten rave reviews. I haven't had a chance to use it yet though. They've got a deal til the end of the month (I think?) where their store credits are discounted up to 1/3 price I believe. I bought 500 credits for $150, got both the Classic Compressor bundle that retails at $149 and the British Channel which retails at $149 (I actually couldn't find either of these at any of the online stores for cheaper than $149 at the moment) as well with 100 credits left over that will likely go towards their EQ 432 which has gotten "holy crap" reviews from almost everyone that's used it. I haven't given it a play yet though, plus I need 50 more credits...

I really wanted to try out the UAD and SoftTube stuff, but I have yet to give in to having a card hooked up to my compuer or a physical dongle so I passed on those. They make some really highly rated compressors though - especially UAD from what I've read. Expensive, but...

**daviedavedave** · 09-17-2014, 04:48 AM

Wow, thanks - that's a far more detailed reply than I thought I'd get! I'll have a look into those.

Do you find in general that shelling out 150 bucks for a compressor is worth it? Are they really 100 odd quid's worth better each than the free TDR II or built-in jobs?

Edit: And I guess to answer my own question somewhat the EQ 432 reviews online are ridiculous... I'll probably demo that when I get some time. Still seems a little pricey though... wish I had more cash!

**ImNotDedYet** · 09-17-2014, 06:56 AM

Remember, I paid 150 for 500 credits and was able to buy two sets of products: 1 set of three compressors and 1 set of two channel strips and a compressor. So 6 plugins for $150 (actually, closer to $110 because I didn't use all the credits) or essentially $25/ plugin.

It's a great deal right now if you pick up enough credits at 1/3 off and use credits to buy the items in their shop.

**daviedavedave** · 09-17-2014, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by ImNotDedYet

Remember, I paid 150 for 500 credits and was able to buy two sets of products: 1 set of three compressors and 1 set of two channel strips and a compressor. So 6 plugins for $150 (actually, closer to $110 because I didn't use all the credits) or essentially $25/ plugin.

It's a great deal right now if you pick up enough credits at 1/3 off and use credits to buy the items in their shop.

I'm probably misreading your first post but I can't find the EQ 432 price in gear creds.... the IK website says that it's €120 to download. Alternatively 150 creds is about €47, so it seems odd they'd advertise it for €120 then let you have it for nearly a third of the price?

**ImNotDedYet** · 09-17-2014, 10:52 AM

I'm at work and don't have the shop installed on my work laptop, but if you go through the CS Shop - an app you can d/l for free from their site, and comes with two free VSTs - an EQ I'm not fond of and an analyzer that at least looks cool from my 5 minutes of looking at it...you'll see both $ costs and gear credit costs. The cost in credits of each of the items was 200 credits each. I "bought" 500 credits for $150. ($5 off that actually using some Jam Points they give you for creating an account) I don't know why they're offering it at this, but that's what I paid, and I'll take that kind of deal. You just have to buy the credits during their summer sale which I believe ends at the end of this month...

A benefit from them for this type of sales process is that you wind up short on credits to buy your next thing, so you have to re-up on credits. (I'm pretty sure you can't combine credits and cash for purchases from them) Whether it benefits them or not in the long run, I have no idea.

**daviedavedave** · 09-17-2014, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by ImNotDedYet

I'm at work and don't have the shop installed on my work laptop, but if you go through the CS Shop - an app you can d/l for free from their site, and comes with two free VSTs - an EQ I'm not fond of and an analyzer that at least looks cool from my 5 minutes of looking at it...you'll see both $ costs and gear credit costs. The cost in credits of each of the items was 200 credits each. I "bought" 500 credits for $150. ($5 off that actually using some Jam Points they give you for creating an account) I don't know why they're offering it at this, but that's what I paid, and I'll take that kind of deal. You just have to buy the credits during their summer sale which I believe ends at the end of this month...

A benefit from them for this type of sales process is that you wind up short on credits to buy your next thing, so you have to re-up on credits. (I'm pretty sure you can't combine credits and cash for purchases from them) Whether it benefits them or not in the long run, I have no idea.

Makes sense, thanks. I'll install their software when I'm back at home and take a look.

**xoxopowo** · 09-19-2014, 07:03 AM

I don't use much the Ableton built-in compressors except for hard sidechaining, it works really well.
I use a lot of saturator and limiters (built-in) for "0ms-attack compression", and it works really well.

I use some UAD (yeah they cost but it's worth every $) : 1176 for vocals, bass. L3A for crushed drums and weirds stuff and SSL for mastering, busses and drums.