Pulsar Audio Mu - Tube Compressor

Discussion in 'Software News' started by mild pump milk, Sep 24, 2019.

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  1. Citrik Acid

    Citrik Acid Platinum Record

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    Yes bro' own it, very good alternative to this "Mu" compressor, for me better
     
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    Citrik Acid, Sep 26, 2019
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  2. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    :facepalm:That's even worse.
     
    No Avenger, Sep 26, 2019
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  3. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    Today I had the opportunity to compare Mu to The Glue.
    • Although the manual claims a variable compression ratio, as to my measurements Mu has a ratio of ~ 2:1 and it varies only slightly.
    • It reacts a bit different to stereo signals than Glue means, Mu alters the L/R balance of the uncompressed signal, but only for a fraction of a dB, which isn't really audible. The Glue doesn't change it.
    • When their outputs are set to the same peak, Mu's RMS is ~ 4dB above The Glue's which makes the signal sound louder and more upfront. This is probably due to the higher level saturation which sounds pretty nice.
      Other than that they sound very similar.
    • Mu needs a bit more than twice as much CPU consumption (without oversampling) and has twice as much latency as The Glue.
    If you seek after upfront sounds Mu is the one you want, if you don't need more audible saturation and/but more ratio you're better served by The Glue.
     
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    No Avenger, Sep 28, 2019
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  4. mild pump milk

    mild pump milk Russian Milk Drunkard

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    Because The Glue as a VCA compressor reacts way faster (this kind of compressor usually for peaks, transients, snap, attacky and percussive material), Tubes/VariMu are slower (to me, as a RMS "compression and warming", old skool dirty leveller or smth like that, rarely in use). SSL's VCA emulations and original SSLs are very clean or close to it, tube compressor are saturated, warmer, silky, bold, fatter (and other Slate's epithets). So both completely different compressor, but both have each own glueness and groove.
    Glue effect preset on VCAs is usually slow attack, fast release.
     
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    mild pump milk, Sep 28, 2019
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  5. Fudsey Plange

    Fudsey Plange Guest

    Given that it's copied the knobs from the UAD Manley Vari-Mu I've compred it against that plug and it isn't even close. On a knob-for-knob setting the Pulsar is around 12dBFS louder than the Manley Vari-Mu. Dropping the OUTPUT to level match the compressors aren't even close, the Pulsar sounding very forward in the mids and exhibiting a slightly more volatile signal over a slightly smaller dynamic range than the Manley. The Pulsar didn't have the characteristic leveling effect of the Manley at the same settings.

    Now it should properly be compared to a Fairchild compressor because the signal is more typical to that compressor, but has the knob layout of a Manley. Looks like a Manley sounds like a Fairchild. I wouldn't rate it above the UAD Legacy or the Slate FG-MU. It's all mouth and no trousers.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 28, 2019
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    Fudsey Plange, Sep 28, 2019
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  6. No Avenger

    No Avenger Moderator Staff Member

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    @mild pump milk, you are absolutely right and I was aware of this.

    Pulsar's very small ratio reminded me immediately of The Glue's 2:1 ratio and since I couldn't compare it to another Manley clone I decided to compare these two, mainly.

    A quick comparison to Waves PuigChild showed too big differences in attack and release times to do this, but this was predictable.
     
    No Avenger, Sep 28, 2019
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  7. quadcore64

    quadcore64 Audiosexual

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    Thought I would give a fair try before totally dismissing this one. Tested on mix sub (pre Master).

    Compared to the following (installed on system):

    Analog Obsession Kolin (very nice. adds definition @ neutral setting like hardware.surprisingly good)
    Fuse Audio Labs VCL-25A (very nice. adds definition @ neutral setting like hardware. overall favorite)
    IK Multimedia Dyna-Mu (very nice. adds definition @ neutral setting like hardware. mid-side also very nice)
    Klanghelm MJUCjr (chokes early leading to distorted audio)
    Sonimus Tuco (very nice. adds definition @ neutral setting like hardware. second choice behind VCL-25A)

    Pulsar Audio Mu is very nice. Does not give you complete hardware experience though.
    Hardware in this category will add tone/color to the audio by just inserting into signal chain.
     
    quadcore64, Sep 30, 2019
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