Hi, guys!
I really need your help.
I decide to buy my first hardware gear.
And wanna buy SSL compressor.
30/.1/4

So the question is in VST world Cytomic Glue/SSL(Waves/UAD)/etc. is the one I use every project.
But here I dive in the world, that IDGAF.
Tons of versions from SSL to Dangerous.
Could you drop your ideas which one is better and why.
Thanks in advance!

P.S. Ableton 11 is my daw, if this is make sense in hardware world.

 

DAW is irrelevant. Are you sure your budget is ready for the answers you will get here when you are told exactly which are the best compressors you can buy?

 

i would rather buy this https://www.thomann.de/intl/ssl_fusion.htm
and when you really want an ssl buy an ssl bus comp
https://www.thomann.de/intl/ssl_500_series_bus_compressor_mkii.htm
and you can put in more in your 500 chain later
https://www.thomann.de/intl/cranborne_audio_500adat.htm

 

yeap that adat 500 series is a good idea. you can then get bus comp at lower price and can buy/sell until you found something that suitable for you. there is a whole another world for boutique 500 series stuff for you try out at cheaper price as well.

 

This is the best one

 

Not to be that guy (though I totally am), but if you have no other hardware are you sure you want to start off with a bus compressor...?

I mean hookups and everything don't just happen. Not saying that the recs here are somehow bad, I'm sure they're not.

 

For sure i'm not in a budget 10k+. But I understand that the sum would be 2-3k$.

 

Wow, thanks so much the SSL Fusion seems to be a thing I wanna buy. I'll check it deeper.
And about Cranborne Audio 500adat, if I understand right, I can buy this one and make my own chain /w any 500 devices that I want?
But 1.6k$ for just a router This is really expensive road as @Lenny Belardo II said :/

 

Thank you! May be there is a website where I can found some boutique devices? Just like a pluginboutique for a VST world ))

 

http://wesaudio.com/_dione/ Analog Bus Compressor with digital recallcheck it out

 

Thank you for the info!

 

like @Howard Carpendale posted earlier for the 500 series rack with ADAT connection, this is the best choice IMO -> https://www.thomann.de/intl/my/cranborne_audio_500adat.htm
-
for me personally, I'll go to reverb and look for the used stuff first, and see there is a lot of brand you haven't heard before, and then study them, check price etc --> https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=500+series

 

Does your audio interface support inserts pre/post.

If you buy any 500 series processor you will need a chassis. Regardless of what you get be sure you can connect to it properly.

You can get a rack mounted Warm Audio BUS-COMP for around $700 it is like Warm Audio stuff you can't beat it at the price point or even higher and wait to go all in on 500S racks and modules.

If you do go the 500 series way. I can recommend the Elysia Xpressor 500S for $1000 it has a nice punchy sound,is very smooth, can handle a lot of abuse and has some very modern features that are missing from the vintage reissues, All in with an API 500-8B Lunchbox for around $500 you are at $1500 and should have no complaints. I want to go a step up and can spend more I can also recommend the Smart Research C1LA, you get a lot for $1600 you will have no sonic grumbles and add an API 500-8B Lunchbox at $2100, assuming your current setup for in/insert/out is serviceable.

Good luck, there are a lot of good choices out there, you can dip your toes in gently and I would check out the used market if I were you, but unless you are good with a soldering iron and can find spares I would stay away from the the vintage stuff.

 

This!

 

so hard :///
Ok, I just read few blogs, so the chassis is like a external plug-in, so I can make a chain there and then return it to my chain in DAW.
I got it.
Seems like this 500 way is the most user-friendly and customable.
About vintage stuff, im in EDM-near music production, so I don't trust in this vintage "magic" tbh.
Warm Audio BUS-COMP is in my list, and I like it pretty well.
Will check all listed 500/devices.
And Thank You for the info. That's really help to me

 

As for API, there are different colors...

 

The best compressor is always the very last one you just had.
Until the next one, or until you realize the old one was much better

 

500 series cool!

Have a look at Stam Audio, Warm Audio for good stuff under 1k
maybe a bit too snappy for Bussing electronic music. But still dope for a lot of cases
DBX 160 or 165 under 500


Mono Designs
maybe you want your first to be versatile, something like clean to dirty.
They cost more but do more than all of the above combined
Kush Tweaker, probably most versatile!!
Dave Hill Designs Titan, Cleaner but very versatile too!
Normally you should get 2 for around 2.5k but prices are a bit crazy right now.

which is a good way to look for 2nd hand but i´m a bit hesitant to suggest this to a first time buyer.

 

Last edited: Mar 18, 2021

Hey, added to my check list. BTW Kush Tweaker looks great as a 1st device.