Symetrix 525 on drum bus, room mics?

witchfeet · Post by **witchfeet** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 8:03 am

I was wondering if anyone has used a Symetrix 525 to compress a drum bus or room mics in a mix and gotten good results?

I was thinking I may get an ART Pro VLA II at some point so maybe that compressor would be more appropriate for this. Not sure though. I also have a Behringer MDX 4400 four channel compressor. Not sure if this thing totally sucks or not. Might be ok on snare and bass drum or something.

Trying to get my plan of action worked out in my head before I record the project. The drums will be recorded to tape and dumped into Logic and then mixed back outside the box on my Soundcraft console. So, I could use plugins instead of hardware compressors if I'd like to.

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 2:54 pm

The 525 is a weird compressor, IMO. I have one, a dbx 166 (80's) and a 266xl. Some of the controls seem ass backwards compared to the dbx.

I can't really figure out what I really like the 525 on, although I do like it on stuff. I had it on kick and bass for a long time because I thought it added a kindof "poofiness" to the sound that I like on those instruments.

Probably not helpful, but at least it'll bump your thread.

witchfeet · Post by **witchfeet** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:32 am

Thanks for the bump. I'll just give it a whirl when the time comes. If it sounds good then I guess it is good!

Sean Shannon · Post by **Sean Shannon** » Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:12 am

I am using the 525 on the parallel drum bus right now, kickin butt. The 525 is not a weird compressor, IMO. Easy operation, big sound. Symetrix made good stuff. I like the 525 on toms, too.

dubold · Post by **dubold** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:29 pm

I have a 525 and like it on drums. I also have a pro vla; it's good for drums too. they're entirely different animals; any comparison between the two is going to involve a lot of personal preference.

witchfeet · Post by **witchfeet** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:25 am

I tracked yesterday and ran some stuff through the 525 on playback. I'm trying the 525 to smash the room mic and on snare. Works ok. It's bringing up a lot noise from my tape machine though. I'm not sure if it's just in the parts with no drums or not. I'm not digging it on snare alone too much. Seems like a useful compressor once I figure out what I like it on most. I'm thinking it may be cool on bass guitar and bass drum.

I agree with the above post saying it adds a sort of "poof" sound to stuff.

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:45 pm

witchfeet wrote:I agree with the above post saying it adds a sort of "poof" sound to stuff.

Whew. I was beginning to think I was an idiot for not liking it on programmy, bussy material. I've liked it for smashing the fuck out of room mics before. and Kick and Bass. I might have used it on vox before too.

dubold · Post by **dubold** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 1:30 am

witchfeet wrote:I tracked yesterday and ran some stuff through the 525 on playback. I'm trying the 525 to smash the room mic and on snare. Works ok. It's bringing up a lot noise from my tape machine though. I'm not sure if it's just in the parts with no drums or not. I'm not digging it on snare alone too much. Seems like a useful compressor once I figure out what I like it on most. I'm thinking it may be cool on bass guitar and bass drum.

I agree with the above post saying it adds a sort of "poof" sound to stuff.

IIRC fiddling with the gate settings will help with that poof/room noise.

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Symetrix 525 on drum bus, room mics?

Symetrix 525 on drum bus, room mics?

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