Defacto Cheap Junky Compressor

[kslight]

I know this has been done to death, but if you are reaching for a junk compressor that "sucks" in a good way and costs pennies on the dollar (lets say the budget is less than $75 per channel, preferably less) what do you grab? Transparency not important, looking to mostly compress vocals coming from a handheld dynamic mic, though sometimes maybe some mono beats... Junk aesthetic is desirable because for this particular project I am writing junky short songs on my Tascam 388, using "whatever is laying around". I'm thinking something like a dbx 163 would fit right in?

[vvv]

I'm sure that would work, but that said, IMHO the 163 is not junky, never really sounds it.

I've read deliciously bad things about the Alesis 3630. There is that inexpensive Samson that might work ...

When I want very obvious and wasting compression, I reach for a Meek, what can be cranked to sound like poo.

[Dakota]

163X is indeed an excellent choice for quick and down-to-it for your application, though I wouldn't describe the 163X as junk - it's actually a great compressor at the price range. I love 163X's for all sorts of applications, reliable and fast to set up bass DI for example.

Even more wonderful junk for your application: the iconic Alesis Micro Limiter. Down side is it's a little bit hissier than it should be, but not so much to be a real bother. It's actually not so obtrusive sounding if driven light, and goes all the way up to bizarre smash if driven hard. It's also a cult favorite for drum parallel and other character-smash parallel uses.

DBX118 if you can get one that's A) actually working, and B) cheap. These two factors vary quite a lot.

Just don't get an Alesis 3630. They really are awful, and seldom are the right awful.

The original version of the DOD R-825 is actually quite good for cheap, it's not trash.

[Osumosan]

+1 on the dbx 117, 118, 119, 128 family! They sound great, do expansion. They're stereo and look cool.

[Dakota]

Oh - the Fostex MN-50. That might be right in your specified zone.

[kslight]

The Alesis Microlimiter looks like it could be a good fit, especially if bought in a rack with other appropriately bad effects!

[mrc]

With a soldering iron a few parts and a better power supply, the 3630 can be turned into pretty decent compressor. Look at the Group DIY meta

[ott0bot]

dbx 163 is snazzy little comp, so completely better than the Alesis unit or cheaper behringer gear.

also look for a used Ashley sc-50's and symetrix 501's. I've found local Craigslist deals from people getting rid of there old live sound rigs than have been sitting for a while.

[telepathy]

MXR Dyna Comp, yo.

put a reamp in front of it and a DI after, or run it into an amp, or embrace the impedance mismatch (another means of making it sound more deranged) and just run tracks straight in. parallel drum bus? look out! it's like "Savoy Truffle" but even more F'ed. you can also go straight into the thing with most dynamic mics & an XLR-to-1/4" matching transformer.

any compressor pedal will do. the Barber Tone Press is great for this cause it has the clean blend knob, allowing you to dial down the insanity a little (probably not the goal....).

[The Scum]

It's funny: I'll reach for my 163x when my LA2A is busy with other duties.

Not that they sound the same, but I tend to apply them the same way.

And two 163x's daisychained is really bizarre - overeasy pumping, slurping & gurgling.

[kslight]

MXR Dyna Comp, yo.

put a reamp in front of it and a DI after, or run it into an amp, or embrace the impedance mismatch (another means of making it sound more deranged) and just run tracks straight in. parallel drum bus? look out! it's like "Savoy Truffle" but even more F'ed. you can also go straight into the thing with most dynamic mics & an XLR-to-1/4" matching transformer.

any compressor pedal will do. the Barber Tone Press is great for this cause it has the clean blend knob, allowing you to dial down the insanity a little (probably not the goal....).

Heh I use a Pigtronix Keymaster to run my vocals through pedals, a compressor pedal might do the trick for sure.

[Brett Siler]

MXR Dyna Comp, yo.

Thats what I was gonna say. The Alesis Micro Limiter actually rules. It's just filthy sounding when pushed hard. The MXR Dyna Comp starts getting that pumpy sound real quick and if you plug straight into your mixer it might just be the right type of suck you are looking for. I have an old BLA modded 3630 from when they first started doing stuff and it's actually a pretty clean sounding comp. Stock I heard they have a weird spongy sound to them and not to many people like them.

[lightandmind]

+9 on the Fostex MN-50, (sometimes labeled MN-15),, IF you can find one. Runs on a 9 volt? Mash 4 tracks down simultaneously? Squishy and characterful? You bet 'cha.

Fyi, the "Stereo Rackmount" version of the Dynacomp is called MXR 136 Dual Limiter I think.

I actually have an ad up for an Ashly SC-50 blackface that I'm selling for someone if you're interested:
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... ashly+sc50

[A.David.MacKinnon]

+1 on pretty much everything listed here.
I love the Micro Limiter and use it parallel on the drum bus on most records I mix.

Also love the 163x for some things (mostly guitars) but I find them a bit noisy for my taste a lot of the time. Then again, if we're talking trashy why complain about noise?

The older 163 is also pretty cool. Very much like the 163x except it's not overeasy.

The Ashley SC-50 is even better than the 163x in my opinion. Way more control, quieter, sounds better on more sources too.

Another very useful bang for your buck compressor is the Electro Harmonix Black Finger. It's tube, opto, and sounds really, really good once you get the gain staging sorted out. I use it on bass all the time.

[lyman]

overeasy pumping, slurping & gurgling.

I think I dated her too.