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In general which compressors are worth buying for Cakewalk? ( best all rounder )


aidan o driscoll

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As the title says. Which compressor is worth buying for general Compressor usage and stuff like SIDE CHAINING/Ducking? And that works in Cakewalk? NOT ALL HAVE EXTERNAL SIDE CHAINING I dont think?

Added it here in Deals as I do mention BUYING and maybe there are ones on a deal that others have here worth considering

 

Edited by aidan o driscoll
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For sidechaining, I use the aforementioned MCompressor, from the Meldaproduction FreeFX bundle. There's a thread here in Deals that describes how to upgrade it and the 36 other plug-ins to their deluxe versions for about $10. Sale lasts another couple of days. But it works just great in its free state.

The sidechain detector in MCompressor has an EQ so that you can filter selected frequencies, which is great if you have a complex signal and only want to duck the bass or whatever.

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Here is an SSL that is on sale for a few days.  It's on the SSL website, but it's less tax if you buy from Sweetwater.  The regular price is $119.00

Sweetwater.com: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SSLLMCplus-e--solid-state-logic-ssl-lmc-compressor-plug-in

SSL website:  https://store.solidstatelogic.com/products/ssl-lmc

Right now, Waves has the $29.99 deal on single p;ugins that you can get cheaper if you by from everyplugin.com using the code Code YNY23  (Get a reputable compressor)

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1 hour ago, jesse g said:

Here is an SSL that is on sale for a few days.  It's on the SSL website, but it's less tax if you buy from Sweetwater.  The regular price is $119.00

Sweetwater.com: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SSLLMCplus-e--solid-state-logic-ssl-lmc-compressor-plug-in

SSL website:  https://store.solidstatelogic.com/products/ssl-lmc

Right now, Waves has the $29.99 deal on single p;ugins that you can get cheaper if you by from everyplugin.com using the code Code YNY23  (Get a reputable compressor)

Thanks @jesse g

At everyplugin I note these:

https://everyplugin.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?description=&ilok_required=&manufacturer[0]=6&name=compressor&p=2&price[from]=&price[to]=&short_description=&sku=&supply_time=

So many .. I would take it one should be looking for Internal/external sidechain 

With respect to the LMC+ .. you recommend in this regard? And vs the Waves stuff

 

 

Edited by aidan o driscoll
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The thing is, "for sidechaining" is not a criterion that I've ever used for choosing a compressor to buy. It's not that tough a job, any compressor that does sidechaining will do the jobs that sidechaining is usually put to. For me, the one with the fastest and easiest access to all parameters is the "best for sidechaining." To me, that's like shopping for refrigerators based on which one makes the best ice.

It's the other compression tasks that make a bigger difference. My best answer to your actual question is no compressor is worth buying if all you want to do is ducking/sidechaining. The ones that come with Cakewalk will do it just dandy.

If you want a compressor that sounds good on a particular type of program material, or on the widest variety of program material, that's where you can get some good opinions.

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I think the question is "what do you expect from the compressor?"

Do you want something super transparent, highly tweakable, with a certain color / characteristics? Emulation of vintage hardware? Modern approach?

I'd say that if you want to invest in a single compressor, you should definitely have a look at Fabfilter Pro-C2. It's expensive, but worth every penny.

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I settled on using just one brand of compressor and I stick to this about 90% of the time! I use Arturia compressors - i purchased early in a very good sale and have upgraded along the way - the compressor I use the most (and it has side-chaining) is the Fet 76 but i do use the others as well

https://www.arturia.com/products/software-effects/comps-bundle/comp-fet76

The other effects in the full bundle are also excellent and get a lot of use - i love the Dimension D for instance.

They do have reasonably regular sales I believe

Nigel

 

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1 hour ago, abacab said:

How do these suggestions stack up with the IK T-RackS compressors? For example, if you already have them, would you still be looking elsewhere?

I think the IK comps are top shelf, but if you need something that doesn't have analog flavor I could see wanting something to supplement them.  

For free MCompressor seems like something to try in that case.  

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1 hour ago, Brian Walton said:

I think the IK comps are top shelf, but if you need something that doesn't have analog flavor I could see wanting something to supplement them.  

For free MCompressor seems like something to try in that case.  

The free Melda MCompressor works with side chaining in Cakewalk.

I ran through the IK T-RackS compressors in Cakewalk, but none of them were available as send assignments for sidechaining, unless I am missing something.

A few other 3rd party compressors that I have in my plugin collection that did show up for sidechaining in CbB were:

  • PreSonus Fat Channel XT
  • Waves H-Comp Hybrid Compressor ($29 on sale)
  • NI Supercharger (free download with Komplete Start)
  • Tracktion TCompressor (included in the Tracktion DAW Essentials Collection)
Edited by abacab
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On 7/5/2021 at 5:43 PM, aidan o driscoll said:

 This looks VERY interesting for mixing, mastering and sidechaining:

https://everyplugin.com/cla-mixhub.html   - $25.89 with coupon at Every

 

I am a happy camper with this now. What i was looking for plus alot more I did not know about :D

Outside of the sidechain thing it allows you to mix multiple tracks in "Buckets"

ce0eabb764394a4d6b92f9b03120e3f1.jpg

Also has INSERT section for other Waves EFX

Price normally - $199

 

Edited by aidan o driscoll
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