DBX 160VU Test (Outboard vs ITB compression)

[Ermz]

Hey guys,

Someone on a local forum was nice enough to run a snare and kick track for me through their DBX 160VU comp (a legendary compressor for such things), because I'm looking at buying a pair.

So I thought why not put the 160 side by side with my prior ITB compression and see what you guys think.

This is the track that Ola put up ages ago and got really sick of! It's a rough mix, so please don't be too harsh, I never really tweaked it up to final. It's all very bare bones.

DBX 160VU on Kick and Snare. ~2dB reduction (sounds like more, trust me).

SSL E-Channel on Kick and elysia mPressor plug-on Snare

Look forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

IMHO the 160VU kicks all kinds of ass here. Maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but it sounds a lot more punchier in these examples.

 

[~BURNY~]

I always loved that "rounded" transfer curve.

 

[Rob Logic]

I thought the 160 sounded dirtier on the source than the ITB plugs did. I liked it more for the snare and less for the kick than the ITB respectively. The kick sample has a good chuck of sub frequencies that I feel like the 160 just isn't being forgiving on. Maybe a different sample or style of music in general it would work better for. Just what I am hearing from here. I'm curious what everyone else thinks too. I wonder how the old VU's compare to the newer 160A's?

*edit I agree with Jarkko, both the kick and snare with the 160 are punchy as fuck. That was the first thing I heard. Still don't dig the kick. Maybe just me though.

 

[greyskull]

the 160 kicks ARSE.
Makes the the ITB kick and snare sound silly, just punch right through that wall of guitar.
SO much cleaner!

 

[Ermz]

Hmm, I wonder if there would be such conviction if I posted this as a blind test

 

[greyskull]

Dude. even on my laptop speakers. The 160 sounds miles better. I would have chosen that track over the other in a heartbeat regardless of the alternative!
i want one or ten of the damn things.
On the subject of outboard... Im saving and I mean REALLY saving for a cut down ssl e/g 24 tracks, not automation, no computer no recall.
Gonna be about 2 years but its gonna be worth it!

 

[Charles J]

sounds exactly like our 160a does on kick and snr. my secret fucking weapon!!!!!

 

[Ermz]

So question... does the I/O really look like this on the back!?? Do you actually need to strip the cable and manually connect each wire???

 

[Lasse Lammert]

fuck you Ermin, now I need a DBX 160VU!
this was awesome, the plugin had a "nice" round and mellow sound but the DBX was just so much more aggressive...alsmost like it's adding some harmonics to the snare, kinda made me think of C2 on "crush" mode....loads of bite compared to the plug.

 

[dani]

wow, i usually hate all this audiophool nonsense, but seriously the new kick and snare sound fucking sweet.

thanks,

ps what the fuck does ITB stand for?

 

[pipaguapique]

ps what the fuck does ITB stand for?

ITB = In The Box


i liked the plugin better on kick...

...but the snare on the 160 clip!! my God! it's fat!

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Hmm, I wonder if there would be such conviction if I posted this as a blind test

Nah, you could tell me now that you had the file names swapped and I'd tell you the plugins absolutely slay the 160VU

 

[Lasse Lammert]

Nah, you could tell me now that you had the file names swapped and I'd tell you the plugins absolutely slay the 160VU

yup, I'd actually have preferred that since I'm searching for an excuse to by the SSL4000 anyways.

so please tell us you fooled us and swapped the filenames!

 

[Charles J]

there's something that the 160a does to transients that is just fucking AWESOME.

it adds a very SPL Transient Designer sound almost instantly. It's punch in a box, i'm tellin you!

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Allright now... Any decent 160 plugins I should know about? Or does none of them come close to the real deal?

EDIT: Oh, wait, these aren't all that expensive after all. Argh, way too many things to GAS about at the same time.

 

[pipaguapique]

So question... does the I/O really look like this on the back!?? Do you actually need to strip the cable and manually connect each wire???

yeah...this things are supposed to by wired to a patchbay and such...but you can just strip a cable and do it manually

im not very sure if there was a version which it came with xlr inputs and outs as well as the screws thingys...i can't remember...maybe im confused with some other comp that did...

 

[Ermz]

That's cool, if I grab one or two I'll just get my tech to install XLR jacks. Thanks! Wiring directly to the patchbay... now it makes sense.

Also, no I'm not clever enough to pull a fast one on you at 1am guys. It is what it's labeled as. Only thing is that I think the kick level is a bit too loud on the DBX version. Hard to match these things when the envelope/character changes.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

I didn't even listen to the kick tbh...on snare it CRUSHED the plug.
I wouldn't bother have a tech change anything, just get a short cable, screw one end to the device and solder the other end to an XLR plug...takes 5 mins and is reversable.
also leave the option open to put a balanced 1/4'" on there instead of an XLR (probably easier for your RMEs)..or a combination of both.

 

[Emdprodukt]

I still wonder how to use an outboard compressor for drums. Are you guys setting it up, send the snare to it and bounce it? I mean like reamping... or is it possible to set it up like a plugin and have it in your chain on the inserts or send? Sorry for the stupidity.