Drums with VLA comp, without, with and with tape

[RevoltStudios]

Alright, here's the files, normalled to -3. Pro Vla 2 used for stereo bus comp. Used the ol Metallica drum tracks given out to mix. Tape tracks wobble at the beginning, still haven't fixed the stupid thing But it gets better after a few seconds! This isn't a super accurate test so don't rag on me about it.

Dry drums
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3566975/Drum without.wav

Drums with medium compression -3 to -5 db reduction
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3566975/Drum with med.wav

Drums with hard compression -4 to -10
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3566975/Drum lots.wav

Drums with medium compression and to tape and back
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3566975/Drum tape.wav

 

[mickrich]

Funny seeing my drum recording used as a reference file
The overheads were hitting about 4-6db compression (Drawmer 1968) on the way in and the mono room mic was totally smashed about 20db (Focusrite isa220).
I think the dry one is best.
The medium comp sounds ok and the heavily compressed one is pumping horribly IMO. The tape one is distorting in the high end making the cymbals sound harsh and undefined.

I am listening on Sen hd250 phones so not terribly accurate and, of course, not hearing these in the context of a mix.
I'll have a listen on the Focal twins tomorrow.

What is a VLA compressor?

 

[Aaron Smith]

http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?id=136&cat=2&type=80

 

[RevoltStudios]

Funny seeing my drum recording used as a reference file
The overheads were hitting about 4-6db compression (Drawmer 1968) on the way in and the mono room mic was totally smashed about 20db (Focusrite isa220).
I think the dry one is best.
The medium comp sounds ok and the heavily compressed one is pumping horribly IMO. The tape one is distorting in the high end making the cymbals sound harsh and undefined.

I am listening on Sen hd250 phones so not terribly accurate and, of course, not hearing these in the context of a mix.
I'll have a listen on the Focal twins tomorrow.

What is a VLA compressor?

That would explain why I didn't feel it really gellin....it was already comped!

 

[AerialThesis]

Either you are not setting your knobs right or your using the wrong compressor for those drums since the only notable difference is that the more you compress, the more you induced compression artefacts. I can hear the compressor pumping even on that 3 to 5 db reduction clip.