(Every reason) choose analogue over clean?

[Kaleb Formz]

Hey guys I'm wondering, a good friend of mine is in Love with Klanghelm's SDDR and DC8C2 and it got me curious. I understand the "mojo" of analogue comps because I've used em before and the LA3A on acoustic guitar, it's compression and color, I can't find anything better. But I'm wondering why exactly people use Clean compression? I'm guessing, for me at least, after I've saturated certain audio sources in a mix and have things comp'd with analogue gear, I want really clean compression to not muddy up anything especially in mastering. Same with EQ again (especially in mastering) I get that.

 

[xTomx]

Anytime I'm editing speech rather than music, or when I solely want to control dynamics/envelopes rather than impart any character.

 

[Kaleb Formz]

Anyone else? I'm seriously considering the DC8C2 cause it got a stellar review on musicrader before it had a few big updates and improvements. But if it's only used when a source randomly sounds better without character or for mastering I'll just hold off. Do people ever shoot for clean compression on like acoustic guitar or vocals? I ask cause I feel like the LA2A is like staple for most I'm not too understanding on why I'd choose clean compression over Analogue...ever

 

[Jormyn]

I use clean compression almost exclusively because I'm not familiar enough with how different comps color the sound to know what I want. Much easier to compress it without any color and then throw some saturation on afterward if it sounds too pristine.

 

[crillemannen]

For me HW compression is all about the attack. We been over this a thousand times here and SW compression still can't modulate the HW attack (yet). HW units also add some weight which the SW lacks, it just gets rawer more in your face then the SW.


Sometimes i find my HW 1176 to be to gritty for really soft songs on vocals. There I would have much more liked a softer compressor like a La2a. With experience you also learn what you want on a certain source, clean, gritty or just plain dirty Experiment and try if you are uncertain of what you want!

 

[Kaleb Formz]

For me HW compression is all about the attack. We been over this a thousand times here and SW compression still can't modulate the HW attack (yet). HW units also add some weight which the SW lacks, it just gets rawer more in your face then the SW.


Sometimes i find my HW 1176 to be to gritty for really soft songs on vocals. There I would have much more liked a softer compressor like a La2a. With experience you also learn what you want on a certain source, clean, gritty or just plain dirty Experiment and try if you are uncertain of what you want!

Makes sense. So a plugin like DC8C etc. is made for what audience? I ask cause I see comments like "gotta love that clean clean compression" and 12 pages on GS praising this comp. (But I'm talking clean comp's in general)

 

[Kaleb Formz]

Jeez 350+ views I guess either no one really uses clean compression or they don't know why they would?

 

[Manicompression]

dude, you got / already knew the answer. Your OP was kind of thinking out loud and not very clearly a question, Im impressed you got responses at all. Use outboard or modeled compression if you think it sounds good. Use non modeled compression if you think it sounds good. Use your ears man, there are no rules. Dont buy into / be confused by all the marketing.

 

[Kaleb Formz]

dude, you got / already knew the answer. Your OP was kind of thinking out loud and not very clearly a question, Im impressed you got responses at all. Use outboard or modeled compression if you think it sounds good. Use non modeled compression if you think it sounds good. Use your ears man, there are no rules. Dont buy into / be confused by all the marketing.

you know what..... I just noticed I should have titled this thread differently. I meant to to say "Every reason to choose clean over analogue not the other way around... probably would have gotten a better responses.. my bad..

Any who yeah it was me kinda thinking out loud but besides my noobish experience reasons over why I'd choose it (mastering) I want to know why people choose it over analogue or just period, cause there are people that just want clean compression. And I feel like you'l just say "well they think it sounds good" but I could say the same about LA2A yet..I can also tell you about it's smooth warmth and different albums done with a 2A idk.... I guess I just want to know more than "If it sounds good shadap" Lol no but I should have titled the title differently now I feel stupid.

 

[FarBeyondMetal]

DC8C is a nice compressor because it does anything from very clean compression to very saturated and "character". It does this through different modes and individual control of the amount of saturation. Put the compressor in simple mode and switch between the smooth and crush settings and you should get an idea what the difference between clean and dirty compression is.