Optical vs. FET compressor

[Raydar]

Hey, Harvey.

Welcome aboard.

I'm going to pile on a few questions before the rest of the world finds out you're here. ;)

I'm wondering if you could provide your opinion on the pros/cons of FET-based compressors (a la Toft ATC-2) vs. optical compressors (as in the Joe Meek Twin-Q)?

( See... keeping it relevant to the board. :D )

Which would be more flexible as an all-around comp? Which would be better as a "effect" type comp? Two-bus comp?

Thanks.

:cool: Ray

[hargerst]

FET compressors are usually faster and less colorful. Not a hard and fast rule, but the optical types react a little slower and tend to be a little smoother.

[Justin Hyatt]

Ray,
You're in Harvey's forum so there's no need to keep things relevant to our products; we like talking about all the gear too :D

[Alan Hyatt]

FET compressors are usually faster and less colorful. Not a hard and fast rule, but the optical types react a little slower and tend to be a little smoother.

Harvey is correct. FET Compressors are also much faster attacking compressors. Opticals tend to be a bit slow. FETs are smoother and have more control...Opticals are very colored, but very aggressive when needed.

Both are very good for a slew of applications....

Good to see Harvey back here! :)

[Raydar]

So which type would you prefer for a stereo bus application, or perhaps a little DIY mastering?

:cool: Ray

[hargerst]

Hard to say. I like the idea of a slower optical compressor on the stereo buss to smooth things out just a little, but not hit so hard that the coloration becomes noticable.

[Alan Hyatt]

Hard to say. I like the idea of a slower optical compressor on the stereo buss to smooth things out just a little, but not hit so hard that the coloration becomes noticable.

Funny how techniques differ sometime...I prefer a faster compressor on the buss..One with not much color. I prefer to put the color onto the track when I need it there. I do not like to hit the mix to hard, but enough to control it and maybe just sprinkle a salt on it...but it has to be the right amount based on the song.

There are times though a thick fat tone on the stereo buss is a wonderful thing.

[hargerst]

Probably because I usually track everything as clean and dry as I can, then add color where needed in the mixdown. Just a different way of working - both methods will getcha there.

[Alan Hyatt]

Probably because I usually track everything as clean and dry as I can, then add color where needed in the mixdown. Just a different way of working - both methods will getcha there.

Agreed...What ever it takes to get there works... :)

[Raydar]

When doing a two-stage compression,
is it generally the softer/slower compression first,
followed by a limiter to catch the peaks/transients,
or the other way around?

:cool: Ray

[Warhead]

Ray, generally if you're going to run two comps in sequence you'd use the gentler one first and set the second to clamp down on peaks for sure.

The Toft ATC-2 does the fast clamp thing very well (FET).

War