r/audioengineering • u/theunseen011 • 1d ago

Discussion Need help deciding Compressor

Not sure how Warm Audio is ranked , I heard they’re highly great .
But Im deciding between a Warm Audio WA76
or Warm Audio Bus Comp 2 Channel Stereo VCA Bus Compressor.
I’m slowly building a Rack mount and I got these in mind . I know one is mono and the other is obviously stereo. If you guys got other suggestions please let me know or have any warnings of Warm Audio .
I don’t mind plugins but I like to own my things.
I no longer have interest in spending money on plugins.

1 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/ScotiaMinotia 1d ago

Start with a bus comp - highly recommend audioscapes G comp or E series for mix bus. They also have a very good 1176 clone. Warm audio is okay but doesn’t use the same components.

Please do not listen to the “buy a distressor” advice elsewhere on this thread unless you are tracking live instruments or vox. That plugin is just as good as the HW for mixing, you’d be wasting a lot of money.

5

u/AHolyBartender 1d ago

Disagree. OP says they want to own their things and isn't interested in plugs. Its also not like the distressor is some super unforgiving and complex beast. I am able to push 20db or more of compression on that thing irl and it sounds good. Expensive? Sure. But it's a quality device. Nothing wrong with getting it. I'd argue more against accumulating hardware for its own sake without any actual preference or goal before trying to dissuade someone from a distressor.

-1

u/theunseen011 1d ago

Yeah I don’t want to use plugins , but there’s a warm audio VCA for 350$ near me tho , it’s so tempting that’s why I came here. It’s to make my drums fatter if that helps

1

u/peepeeland 1d ago

That’s pretty cheap for any stereo compressor with a bit of mojo, I suppose, though I have not used the Warm Audio compressor you’re referring to. Listen to samples. If it has a vibe you like, go for it.

Saw your other reply that you want a compressor for mixing— just note that workflow can be a pain in the ass. Tracking with compressors is great, though.

1

u/Reluctant_Lampy_05 22h ago

A friend of mine is on his third hardware compressor still chasing the dream of 'fatter drums' that he's heard about but because he's never put the work into understanding the fundamentals he won't ever get there.