i've got a Vertigo, but it's in my mastering rig which is about to be in a different studio.. and because of my patching layout/console the mixing and mastering systems are quite separated.

currently i'm mixing through a Fatso, which i really like, but dislike the lack of true threshold control (even though i have a little custom threshold box that Empirical made me).. and on top of the RND 542 the fatso coloration may be too much...

the Hyperion is also on the mix bus and i adore it's clean sound and recall ability ....

i got this from the friendly folks at Wes when i inquired about the two:

"So when it comes to SSL-thing – ngBusComp is true Quad VCA, where _DIONE is single VCA per channel – it will be a difference in behavior when it comes to distortion, but technically – this is not really something like day and night difference. Headroom is actually quite a difference as this kind of design reacts to the maximum level clipping very badly, narrowing stereo field – ngBusComp has 26 dBu which means it is 2 dB higher then most professional interfaces capacity"


i'm a bit confused by the headroom sentence.. but is he implying the NG is much better in regards to headroom?

i'm *sort of* (maybe?) leaning towards the Dione, just for it's more straightforward simplicity what i'm looking for. but don't want to miss out if the NG is way better in terms of sonics.

Picked up an NG bus compressor a little while ago and I’ve had quite a few high end comps in my rack over the years. Simply love this thing my search is finally over.

but why manufactures put the left & right meters so far apart is the issue with a lot of these master bus processors. Should be side by side.
Absolutely no one can watch both the meters on the Ng at the same. Ok well maybe Steve majors bionic man.

I've tried some days ago ngBusComp on bus of my electronic track to look what it can do

Is it about the ability to overload converters easily?

And next one... Little extreme this time

This is about the "distortion" the design incurs when used with signal above headroom (26 dBu). Pointing out that its extra 2db available headroom makes it easier to avoid the clipping artifacts.

Not sure why this video isn’t getting some love. Even through YouTube you feel the life and bounce of the track every time you remove bypass. Really nice.

OK, I'm the guy who started this thread...
Still very happy with my NGBC. It's my goto drum bus compressor...No probs using it in master buss but somehow I just feel it's special with drums.

-- Mikko

It’s so odd… I’ve been on the rabbit hole for quad VCA style bus comps and pretty much have been running into pretty much two scenarios. Affordable clones that might be okay, or going extreme with Vertigo’s VCA-3.

Until I realized the potential with this device. I was very reluctant to even consider the Wes audio route because I don’t want to get an analog device that puts resources into digital controlled software connectivity. I feel like there are too many compromises and cuts in cost etc, by the time a device may actually get it working.

Feature wise… this thing blows everything else I’ve seen out of the water. Just the metering alone is better than anything else I’ve seen..

After being on the EQ rabbit hole and seeing the stark contrast between mastering units that have Elma switches for perfect matching and costing $10k, I’m wondering why Wes Audio hasn’t come out with an EQ that has the same level of accuracy by matching thing’s perfectly, yet cost half the price. Or less!

Being able to link channels, yet also having the clear visible feedback on the other side, so it doesn’t feel lop sided.

SSL BUS+ for instance. The controls seem uninspiring. You stereo link it and half of the unit goes dead. The bells and whistles seem hidden away whereas the NGbuscomp invites you to try with switchable transformers and variable THD control. Not too busy yet not feeling like they just threw in a couple random features as an afterthought

And I don’t even factor in the digital recall aspect.. not interested in it now. But might be down the road if we are so lucky to get good continuity from these technologies

I’m sure people see me posting a lot about gear, but I can assure you, I have been big nasty slut lately. Have bought a lot of tools and still looking for a good mixbus option for my pro-Sumer special. Almost finished constructing the acoustics of my studio (working on that today)

Sonically nothing comes close to the Vertigo and I’ve been through them. I love the Wes stuff though so would like one of these for features.

I suppose getting a place to allow me to demo both units and send one back, might be the best option.

Wes Audio has something going with the way they utilize transformers and distortion and I hope they make more stuff like this (EQ) but don’t overdue the same features like RND seems to with their texture and silk

Alright - this it's two in post of one.

First is drums:

Second is vocal:

I’ve had quite a few comps - the Wes audio for me has been the best of the bunch.

Is the ngBusComp better than the Bus+?

Currently in the market, and I'm a little torn. Sadly can only afford one.

There’s a comparison vid or two out there

Is there really? Unfortunately I was not able to find any.

I'm actually looking for comparison videos of NgBusComp and SSL Bus+ as well. Did not find any on YT either.
Having said that, Wes Audio summer sale is on now so I'm 99% sure I'm buying the Ngbus comp next week :-) I already own a Titan rack, a Rhea, 2 Mimas and have a Prometheus coming soon so I'm familiar with WesAudio gear.

Still would be nice to hear the ng comp vs SSL bus +

A while back I did a personal shootout at home between the RND MPBII, NG Bus Comp, and the Bettermaker Masting Comp.

Obvs the RND and Bettermaker are specifically mastering compressors, and I indeed found them to have much more in common sound wise with each other than the NG did with either of them.

With an existing mix I found I could shove the RND and Bettermaker at the end to improve the mix without affecting its whole balance. The NG drastically altered the mix and stereo image in a 'pinched' way thinning way I didn't like, and didn't respect the low end of the source material. I tried for MANY hours to get the same kind of pleasing results I got from the RND/BM with the NG, couldn't even get in the same ballpark. Tried all 3 on the drum bus, same thing - even the iron options didn't help me get anything out of the that box I couldn't entirely live without.

I use a Wes Rhea when mixing ALL the time to add a bit of saturation and lift, usually bended in parallel. I have 2x Rhea now, as love them on drum bus too! I have 2x Mimas too, that am saving for a rainy day and haven't been using much yet. thought of a Dione, but my experience with the NG put me off.

maybe all that proved is that I prefer Mastering style compressors and Vari mu's for mixing, and that the classic SSL sound is not for me - But thought I'd share these results.

RND vs BM, RND sounds a shade better, sounds amazing down low without use of filters, and I love how RND sits a snare in a mix in a way that makes it sound great without muffling it, but the BM had recall and a load of other useful features I wanted, so sold my RND and have a BM now.

Are there any other manufacturers who have adopted the ng500/Open System from Wes?

Interesting I had the complete opposite feeling with the Rupert Neve master bus against the Wes. I guess subjectivity will remain the biggest thing when evaluating gear. the Wes Ng is special with the iron feature and THD knob puts it over the top. I find the silk features on the Neve to be somewhat artificial sounding over time - at first when u engage silk it cool but then it starts to have this artificial feel as I sit there with it. The comp is very capable but does not have the mojo of the Wes Ng. I guess if your looking for a more transparent comp it would be the Neve we’re the Wes has this great imprint.

Transparency isn’t it at all - there wasn’t anything the NG could do to replicate the HEFT of the low end of the RND, and how it effortlessly enhanced, nothing close regarding of using any of the NG’s saturation options. After Rhea giving me a LOT instant joy, the NG was a huge disappointment to me, i didn’t get anything out of it i liked after many hours with a demo unit.

I wanted recall, BM had that, and was in RND ballpark sonically so i sold the RND slightly begrudgingly, but BM has been working well for me.

This is why i say it’s subjective - I found the RND had no real heft unless u over do the silk features which started to sound smeared and artificial- I found the Wes with
Iron dialed in even half way gives a lot of weight. Inhale and have had quite a few high end comps and the Wes Ng is my go to on the Master Bus. If someone is mastering can see the Rupert neve master bus as a positive as it does subtle real good. But for heft and mojo it’s kind of vanilla for me and from many other online comments u may heat the same about the RND. However I stand by this is purely subjective -

We’ll have to have to agree to disagree on this one. Without silk my RND had a Nicki Minaj low end, NG was more Ally McBeal with all saturation options attempted.

I had to use sidechain and saturation on the BM to get close to the RND, it got 85-90% of the way there.

I think the NG as I understand it, is intended to be used as a traditional bus compressor, where you would get the best results mixing and gain staging into it.

I’ve been using the Dione as my mix bus compressor for years and it definitely does not narrow the mix.

I have tons of Wes and absolutely love it. I’d like an ngBus and I’m sure I would benefit from it. I just have SO many comps already. Im really excited to get mixing with my Leveller again.

Do you know if the leveler and other Wes gear has the saturation before or after the gain adjustment or output volume?

I’m not sure but I imagine volume will be manipulated after any effect.

How are you guys using it for mastering?

I tend to leave the transformers off.
M/S mode.
THD on mid around 25%
THD on Side around 25%
Mix on both Mid and Side around 50%
Max Attack. Shortest release.
Highest ratio on both M & S.

P.S.
A little birdy told me that a new plugin with a modern UI is on its way.