Taking part to an old thread...
I have both, Wes NgBusComp and Bettermaker Mastering compressor. I also have other highend comps and have had a bunch moe.
I like both Wes and BM very much and wouldn't let either one go.
About Wes vs. BM:
I think both of these are on the cleaner side of things if you don't use the harmonics functions, just the way I want them to be. I wouldn't call them sterile or thin though...Both are very musical units and can add nice punch, glue or "VCA snap" to the signal. I haven't compared NgBusComp to an old "real" SSL G but I did have an SSL XLogic G Comp which for my taste was how Triton92 describes NgBC, sterile, thin and boring sounding "too clean" compressor with way too high price tag compared to the results. Before these units I had ADesign Nail in my 2bus for years and that also is a cleanish sounding device. In my world clean sound doesn't mean bad...The real mojo for mixing doesn't come from a single piece of equipment, just my personal opinion of course. I wonder if Triton92 used too much THD in order to make his mixes hit harder... The end result many times is just the opposite...Higher THD values round out transients and while adding some grit and character take away from the real punch and snap.
I've ended up using the BM unit in 2bus most of the time...NGBuscomp with Iron and THD features is a perfect drum bus comp in my world...Without Iron, snappier transients, with Iron a bit rounder but still punchy sound.
So much options and the sound...Well, it just works! Also compared to full mixes, compressing only drums, you can use the THD functions much more "wildly" with great results. The only thing I really sometimes miss is a separate sidechain filter for the THD function...Like the Emphasis button in Overstayer MAS devices so the lowend wouldn't "ruin" distortion when used in big amounts.
I've also used Ng for acoustic guitars and really love the results...
The reason I chose the BM unit for 2bus over the Wes is it's precise release control with BPM display... Now that I have total recall for my whole 2bus, I've started to match release times to project tempo...makes a huge difference. This is something none of the real SSL clones can do since they only have a few preset release values.
Despite this I've also of course tested NgBusComp in 2bus. I have no complaints about the sound. I was able to make fat punchy mixes, no probs.
Hope this helps.
Thanks
