Hiya, I can’t afford any of the awesome stuff like a Portico II MBP or a SSL Fusion so I know it risks being counterproductive, but if there are any budget 100-500$ bus compressors that ppl have enjoyed, id love to try a few budget options. ideally looking for something capable of subtle compression or just adding a bit of mix ‘glue’ to a variety of genres - orchestral, electronic etc.

Thanks so much.

Maybe an RNC 1773 or RNLA 7239; another one for Glue would be a used WA Bus-Comp.

You could. try FMR audio , dbx, Artpro audio, Joe Meek.

I have all 4. I will eventually buy a showpiece.

I mainly have these on a 2.1 ratio which is very subtle and unobtrusive.

I have a Polyend Press pedal coming over next week.

I mainly have synth workstations and drum machine/ Pads.

Find what works best for you.
Even look for a good second hand piece on reverb or any market place or even a cash traders/ pawn shop.

Cheers

These are probably a little bit more than your budget but imho it’s worthed to take them in consideration:

If you can solder get this:
The link audio g bus comp is very well made and layed out.. so it’s no too difficult to make. (you can ask Kevin at Link Audio how much does it costs to have it put together.. although defies a bit the idea of diy )
here’s the link to link audio
https://www.linkaudiodesign.de/produ...compressor-kit

or look for a used tk audio BC1-THD (or even new).. or one of its iterations..

Stam Audio have a new SA-4000 MK3, and the pre order price is 990$.. next batch is for november 2024..

Or you can find an Elysia Xpressor 19” rack used for about 8-900 euros.. about half that for the used 500 series version (in case you have a 500 series rack already).

I’d try to not go lower than that.. these are all pretty good, or even excellent, pieces.. I don’t think it’s worth getting something cheaper..

I hope this helps,

howdy

Cheu

Thanks for this. The Bus Comp looks GREAT just a bit out of my weak-sauce budget at the moment haha. Do you have a preference for either the RNC 1773 or RNLA 7239 for bus compression? Thanks!

Thanks for this, yea, I'd likely be using a similar workflow. Have you tried any of the Meek stuff? I remember looking at it but getting confused as to which model might rule and gave up lol. Yea I'd likely be using something similarly subtle in terms of ratio.

Thanks for these great suggestions, yea the Stam Audio stuff looks AMAZING, defo wanna get one if I can afford to one day!

Likely going into sketchy territory but these are some of the more affordable ones I've seen in used stores recently, any recommendations among these for subtle classical/electronic bus compression? Thanks again!

Lexicon MPX200
Focusrite Penta
Focusrite Platinum Penta 2ch
DBX1046 quad
DBX1066
DBX 166XL
GoldenAge Comp-54
TC Triple C
DOD 866ii
RNC 1773
RNC 1773 E

Build one yourself: https://www.soundskulptor.com/en/dyn...00-series.html I have one and it's super good.

Check if you can find a Drawmer 1968 used or a Drawmer DL241 used..

From that list I might give a try to the Focusrite Penta.. it look horrible, but they actually are quite ok, especially considering their very low price.

The comp54 could be quite “notceable” for a mix, although it has the side chain part that could help....
and for a mix you’ll need to be quite careful imho..

howdy

Cheu

One thing my helpful colleagues forgot to ask:

If you can´t afford one of the above mentioned, can you afford proper conversion?

Otherwise the whole project is counter productive and you´ll actually be much better off getting decent plugins for the job...

There are busloads of plugins that sound better than those...

Hi, try to find a klark teknik dn500, or a junger d01/d02 or accent.

budget analog signal processing is bad analog. digital runs circles around it.

save your money, stay digital, and then buy proper if/when you are still interested in analog signal processing.

the 500 series SSL bus compressor is quality, and is not that much money in the grand scheme of things. don't settle for less. save and wait.

thanks mate, yea I lucked out a few years ago and got a lynx hilo for 800$!

I have to agree with gearstundent above, who suggested to save some more and get a better piece (like the ones I’ve mentioned in my previous post, which are not far away from your intended budget)..

try to find a used one.. it will be a better investment, instead of getting a 300$ piece, and then a year later the piece your really wanted/needed..

Buy once but good..! It will save you money in the medium/long run (like you did with the hilo).

I hope this helps,

howdy

Cheu

I have a High Voltage 4000-G, SSL copy type analog unit.

its good and does what is expected. if you tickle it over, with 2 or 3 db of gain reduction (peak) its fine.

I don't know what the second hand value would be in 2024.

possibly over your budget.

Most SSL clones don’t sound better than their best counterparts in the digital realm.

That’s what I call luck, indeed.

Nevertheless, even some decent analog gear can be replaced to 99% in digital these days.
Let alone budget pieces.

I have this old Ashly CL-52E I like to pull out now and then for shiggles. You could probably get one used off Reverb for 100 bucks. It does something I'm not sure can be fully replicated with plugins. The clx-52 is a latter unit that still falls in the general budget range on the used market.

Xpressor 500 - used fits your budget & is very versatile.

Which hardwares and plugins have you compared?

You might give the Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor a go. At $50 bucks is does a really good job. I'd much rather use it than some WA or KT junk.

And for you hardware snobs, I have 81 rack spaces filled.

Not listing all the SSL Comp plugins I own but my favourites are:

TimP L-Bus, Cytomic The Glue, DMG TrackComp, Pulsar Modular P11.
The last 2 can obviously do a lot more than the SSL thing.

I owned or tested several Gyraf GSSLs with That or DBX (gold and black can) VCAs, IGS, Stam, Smart and a few more.

No.

I was using the first version only but I think ART Pro VLA II is also good for 2bus comp.

Audioscape ssl clone all day

For 500 bucks, I´m all in

Let´s not forget, the topic of this thread is not "my favourite SSL comp".

Like mcgilroy mentioned before, for the OP´s budget a used Xpressor 500 will most likely be the best VCA you can get, unless you find a nutcase who sells an Audioscape or a Smart for that price (maybe the guy who sold the Hilo for 800$).

I've read some praise regarding this cheap n cheerful unit. Seems like many people love it somehow..

are you working itb?

then there is exactly ZERO reason to insert a cheapish analog toy and to leave the digital domain!