Which Compressor Do You Use for Parallel Drums?

[Rayzorxbass]

Hi All,

I’m just learning to create drum tracks using DP9.5 MIDI editor, and Addictive Drums 2 as my virtual instrument.
I want to send the Kick, Snare, Hats to an AUX bus for parallel compression, but I’m not sure which compressor to use. I’m a big fan of the FET76 that I use for bass tracks, but there are others I have like the MW compressor. I’ve also heard good things about the Waves SSL compressor.

So what compressors are you using for drums? Any suggestions are appreciated!

RayK

[HCMarkus]

For the super nasty: Devil Lock Delux from Soundtoys, but a little goes a long way! The "Darkness" control is useful in this application, and there is a mix control that is nice if chaining Devil Lock in series with other buss processing.

[kwiz]

For the super nasty: Devil Lock Delux from Soundtoys, but a little goes a long way! The "Darkness" control is useful in this application, and there is a mix control that is nice if chaining Devil Lock in series with other buss processing.

I like the Devil Loc Deluxe as well but when I'm looking for that squashed but punchy sound, I go for UAD's API 2500! You have a lot more control over how clean you want it to be. Sticking the Devil Loc behind it and dialing in some of the "Darkness" is a nice touch as well.
If you don't have either of these, try experimenting with the DP's FET 76 and then stick the PreAmp-1 after it and dial in some saturation and some additional compression if you want. PreAmp-1 is a sleeper IMHO. I use it all the time for coloration on certain vocals, and 808 bass.

[HCMarkus]

Love the shout-out for PreAmp-1, Kwiz! It is easy to forget about older stuff that may have a less exciting GUI, yet still do great things with audio. Thanks for the reminder.

[Rayzorxbass]

For the super nasty: Devil Lock Delux from Soundtoys, but a little goes a long way! The "Darkness" control is useful in this application, and there is a mix control that is nice if chaining Devil Lock in series with other buss processing.

I like the Devil Loc Deluxe as well but I'm looking for that squashed but punchy sound, I go for UAD's API 2500! You have a lot more control over how clean you want it to be. Sticking the Devil Loc behind it and dialing in some of the "Darkness" is a nice touch as well.
If you don't have either of these, try experimenting with the DP's FET 76 and then stick the PreAmp-1 after it and dial in some saturation and some additional compression if you want. PreAmp-1 is a sleeper IMHO. I use it all the time for coloration on certain vocals, and 808 bass.

Hey thanks for the tip about the Pre-Amp1. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed that one in the plugins list.
Any thoughts about the Waves SSL compressor? I’ve heard good things about it as well.

RayK

[MW1]

I'm using this... sounds great

https://babyaud.io/i-heart-ny-parallel- ... ion-plugin

[Tritonemusic]

PreAmp-1 is a sleeper IMHO. I use it all the time for coloration on certain vocals, and 808 bass.

+1.

PreAmp-1 is underrated.

[kwiz]

Yeah, we all take some of DP's plugins for granted because like HCMarkus said, "It is easy to forget about older stuff that may have a less exciting GUI, yet still do great things with audio."

If you click that little icon on the bottom of the PreAmp plugin, the GUI gets a little more exiting...lol
I own thousands of dollars worth of plugins and I've found that most of them don't get used as much as I thought I'd use them. I'm fortunate that I've received a lot of them for free due to beta testing opportunities and endorsements. SideNote: If you ever see me post about third party gear or plugins that I use, I REALLY do use them. I don't fake the funk and I can't stand for people to endorse things for the sake of money or notoriety and are not sincere in their testimony[s] (Rant over)

With that said, I remember Magic Dave stating a few years ago that he used DP plugins almost exclusively in most of his projects. That intrigued me so I took a deeper dive in what the stock offerings were, and was pleasantly surprised on just how good DP's stock plugins really are. I think if MOTU did some GUI updates much like what Waves recently did and maybe added a couple of new plugins, DP, as a whole would get more respect in the market place. Like it or not, we all like to see shiny new things.

Back in 2017 I did a NAMM presentation for Motu and had some great convo's with some of Motu's finest and discussed having the option of being able to have "Ableton like" capabilities in DP. I'm not saying that I was the originator of that idea, but now we have the ability to trigger audio and MIDI clips!
Motu, listens to their customers; always have and I'm proud to be a DP user. I believe that it is the most underrated DAW in the industry. No DAW is perfect or has ALL the features that we'd like to have, but DP is real close IMHO. I own ProTools, Logic Pro, Studio One 3, Reaper, Reason, and Ableton. I have them all because I'm a geek and a software/gear slut. With that said, I make 95% of my income using DP...

[kwiz]

For the super nasty: Devil Lock Delux from Soundtoys, but a little goes a long way! The "Darkness" control is useful in this application, and there is a mix control that is nice if chaining Devil Lock in series with other buss processing.

I like the Devil Loc Deluxe as well but I'm looking for that squashed but punchy sound, I go for UAD's API 2500! You have a lot more control over how clean you want it to be. Sticking the Devil Loc behind it and dialing in some of the "Darkness" is a nice touch as well.
If you don't have either of these, try experimenting with the DP's FET 76 and then stick the PreAmp-1 after it and dial in some saturation and some additional compression if you want. PreAmp-1 is a sleeper IMHO. I use it all the time for coloration on certain vocals, and 808 bass.

Hey thanks for the tip about the Pre-Amp1. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed that one in the plugins list.
Any thoughts about the Waves SSL compressor? I’ve heard good things about it as well.

RayK

Rayzorxbas, I wouldn't use the SSL compressor for parallel compression due to its limitations. If I were going the Waves route, I'd go for the API 2500, the the HCOMP, or any compressor that will allow you to drive the input hard which in turn creates "saturation" and makes the comp react aggressively like the DBX 160. I personally have gotten great results from the HCOMP. You can't drive the input but the "punch" control and the wet/dry mix make it a nice choice for parallel comping drums.

[Phil O]

I have some UAD stuff so my go-to for drums is usually their 1176 emulation (but I use others as well). MOTU's FET 76 has a similar sound and is a close second IMO. If you need a fast compressor get the Rocket from Stillwell. Attack time as low as 5 microseconds (yes micro). It also has an external sidechain input. https://www.stillwellaudio.com/plugins/ ... ompressor/ It's 50 bucks.
Don't forget about MOTU's oldies but goodies, MW Compressor and Dynamics. Just because they look clunky doesn't mean they sound that way.

Phil

[rawrooo]

I've been using the brainworx Acme Opticom plugin lately, it's amazing for this application. I'm still in the honeymoon phase with it though. But yeah, lots of pumping and saturation which is often good in parallel situations.

SSL style bus comps are a good choice for this too yeah. Though on drums I'll usually use SSL style as an insert rather than in a parallel way. Another brainworx plugin that is great for this (on an insert) is the Townhouse compressor. No, I dont work for brainworx lol, I just like their stuff. Really easy to get good tones from the Waves SSL bus comp too. Also Fairchild and 1176 style is great for this. You mention the UAD 1176, I love my UAD's but IMHO their 1176 isnt the most useful one out there, YMMV...

I'll also recommend checking out Eric Valentine's videos on Youtube where he uses the Fabfilter Saturn plugin for these types of things.

[Rick Cornish]

You might want to check out Rob Chiarelli ParallelDrums ($19). Simple and it works.
Description at https://www.finalmix.biz/guides (scroll to the bottom)

[Kurt Cowling]

Maybe this is a case of using it because I have it, but I like PSP Vintage Warmer. It has a mix knob so parallel compression is easy to set up and no worries about possible timing differences between to the two signals. Just put it right on the drum sub mix (or Master Fader if you please).

[Rick Cornish]

Maybe this is a case of using it because I have it, but I like PSP Vintage Warmer. It has a mix knob so parallel compression is easy to set up and no worries about possible timing differences between to the two signals. Just put it right on the drum sub mix (or Master Fader if you please).

That’s a nice plug. I use it on my master buss.


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[lito]

For a "Kick Ass" Drum-Parallel-Comp, the Valley People Dyna-mite from UAD (avalaible from Softube too ! ) Otherwise, with the API 2500 or Distressor, you can't do a mistake