chrisdoremus wrote on Thu, 10 February 2011 00:45 |
The tube tech is the only other one I know of. |
SafeandSound wrote on Thu, 10 February 2011 13:33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It also seems a little overpriced based on it's components IMO listing at Post by: subvertbeats on February 10, 2011, 07:10:31 AM
^^ This. I love how this box can so easily make abrasive, harsh highs smooooooth... Post by: Gold on February 10, 2011, 10:35:08 AM Post by: Macc on February 10, 2011, 11:37:56 AM
Agreed - though it was this box that changed my way of thinking on that. It's just nothing like what one usually thinks of when thinking of a multiband (ie, the standard 5 band plugin). It's a powerful musical tool, allows you to do stuff and work in ways that I haven't had from anything else (multiband or nay)... and it sounds the bollocks. I don't think of it as a multiband at all. As it happens, the other day I was blathering on to some similarly-boring ME friends in an email about how happy I was with my compression options. I got called out as I totally forgot to mention the MLA-3 - I just don't see it like that at all! Post by: Phil Demetro on February 10, 2011, 12:02:51 PM
Hey Chris, change this thread into whatever you want - the compressor is sold! But I see the MLA3 appreciation society has already shown up to scatter cover the damage! I tried the great sounding Tubetech MB but already use CL1B's here...too much of the same flava. Get a MLA3 - you'll love it! Post by: Gold on February 10, 2011, 12:07:50 PM
If you are talking about the Waves one, the only good setting I've ever found for that is bypass. Same with almost every other one I've tried. The only other one that sounded good to me was the M5000. I'm sure the Sys 6000 is good but I haven't tried it. If anyone used the same language to slag wide band compression they would be laughed at. Uhh, which compressor are you talking about? Post by: Viitalahde on February 10, 2011, 12:14:07 PM Haven't heard the Maselec, but I trust your opinion it's something else. In the past, I've heard nothing but bad MB compression, and from there comes the fixing mentality. Post by: Macc on February 10, 2011, 12:40:38 PM
Not in particular... just the generic ubiquitous 5-band plugin jobbies. I like the UAD MB between 100 and 200Hz. Not heard the TC. Not sure why I mentioned that.
Post by: SafeandSound on February 10, 2011, 02:00:40 PM Post by: dietrich on February 10, 2011, 02:30:55 PM Post by: TotalSonic on February 10, 2011, 02:51:36 PM
I have the UAD Precision MBC as well and got to say I really can't stand it's gui - and even its sound is fairly mediocre to me (although certainly better than Waves C4). I used to use the Sonoris Multiband Comp (which unfortunately is only available in SAWStudio native version right now) in preference to it when I was desperate - as I felt both its sound and gui was better than the UAD or Waves options - but since adding the ability to radically eq the sidechain of my broad band comps it's been ages since I've wanted to use a multiband comp on any track I've received. Paul Gold has spoken highly of the MLA-3 to me though - so definitely curious to check it out sometime (although I am certainly not desiring of getting any more gear lust at this point though! - as this year's new studio toys budget is already spoken for with figuring out a cutterhead and amps solution for my Fairchild right now). Best regards, Steve Berson Post by: urm eric on February 10, 2011, 04:00:15 PM
Ahem! Post by: Macc on February 10, 2011, 04:05:27 PM That better? Post by: Ruairi O'Flaherty on February 10, 2011, 10:08:30 PM Post by: mcsnare on February 10, 2011, 10:56:42 PM
Phil you're such a gear playa. Love 'em and leave 'em. Dave Post by: dave-G on February 11, 2011, 10:59:30 AM
Runner up to John "Tiger-Woods-of-EQ" McCaig, I think. Post by: lowland on February 11, 2011, 11:09:42 AM
I resemble that remark. Post by: dietrich on February 11, 2011, 11:31:28 AM List shows I bought 5 EQs, sold 4 and had loaner of yet another. Post by: no1uno on February 11, 2011, 03:59:51 PM
same as above. I used the M5000 w/MD2 a lot in its day, now gone and replaced by modern limiter algorithms, and so was quite accustomed to the strength MB brings to the chain. MLA-3 has been a similar workhorse in the analog processing chain. In fact, I'm quite happy with the entire MEQ-2, MLA-3 and MPL-2 chain. That chain could stand all by itself with nothing else around and accomplish most anything needed (but what fun would that be, variety is the spice and all that...) Using the band gains as shelves is very cool when appropriate, especially when striving to get the low end in hip-hop to hit hard, lifting a vox to be up front or taming a painful high end. I would hate to work without a -good- MB compressor available but a -bad- MB should be avoided like a bad dentist. Post by: Table Of Tone on February 14, 2011, 08:26:59 AM If I do use another EQ (not a Maselec), I tend to put the MLA-2 after it. A very different animal being optical. The MLA-3 is a great just being used as a "Baby Steps, Broad Strokes" EQ, when very little is needed on the mix. For me, too many Maselec pieces in the chain at once, start to sound a certain way that's hard to describe. Lot's of "No Colour" but in a bad way to my ears. That's why I only ever have one Maselec piece in the chain at any one time. Then it's fine! The same goes for the console. Although it's meant to be transparent, (and almost definitely measures so) I find it has something unmusical about it. Many will disagree but that's just my take on it. Post by: jdg on February 14, 2011, 12:59:10 PM
phil still wins Post by: Ben F on February 14, 2011, 06:27:24 PM
I'd agree. I find the MEA-2 (Ver 6) has a softening effect on the sound (especially on low end) and also sort of flattens the image. I though the compressor had better bass but still flattened the image and had that kind of 'clean but boring' sound. Kept the Tube-Tech SMC 2B that comes in handy on a rare session, I like the way it grooves along, and have enjoyed the sweet midrange and low end on the tube-tech gear after many years of use. Post by: djwaudio on February 14, 2011, 09:31:33 PM
It's the kind of thing where the wrong settings sound bad, but find the right setting and it's magic. It took me a while to come to terms with that. I used to want to turn it on and sound amazing, while I put my feet up on the desk but no gear can do that... =P I've found the MEA-2 and the MLA-3 compliment each other very well, but it's all about the settings. Keep tweaking lads. |