Finally found something the Joe Meek compressor sounds

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2002 4:44 pm

hehehe!

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2002 9:56 pm

Quote:

hehehe!

You know how to get the discussion going Julian.

FWIW, I like my VCQ1cs with a RODE NTV in front of a kick. On VO work it can be really nice with the right voice. I just mess with the settings, they make no sense at all if you try to compare it to what you would use on anything else though.

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2002 10:45 pm

Not like it counts at all, but i just used the joe meek sc2 bomb factory trial thing on a bass track, and nothing ive ever used has been able to break up the bass in such a pleasing way. It was pumping and huffing but sounded really cool in the mix. I'm definetly getting a sc2.2, soon since i can pick one up cheap.

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2002 1:28 am

Man, I love my Meek VC1Qcs. One of the best investments in a long time. The preamp is a little dark but in use with a bright mic like my TLM 103 it sounds awesome. Very smooth, not a trace of harshness. And the compressor is to-die-for. With the gentle slope for Vocal Compression (which sounds very similiar to a LA2A, especially with the right attack and release settings) and slope 5 for everything that needs to rock...I use it on Vox, Drum rooms, Bassguitar, acoustic-guitar and every once in a while for the kick too (if I am recording a band that doesn't need that clicky Metal Bassdrum sound). A great unit. I'll get my hands on the SC2 too in the not too distant future.

Best,

Markus

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2002 6:21 am

" i just used the joe meek sc2 bomb factory trial thing on a bass track, and nothing I've ever used has been able to break up the bass in such a pleasing way. It was pumping and huffing but sounded really cool in the mix. "

I found my brief time on the BF Joe Meek copy plug in to work in exatly the frustrating PITA way the real units operate!

Smile

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2002 8:18 am

Howmany here believe that the Joe Meek line is anything as to what the real Joe Meek was useing?

I dought if the electronic specs match, but they certainly do a good job of makeing the public believe that they are buying into what has been discribed as "The Meek Sound!"

I actuwaly had an SC.2 for about a week and I did not care for it. I bought it thru a company that turned me on th the Empirical Lab band wagon and I have been rideing that familier Gravy Train ever since....tastes pretty good!

Got Meek? No! Sad

:p

Mad John
Zythum Studios

"The present day Composer refusese to die!" - Edgar Varese - 1921

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2002 6:20 pm

Hey John Thomas,
I just got a FATSO JR. Still trying to get use to it. Kinda weird how the warmth stuff works, I'm having trouble hearing that much of a difference without the compressor on. Any suggestions?

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2002 8:09 pm

I use my SC2.2 on drum subs alot and I love it on heavy gtr's. On occasion I like to use it as a 'mix push' compressor. I take a mult of the 2 mix and send it through the 2.2 then tuck that back under the un-compressed mix. It's not always appropriate but when it is... it is!

Tim L

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2002 12:00 am

Quote:

Howmany here believe that the Joe Meek line is anything as to what the real Joe Meek was useing?

Joe Meek was an innovator, JOEMEEK is a line of inexpensive brit audio gear. The similarities end with the spelling of the name, whether it be one word or two.

That said, it can be cool stuff to fool around with and find a unique sound. I wouldn't want to work with any of it as a sole option in the studio, but my VCQ1cs has payed off big time on a couple of occassions. Like UTS I've paired it with a TLM-103 successfully, as well as with a RODE NTV as I mentioned earlier.

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2002 6:18 am

I have one too...

I suggest that you dont get too hung up on the compression, that's not part of the tape sound you should have bought it for!

In bypass set your levels to the DAW or digital recorder, then engage the warmth (only) section... try dialing in quite a lot (passing 'pinned') and get quite a lot of the top row lights shooting back to the left on loud high frequency transient parts, then hop along through the warmth settings till the annoying digital / cold / scratchy sound has disappeared to your satisfaction, hit bypass often to double check correct level to the unit & that the sound IS in fact an improvement! You have to keep fine tuning the inputs (& therefore outputs) to the unit..

It IS subtle, percussion & acc gtr are real easy to 'test' it on...

Acc gtr can sound scratchy, leaving the pick hitting string noise louder than perhaps the not from the instrument! The FATSO JN with 'knock back' the HF scratchy sound and reveal the 'body' of the guitar sound.....a massive relief to anyone that has recorded on tape!

In order to make the Fatso double well as a compressor AND tape sound 'warming unit' you have to learn how to futz around with a side chain trick, described in the manual or on line... personally I find that rather Smile

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2002 8:19 am

Coldsnow,

Firstly what is your set up and how are you useing your Fatso jr? Is this a different unit than the Fatso?

I have 2 Distressors and I absolutly love em! I fine most of the time I do not use them as a limiter per say, but as a tonal enhancer! The Distressors have a quility that raises the brite end of the material (as well as the low end, especialy w/the Brit mode!) and gives a amplified clarity if you will.

In mixdowns I have had slendid sucsess with combineing the very sexy Distressors silky qualities to that of the Manley MU Compressor (w/newly replaced Tubes from the company that are vast improvements of the originals when it comes to low end!) and the 2 together are absolutly magical, but I stress Coldsnow, that you want to be discreet w/ your aplications!!!

The fatso (if being used on a mix) should not be louder than your bypass position. Remeber it always sounds better loud and that is freqently the greatest mistake that people make when useing compression to drastically change the material.

Keep your Fatso sutle and you will probably be most happy with it. I understand (I think) your delema. Many folks figure, "Hey, I spent alot of dough on this thing. I just want to be able to hear what differebce it makes when engaged!"

Also a good thought to keep in mind is , do you really need the Fatso in "this" situation? Dont try to fit it with everything, but rather get to know it as well as you can and expirement as much as you can and if you are subtle in most cases, I think you will find that you have an excellent tool there!

By the way, how did you know that I am refered to as John Thomas? :confused:

Mad John
Zythum Studios

"The present day Composer refuses to die!" - Edgar Varese - 1921

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2002 6:17 pm

Quote
By the way, how did you know that I am refered to as John Thomas?
I guess I just assumed because it was the name that shows up on your post.
Anyways, thanks for the input, very good stuff.
By the way the Fatso Jr. is the whole name for the Fatso. It is the same thing. And really it's more of a distortion box than a compressor, although it does have a few pre set compression settings. I don't think it is something you would use on vox (truthfully, I have prefered other compressors to the Distressor on vox as well, mostly an 1176). But I have noticed that the settings don't usually sound that different in isolation but when I bring up the mix it really makes a difference on guitars and drums. Again, thanks for the input.

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2002 7:14 pm

Yeah I've been getting the hang of my fatso. To use the compressor and warmth settings it also has a lot to do with how much you turn the output of whatever you have in front of it. I normally like maybe 4db of warmth on guitars and just a couple db of the buss compression to even some stuff out. So between using the output of my pre and messing with input/warmth section of the fatso im able to get the right amount of compression and warmth.
I definetly think its really cool and helping everything i do by a lot. Sometimes its not always in the sound, but in how the songs 'feel'. They feel a lot smoother, and a lot easier to listen to.

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