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anonymous 24 April 2002

Was doing 'cabaret' or Ben Folds Five, style piano today (a synth), LOTS of slammed down hard chords, in a jazzy rock track, the stereo Joemeek (SV3?) I have made a nice round 'crushed' sound..

I also used it on Di bass..

I dunno, I was going to sell it, cause it is 'weird' and not used so often.

Any one digging Joemeek compression?

On what?

Describe the benefit!

:)

Comments

anonymous Wed, 04/24/2002 - 18:32

Hello,
I have the JoeMeek VC3Q and I love it.. It doesnt seem to work well for anything but vocals. The s's are very harsh so i just turn down the high's all the way but it still sounds good. It gives a nice analog sound... If you think there is way better what should I get for a reasonable price???? Thanks a lot

Tyler

anonymous Wed, 04/24/2002 - 19:12

I have a JoeMeek SC2.2 that I LOVE on the drum sub mix!
The input knob on a Meek compressor is VERY important.
For instance, on a drum sub mix, set your attack and release as fast as possible.
Compression to 5, slope to 3.
Now play with the input to add the amount of grunge you want.
The difference of the input from, say, 7 to 8, is large.
The dark button on the SC2.2 is GREAT!
Very heavy...(When the Levee Breaks..)
Meek RULES!!!
Peace.
Carmen
:w:

drumsound Wed, 04/24/2002 - 21:10

I have an SC2.2 and also like on drum sub in the right instances. I think it works best on slow to mid tempo songs (for drums). I produced an album that I wanted to play drums on a certain song that was mid tempo with a decent amount of space and color. I played it knowing what the Joe Meek would do to the drum sub. It sounds just like I wanted it to, kind of fat and squishy in a good way.

Here's a link to the song
http://2likeminds.com/mp3s/2likeminds_i_woke_up.mp3

The Meek is an all or nothing type unit. I either like it or hate it on whatever I patch it into.
:w:

anonymous Thu, 04/25/2002 - 15:08

I'm totally digging Joe Meek compression! I have an SC2.2 and just picked up a C2 for a couple more channels. I wouldn't use anything else on snare drum. And my second favourite use would be on electric guitars in line after the distressor (micpre-EQ-Distressor-Joe Meek-A/D) for a bit more colour. I like it a lot for busting up pianos as well, and have also found it works really well for some background vocals. It lives in my rack with a UA 1176, Crane Song Trakker, Distressor, Drawmer DL241, and a couple of RNC's (and of course the C2!). I use my Trakker and 1176 the most, but I'd say the Meek gets as much use as my Distressor!

Brent

anonymous Fri, 04/26/2002 - 02:47

I have a JoeMeek VC1Q wich I use alot!

When I'm doing in-your-face-rock-vocals, I use it with slow attack and pretty quick release.
(i don't use the pre for vocals... A bit to dark, so most of the time I use my Trident Sig2 as a pre, with the meek for compression. However, sometimes on a thin-sounding singer the Meekpre comes in handy...)

I also use it when tracking rockguitars. (solo's and rhythms) Most of the times with medium attack an fastest release! (Slope 3 with just 4 dB's of GR). If the band has two guitarist, I tend to use the MeekPre only on one of them, and a different pre on the other. But the MeekCompression on both!)

Besides that, i sometimes use it on basses, and I tend to use it on Kicks when i want a big boom....

And yes it can work pretty cool to get that squashed piano sound

anonymous Fri, 04/26/2002 - 20:56

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.

planet red Fri, 04/26/2002 - 21:45

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.

anonymous Sat, 04/27/2002 - 00:28

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

Guest Sat, 04/27/2002 - 05:21

" 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!

:)

Mad John Sat, 04/27/2002 - 07:18

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! :( :p

Mad John
Zythum Studios

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

Guest Sat, 04/27/2002 - 09:59

I bought an SC2.2 on impulse after reading a magazine article that said it was as good as anything out there for tracking snare drums. Sometimes I use it, and sometimes I don't. I'm sure the main problem is I haven't taken enough time to carefully experiment with it, because so far, I can't clearly conclude that I like my snare tracks better with or without it.

Part of the problem may be I'm still not fluent in Meek-speak (slope? dark mode?)

anonymous Sat, 04/27/2002 - 23:00

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.

Guest Sun, 04/28/2002 - 05:18

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 :)

Mad John Sun, 04/28/2002 - 07:19

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

coldsnow Sun, 04/28/2002 - 17:17

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.

planet red Sun, 04/28/2002 - 18:14

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 bus 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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