These have yielded my best results for LEAD vocals: Waves Ren Compressor (start with Vocal preset for a singing style vocalist, the Crunch setting for a rap/rage against the machine style), C4 Multiband compressor which is great for deessing while compressing (and basically using it as an EQ), The digidesign compressor (really, this thing slams, is great for drums, and always seems to get passed by), Compressorbank, and Bombfactory's LA-2A (rarely the 1176) , and TC Voicestrip. I'd have to rank them in that order for vocals, but it always depends on the song & what you are trying to achieve. On top of all this, if you are looking for "In you face", be careful not to leave all the work to the compressor & overcompress. Do vocal rides as needed. Some vocals need more help than others. Another trick you can do that's more of an autovocal ride is to put a gate on the lead & duck it (not TOO much) to a key of a conflicting musically track such as guitar.
On Backgrounds, I'm a total Fairchild whore. I has become my new BG chain. The ren. comp, compbank, c4, and la-2a also sound great.

Hi Kevin,

Waves' Rennaisance Vox is a plug in compressor specifically designed for voice. It's not bad, definitely worth downloading a demo and giving it a try. The Bomb Factory compressors I feel are currently the best and have a slight edge over the Compressorbank.

I personally really hate the Digi Compressor plug, it has all the harshness normally associated with cheap digital audio. However, I can appreciate that for certain types of mix this maybe exactly the sound required.

The gap is closing and maybe the situation will change with the Sony Compressor but at the moment the best compression IMHO is still only available from outboard gear.

Greg

Very interesting...the fact that someone whom I assume to be neither an axe murderer nor a total sociopath has just 'fessed up to his affection for the Digi compressor plug. And, you know what? You go, guy. This truly goes to show just how subjective and Ear Of The Beholder this whole thing is anyway. Me, I won't be using the Digi comp for anything anytime soon, but I'll bet that e-cue makes it sound as good as any of us can make our personal fave sound (at least for himself...and, really, isn't that what really matters?).

Me, I usually end up with the Bombfactory LA2A on lead vocals. I did demo the Fairchild and loved it, haven't gotten around to buying it yet. In fact, the Compressor Bank Fairchild presets are probably as good as the BF, although I'm convinced that the nifty looking interface (Fairchild) really does contribute to the sonic quality.

It takes all kinds, really...

Don't forget that e-cue comes from a hip-hop background, a style of music which was influenced greatly by the use of 8bit samplers for drums. In that context, it's not surprising that he should find the digi-comp useful for drums. Heck, I've used it that way myself on several occasions.

Just because it sucks doesn't mean you won't finde a use for it. Keep an open mind. (And open ears!) :D

p.s. We don't really know whether e-cue is a murderer or a sociopath. We're too afraid to ask. hehe

8 bit samplers? How long ago was that? 12/15 years. Hip hop has not been that "dirty" in a long, long time. The digi comp does work well with snares but I prefer the Waves and Bombfactory stuff now for vocals and drums

Originally posted by Ckevperry:
What do you guys think? Maybe it's too much to ask in the plug world, but I love Clearmountain sounding vocals...solid, in your face sound. I'm just not getting there. I am using Compressorbank right now.

Thanx!

Try the DBX160/165 preset on the compressor bank if you havn't already