Which comp for final mastering?

Which Manley comp,is good for: 1.Electric guitar 2.acoustic guitar 3. Vocals?
I know its a braud question,but Ive been doing alot of home-work on compressing.
When& for what does FET,EL-OP,Vactrol comps come into use when mastering?

 

What is your question precisely ? Mastering or tracking?; (1.Electric guitar 2.acoustic guitar 3. Vocals?, FET,EL-OP,Vactrol )

If you did lot of homework on compressing, what do you think about these (one you mentioned above)? Which one you like best(depending on settings of course) ?

 

i like the manley vari-mu for (almost) everything.... including guitar and mastering....

buy one!

 

I second that

 

...but surely needs something else also.

 

I'll Third that !!!

 

Ive found the optical to have good transient qualities,.
Its for mastering,I have a semi good comp,but Im in the process of purchasing a Manley for mastering.

 

How is it on vocals?

 

you must understand..... i think it's useable for EVERYTHING!!!

try the limiter for rap vocals.... kicks ass!

of course i use other comp's.... (danfield for drums....tubetech 3-band for background vocals and ac. gui.)

but if i was to go to a deserted island i would bring the vari-mu!

 

The Manley Vari-Mu is an awesome comp and I owned one for years. I love the feel of it. It can be super smooth and can be the magic finger on the fader across a mix.

After a lot of use, the "color" of the unit became too much for me. I opted for another fantastic unit, the Millennia TCL-2. It's a wonderfully musical unit that I love the more I use it. It's different from the Manley VM but it too can feel transparent and you have more options as far as color. It has both a JFET and Tube path which sound completely different.

Great box and worth a listen!

 

Other options:

For "snappiness" try the the SSL rack or Alan Smart C2.
For great color and punch, try the Chandler LTD-2.

 

Who makes the Millennia TCL-2

 

It is Millennia Music & Media Systems in California. Look at:
http://www.mil-media.com/docs/products/tcl2.shtml

Cheers.

 

For Mastering, I'd recommend either the Crane Song STC-8 or pair of Trakkers. I lean towards the Trakker pair, because I also do tracking and mix, and find them a bit more advantageous for individual tracks (a bit more color overall than the STC-8, and they can also emulate optos, VCA's, etc).

 

Man-------you guys are giving great info on some real nice comps.
Nathan-------where might I locate info on the Trakkers,and or the Crane Song you,ve mentioned?

 

http://www.cranesong.com - The STC8M is the greatest compressor in the universe.

 

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you really like them do-ya?

 

The Alan Smart C2 is exceptionally good,I'm sooooo glad I bought one.

 

The ability to go from jfet,to tube (i find) to be a useful tool according to literature Ive read.
If you had to choose the Manley---or the ---millennia----------which one would you choose?

 

no eddies880...... the question is what would YOU choose??!!

get them.... listen.... and buy the manley..... (just kidding) :lol:

no... i meant... buy the one you like the most.... not because someone said so....