Best DBX 160 plugin?
Best DBX 160 plugin?
Looking for a good DBX plugin, what are your suggestions? Comparing Waves, UAD and Arturia right now (although I know Arturia is modelled after a different one). From what I hear now Waves and UAD are similar, but the UAD seems to have more presence, Arturia is similar on the auto attack/release mode, but has a longer release then the previous two. Also, when you turn off the auto attack/release on Arturia it sounds very trashy on drums which makes it unusable, while on other instruments there's not so much distortion. Also, regarding harmonic content, ranking from cleanest to the most saturated they are: UAD -> Waves -> Arturia.
What is your favourite one and why?
What is your favourite one and why?
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
I presume rather than talking about "dbx" (flavour of Dolby), the OP actually means the dbx 160A compressor.
..............................mu:zines | music magazine archive | difficultAudio | Legacy Logic Project Conversion
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
Sorry, yes that's what I meant, not sure why I added the A. I have the UAD one and always liked it, but it's DSP-only so I'm hoping they port it to native.
The Arturia one is a different model by the looks (165A), and I generally don't like Waves most of the time. So my preference is the UA one, personally.
..............................mu:zines | music magazine archive | difficultAudio | Legacy Logic Project Conversion
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
There are so many dBX compressor models, all supposedly based on the original 160-VU — or more specifically its use of the 'Blackmer VCA' — but all different in so many ways...
The 160VU (from the mid-70s) is unusual in the long line of dBX compressors in that it had a hard-knee response. The 'over-easy' soft-knee characteristic that everyone associates with dBX compression wasn't introduced until the early 80s in the 160X.
The 160VU (from the mid-70s) is unusual in the long line of dBX compressors in that it had a hard-knee response. The 'over-easy' soft-knee characteristic that everyone associates with dBX compression wasn't introduced until the early 80s in the 160X.
- Hugh Robjohns
Moderator -
Posts: 40004 Joined: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:00 am
Location: Worcestershire, UK
Contact:
Technical Editor, Sound On Sound...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
(But generally posting my own personal views and not necessarily those of SOS, the company or the magazine!)
In my world, things get less strange when I read the manual...
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
You don't say what you're going to be compressing and why a DBX, but I'll suggest the Waves BSS as an alternative. Lots of options. Good snappy, punchy fun. ![Smile :)](./files/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I was always happy to see those rather than DBX units a few decades ago!
![Smile :)](./files/images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I was always happy to see those rather than DBX units a few decades ago!
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
Here's two layered Synth Bass I shaped to be aggressive using dbx160 bundled with Logic to cut through a beefy EDM piece I'm working on.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/165Bbcw ... 6dg2Y/view
https://drive.google.com/file/d/165Bbcw ... 6dg2Y/view
-
- tea for two
Frequent Poster - Posts: 3712 Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2002 12:00 am
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
How do you view hard knee soft knee compression. Does it matter? Whats your approach?
Thanks
Thanks
-
- mountain lion
Regular - Posts: 180 Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:00 am
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
muzines wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 2:20 pm
Sorry, yes that's what I meant, not sure why I added the A. I have the UAD one and always liked it, but it's DSP-only so I'm hoping they port it to native.
The Arturia one is a different model by the looks (165A), and I generally don't like Waves most of the time. So my preference is the UA one, personally.
There is a native version of the UAD DBX 160 compresor.
- ore_terra
Frequent Poster -
Posts: 1073 Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:56 pm
Location: Seville - Spain
Contact:
casmoestudio.com
..............................mu:zines | music magazine archive | difficultAudio | Legacy Logic Project Conversion
- ore_terra
Frequent Poster -
Posts: 1073 Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:56 pm
Location: Seville - Spain
Contact:
casmoestudio.com
Re: Best DBX 160 plugin?
RLC 79V2 is a free DBX 160 simulation and it works very well.
https://psychocircuitry.com/rlc-79.html
https://psychocircuitry.com/rlc-79.html
-
- Stratocopter
- Posts: 1 Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2024 3:48 am