Top 5 Compressor Plugins For HUGE Drum Sounds

[@Purafied]

Thanks for showing and mentioning the LED Compressor. Really glad you've enjoyed working with it! Really appreciate your support!

[@BetterMixes]

Thank YOU for making badass plugins!

[@jamescassidy4045]

The Omnipressor is def one of my faves. The negative ratio's you were showing here are actually some of the coolest negative ratios as far as plugins go that I've been able to find, (Super Clicky, and demolished sounding), and it sounded pretty cool blended in, but honestly I think this one shines with the regular ratios, and the expansion. I find this is the perfect compressor to use after the usual suspect in a chain, when you've already got all your Compression dialled in, and where you want it, because it's great at shaping the envelope, and just giving you that little bit of extra energy, or spit, and just pushes things forward in a really nice way without changing tone too much, or over compressing. It's almost like a cross between a TD, and a Limiter/Compressor. When used aggressively though it's def got it's own sound/box tone. Also just wanna add, I'm actually not sure if that part under the infinity to one symbol are Negative Ratios, but they sound like it to me lol. The way the interface is labelled is a bit weird, and makes it look like the Comp is in that section, but I'm pretty sure the Comp starts at the 1 or 1.5, and behind that is the Expansion, and below the Infinity is Negative ratios.

[@BetterMixes]

Yeah, I definitely need to mess around with the expansion settings more on this one! I haven't had it TOO long yet, so I'm still exploring all the sounds in it. I'll definitely try it out as a "finisher" at the end of a chain like you described on the mix I'm working on tomorrow!

[@jamescassidy4045]

@@BetterMixes Yea bro, there's so many different sounds/characters in this one, definitely a tweaker as you stated. I mainly stick to the 1.5:1 to 8:1 ratio's, and Im pretty sure those ratio's are the regular Comp section, though Im not sure if 1 is to do with the expansion, or Compression. On another note, and totally aside from the Expansion, this actually has a feature where, when using it as a Compressor ( and accessed by the Gain Limit Knob) where the VU needle goes below zero, and I dunno fully how to describe how it sounds,(Eventide calls it Reverse Compression), but I've got some really good results using that as well. It's def become one of my fave Plugin Comps, because It's like the equivalent to a Surgical Mastering EQ lol, but when used subtly, you can just get that little bit of extra (whatever you need) without it sounding over cooked. Let me know how it goes! Oh, and my 7 Pin Cable for my Lauten LT-321 Horizon is coming soon, so I'll be able to record some demo's with it soon.

[@BetterMixes]

Nice! Yeah, I was really liking the 1.5:1 setting when messing with it today. I wonder if the reverse compression thing would be like upward compression? I wasn't thinking about that when I was using it today, but thinking back, it might have been doing something like that at one point...I really need to sit down with the manual for this one at some point! 😆 And keep me posted on that Horizon mic! Definitely still curious about that.

[@henrikhansson1]

I love my hardware BSS DPR-402 for smashing drum rooms and other stuff. Although I don’t really like Waves they have a pretty good plugin version of that compressor that you should check out! I also use 1176-style compressors in all buttons in mode of course… :)

[@BetterMixes]

Nice, I'll have to try that one out! I MOSTLY try to steer clear of Waves, but you've got me curious enough to at least demo it! And yeah, you can never go wrong with an 1176!

[@stevejhkhfda]

Subbed, I thought I knew all the drum slammers and wasn't expecting much from this video but I was pleasantly suprised with your choice picks which I agree with you on all....plus it gave me a couple of others to try (LED and Level-Loc low). Check out this sleeper - the Melda Audio MTurbo Comp. the $25 LE version is great with a ton of functionality and I think its one of the punchiest compressors in digital realm. I got it extremely close to a hardware Distressor. Also - the Waves EV2 channel strip has a great overdrive tone and SSL type comp...

[@stevejhkhfda]

PS Kiive stuff is good but I found the Boz Compex to be punchier than the Kiive one...

[@BetterMixes]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked my picks. I trying to throw in at least a few that weren't too obvious/might not be on people's' radar. I'll definitely be giving those ones a shot! The MTurbo comp looks really interesting. And yeah, the BOZ digital one is killer. That was my secret weapon on snare for a long time. I'm still kinda deciding where I like the BOZ more and where I like the Kiive one more. Both are cool, but definitely different!

[@Axeltab]

Hi Mike, if I'm not mistaken, i read in a comment that you currently no longer use the classic NY parallel compression on a separate channel. So, what compressor/s do you use on the drum bus to dial in and then blend it with the mix knob? Happy Holidays, Cheers!

[@BetterMixes]

Hey! Yeah, that's correct. For a good while now, I've been using the Kiive Xtressor on my drum bus mixed in at like...35% or something like that. At least that's what I start with. Sometimes I'll swap it out for something else like Devil Loc or now the Kiive Complex, but it's still the Xtressor the majority of the time.

[@Axeltab]

@@BetterMixes Perfect Mike! Do you use the Xstressor with "similar" parameters to those of Eric Valentine or Nolly for example? Have a nice day!

[@BetterMixes]

@@Axeltab I can't remember for sure what Eric's settings are, but I THINK I ended up with a kinda hybrid between his and the settings Neil Dorfsman would use when I'd work with him. 6:1 ratio, high pass and bell boost in the sidechain, 10ish attack, 3ish release.

[@Axeltab]

@@BetterMixes Awesome! Mike, I'm trying it and i have to say i really like it! As default, I use Sam Pura's Drum Bus preset, which if I'm not mistaken should be very similar to Valentine's parameters! Thanks for the advice and Happy New Year!

[@BetterMixes]

@@Axeltab No problem! I'm glad you dig it! And yup, Sam's setting should be pretty much the same as Eric's/

[@steveweilhart2359]

Slate Monster is great for parallel drum buss comp

[@BetterMixes]

Oh yeah, that's a really cool one (especially considering it's free)!

[@annarosencrans2986]

Never was a fan of anything habing to do with Sam Pura. Hes a snob and his mixes are muddy

[@EvilBlakey]

But his plugins are insane, especially the compressors

[@vladpetrovsky8674]

Most of all I liked “I use” Who are you??? David Pensado? Brewis Swedien?? Have you ever heard the sound of good drums? Who needs what you use??? )))

[@BetterMixes]

I mean...if you thought this was going to be all about Dave Pensado's favorite compressors, maybe you should try his channel? That's kinda on you. But as far as if I've ever heard good drums...I've recorded Jack DeJohnette, Jason Bonham, Nir Z, Tony Smith, Will Calhoun, Slim Jim Phantom and tons more, not to mention drum tech-ing (and even building drums for) multiple platinum records sooooo....I've probably heard good drum sounds once or twice 🤷‍♂️

[@shalevvered3323]

lol very rude comment. Who are you? The person that you’re watching his video for information. Just enjoy the person’s knowledge or shut the f up wtf