Slamming Tracks With The UAFX Max Compressor Pedal!

UA has a line-up now of some pretty awesome pedals built with high-quality components and advanced DSP algorithms to provide a wide range of vintage and modern effects with exceptional sound quality. I've been wanting to check them out so when Universal Audio reached out and wanted me to check out the MAX Compressor pedal which models the 1176 compressor and the LA-2A compressor I said hell yes..
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00:00 What We're Talking About
00:24 Before and After Compression Comparison
00:52 The 2 Compressors Its Based On
01:15 Pros List
01:52 UAFX App Is Pretty Cool!
03:00 The Cons
04:32 Jamming with the Compressor
06:02 The EQ Settings in the App help a lot!
08:12 To Compress or Compress the Compress, that is the question.
10:26 What does a compressor do in music - layman's term
10:50 Mixing with a compressor on
15:13 What was I on when i made this pattern?!
15:54 Making A Techno Banger on the fly
19:58 The hardest Techno Track i've made on the Digitakt
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I participate in affiliate link programs, which may earn me a small commission if you purchase something at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting!
#UAFX #universalaudio #digitakt

[@RickyTinez]

Double parallel compression scenarios? How so? Let's hear it!

[@truecuckoo]

How about one doing pumping with bass boost, another more smooth with highs boost? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@stanleyc.348]

Rickey! I know its not your vibe but your video content quality is too good for me not to ask, Will this pedal work for a project studio as a vocal comps. Its the holy duo of the 1176 and 2a/3a. $ 300 pedal vs 2k Could compare it to ua's plugin versions.

[@BishopEddie5443]

What was Ricky on? Lol

[@floppydisk921]

I know you know this Ricky but for anybody wondering the "sidechain" in a compressor is the circuit where the volume detection happens. If you cut the lows of your sidechain you cut only the lows for the detection of the compressor (not the actual volume signal there for reducing how much the compressor reacts to bass frequencies. Its a very normal thing to have built in on compressors and can be very useful if you dont want your compressor to crush everything when the kick or bass hits.

[@mannix8130]

Parallel compression is super dope! I use it on all sorts of things from vocals to drums to live bass! Using multiple signal paths with different compressors allows you to add different “color” as well as shape each signal separately. Then the magic is blending them at the end. Most common for me is heavy slammed parallel compression on a vocal that’s pretty low in the mix blended with a more organic and dynamic signal. That way I don’t have to compress the whole signal the same :))

[@iselinbradley4033]

I’ve been a guitarist for over 40 years and I’ve tried so many compressor pedals but they all left me flat and were noisy. I just got this today and I’m blown away! SOOOOO much better in so many ways compared to Xotic, Keeley, Wampler, Boss Waza, and several others. Well worth the price. My tone just improved by about 20%.

[@frankmendoza3232]

Hey Ricky, it was so nice meeting you yesterday and talking synths at NAMM.

[@hayleycomet8029]

use the 1176 to just grab peaks, then into the LA2A to smooth everything out -- this is a staple in recording vocals. Perfect for a bass player too, 1176 grabs all the slap bass peaks, then once they're reduced, you have the LA2A to even out the signal, you can still have punchy slap bass and fingerstyle where you couldn't really get both with one compressor

[@jamesdean5095]

That techno jam was wiiiiild. Especially love the transition from your initial reaction 😅

[@Valentine98766]

Sooo whyyyld 🫵💀

[@antoinegoeuriot4501]

Such a great dubby jam towards the end there, I love it when you forget you’re demoing something and just vibe !

[@Nosh_Feratu]

Dude, your reactions in this video are everything!! So good to watch!

[@MrMarcLaflamme]

The 1176 is the one compressor that I remember using in college many years ago. It was my fav and still is (especially for drums). The steps between the ratios are normal for this model because there are ratio buttons on the unit so they are stepped. Glad to see the ALL is included, that was the secret mode - pushing in all the ratio buttons. Can't remember exactly what it did (and I think it was even not an official feature, it just worked) but it slammed so hard. Crazy how this pedal does include the LA-2A too. I always thought it was weird that it didn't include the typical controls, only gain and peak reduction. But for vocals or an end of chain glue compressor, very nice! Putting this unit in serial running the first at 1176 to really squash the peaks then into the LA-2A to really smooth it out could make for some great end of chain. Sidechain bass filter will filter out the low end of the sidechain signal which means the signal toggling the compressor is not as weighty and results in retaining the low end more (because you end up boosting it with makeup). The con regarding knob pickup mode is a bit disappointing. Hopefully they can implement this. The only thing this pedal is missing are some gain reduction meters 🙂 Great review Ricky, and those tracks used, ooooffffff! They were nice!

[@braien25980]

Hope gain reduction comes in the app

[@JonoTheVoiceofAustralia]

They've actually built the classic VoiceOver universal Audio audio chain in one pedal!

[@eliaswarg6818]

Love how you play with the kick and the bass, both eq and transient, to "sculpt" your compression. Think I´m gonna have to buy one of these pedals.

[@diangara3298]

I've been waiting for someone to make this vid ever since the pedal was released. Awesome

[@Honeysmack]

Great demo of the pedal, thank you!!

[@williambates-minou]

Sick!!! Love your reviews!!!! Yo that compressor sounds nasty even over the phone!!!! Thanks again, beautiful stuff you are doing and greatly appreciate it! Inspiring as usual.

[@stevespacek8893]

Fun video!! Nice works Ricky!! 🙌🏾🔈🔈🔈

[@ChocloManx]

I use parallel compression on drums. One comp with milder setting to get the main, "full" drum sound and the second to slam it and add color and sustain

[@TriangleWaveRecords]

Love the MAX, it's going to be fun supporting at work! 🙂

[@truecuckoo]

Super nice video my man! This might be the one. The master stereo compressor I’ve always been looking for! Gotta get one.

[@RickyTinez]

Thanks for tuning in man! Always good to hear from you

[@truecuckoo]

@@RickyTinez any chance seeing you in Berlin next week?

[@RickyTinez]

I wish :/ Im staying stateside this time

[@eyesintheskies]

I’m torn between this and the Fmr rnc1773 basically character vs.transparency.

[@Alphonso_026]

This could be that end-of-chain pedal for my modular performance case. Definitely going to check it out! Thanks for making this video (aside of all guitar oriented videos out there). Cheers

[@Surferbro1994]

I‘ve been thinking of a similar use case with my Eurorack rig :) did you end up doing so?

[@Alphonso_026]

@@Surferbro1994 well, I went for the Golden Master pedal by endorphines. It adds more besides compression like Mid/Side stereo imaging and 3-band EQ. Really like it since you can also drive the input for a bit of extra saturation.

[@tuunbass]

Man that last jam got me so pumped, off to make some music! Much love

[@AntwaanMusic]

2 things : - I’m not really into house music but everytime i listen to your videos it’s like you take us with you, going for a trip where you just explain us anything you want with so much passion and excitement. - I’m still soooo impressed by your speed typing on the Digitakt, making me feel when I was younger and I was waking up my parents because of the keyboard noise I was making. Anyway, thanks again for your work, reaaaally interesting as usual! Take care

[@TrogodasaurusRex]

Double parallel compression is a vocal mixing trick, often in pop vocals where light compression is applied at every stage of the recording/mixing/mastering process to create a smooth but not over compressed final product

[@DaveTheSwager]

For everybody wanting to play and learn about compression I can recommend the grainstorm granular synthesizer app for Android. The payed version got tons of effects! They include a mono compressor, multiband and EQ band compression on top of that a stereo compressor. Just enable tape mode to not play your track, sample or microphone recording as grains and have some fun (just remeber to place the limiter at the end...) The granular engine is super handy to explore granular sounds Just like birds or trainstation announcements they sound awesome grained out. Thx for the video explained a lot! Wild tune at the end! 😖🔥

[@jarkokoo]

Damn dude... that jam in the end was really good! And this video (plus Cuckoo's video about Max) sold it for me. Just ordered one.

[@digitaldiezel5870]

This sounds like a great purchase! Interested!

[@bebussound7991]

very inspirational!

[@tux7k]

Sounds very nice based on what I've heard so far!

[@EZBOT_]

Highly interested in this pedal.

[@wadewilliams1892]

I love Ricky - he's one of us!

[@patfinn2697]

Jeez, I was gonna hold out and try to get Stimmings Doctron Instant Mastering Chain, but I could buy this pedal today

[@donaldferguson7777]

"what was i thinking? i mean its kinda trippy...im kinda down with it. we'll take this....uhhh. OH! actually this is kinda Pumpin! im kinda down with this! NVM!" lol best part! keep on experimenting with new stuff dude this is cool stuff, the quest for sound is not over.

[@PathOfWisdom1]

To the finish line 🚀

[@flaviuspopan]

Would love to know how you can make this pedal play nicely with the DT's internal comp.

[@braien25980]

Nice for recording in to the Digitakt, preamp + comp. After that, the filters in the Digitakt have it a little easier with the sampled material. Then the pedal on the master 🍻

[@Eltron2010]

What were you thinking? Dude, you're thinking you made a dope track! Definitely putting this pedal on my wish list!

[@cooksoni.a]

oh shit ive been looking for a comp pedal lately

[@cold_fashioned]

That breakdown was hot fire the first time! HNNNGHH

[@Valentine98766]

Haaard so harrrd HARD💩

[@tapsy]

did you turn the compressor on the digi completely off?

[@glade_maker]

Great demo, thanks! Probably been pointed out, but inversed attack and released are based on the original 1176 hardware, weird... I think one thing that's missing is a more developed visual cue to see how hard compression is working. But actually, it forces you to listen more to what's happening, which might be a good thing!

[@Standard.Candle]

Your'e a fucking mad lad. I expect to see tasteful 1176+LA-2A compression, what I get is redlining gabber LOL

[@TobyBorrow]

A bit of the old cheeky Detroit going harder and harder hey. Actually I was thinking in updates they can just add more and more too it as you could do the whole easily the SSL g buss comp on those controls easily. And many more compressor models would fit the bill

[@BlakeWalt]

Parallel mode for NY style comp would be great on drums: 1176 compressing lightly with COMP set rather high (assume it also works as a wet/dry) and a second 1176 in all mode smashing the drums but blended just a tiny bit.

[@blakekaiser87]

Any more thoughts on this compressor? Anyone grab one for live electronic performances?

[@raysubject]

wow.. what did i just watch.. now i need this urgently in my setup, thanks ricky for hurting my bank account 😂😂😂😂

[@bassface84]

Interesting!

[@stephenharvey1374]

What’s the pad on the first house track? Sounds great

[@embersandash]

I got the Focusrite Platinum Compander.

[@intrepidhibex]

That pedals looks really awesome, I just wish it had a possibility of using an external sidechain

[@totomhavehat]

Really nice to see a new comp like that, I wonder how it fares against the Oto Boom or the Analog Heat Also I didn’t know the page copy shortcut, thx for the tip

[@gullyman777]

Boum is mainly for adding analogue overdrive. The compresssor is nice but I only use my boum for my live shows. I did some tracking with it in the studio mainly on drums and vst synths but I may get this as I always use a 2a and 1176 in the studio as vst. Sounds great to have it in a hardware format but wouldn’t replace boum as it’s a different application

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

Just to add to this for anyone else comparing: I had the Boum but on my synths and synthetic beats it sounded lovely to my ear but the cryptic interface was a git in live performance and the comp was almost a secondary effect to the quite hard sounding distortions...the Analog Heat+ gave me more organic distortion/OD and a fantastic performance interface but the compressor was very vanilla...I wanted something like the Diamond Comp: warming, characterful, EQ-able, dynamic and easy to useful for texturising a live sound but in stereo and with sidechaining. The UA has that character in spades and a much more human sense of personality. It makes me think of very early Daft Punk in having the ability to do radio/broadcast compression but with the warmth and air of a Big Star 70s record...and just enough delicacy and pinch to softly lift a Trentmoller glitchfest into analog territory. For crisp, clicks, digital compression it’s not your box...for diallable Empress style studio refinement there are better...but for a rich, juicy, analogue feeling bus enhancer or live performance tool in small format and with stereo it’s currently one of very few options and is great. And I didn’t like their other boxes...far too clinical. Hope that helps someone.

[@Eightball69]

​@@Farold_Haltermeyerthis is the comment I was looking for. I have the Boum which I use end of chain live with a Modular Techno setup, but you're right about the cryptic UI, it's a real pain. The Max looks and sounds great, I'm definitely interested in getting one! ✊

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

@@Eightball69 have also found a LOT of that winning combination in the Bebe Cherie mixer ;)

[@Eightball69]

@@Farold_Haltermeyer I bet it's very sweet indeed! Kinda pricey though!

[@jacco1967]

Is it possible to link the compressors for stereo operation? So sidechain will effect both compressors to maintain the correct stereo image. Not sure about that, it seems both compressors work independently..

[@14o2music]

How did you match the impedance? As far as I know, MAX's input is HI-Z. It seems to me that you use it like Line Input. And What products did you use for MAX's power supply?

[@PandaPotPies]

3:52 giving novation UX secrets

[@MrMarcLaflamme]

Congratulations, you made me try to wipe the hair off my screen🤣

[@thesquillyexperience9442]

creative compression 🫡🫶🏼

[@leifmarkthaler7809]

Ricky finally discovers real Techno 💥

[@JohnDoe-yr5tg]

Hi Ricky if you was to go back which would you say is worth getting either one or the other the ocktatrack or digitakt I won’t to buy one just not sure which one I’d get the most out of and I know you use both

[@noelbreitenbach8673]

That thing is sick, wonder if it’s worth it to use with 404 since it already has comp

[@tapsy]

wondering about that as well!

[@johnnymandez]

SAME!

[@deaftone]

Can you set the HP filter for internal sidechaining in the app? tnx!

[@deaftone]

found it! :) Sidechain Bass Filter (FET 1176 only) The sidechain bass filter removes low-frequency content from the compressor’s control sidechain. This filter reduces FET 1176 compression and “pumping” on bass-heavy audio signals, without reducing the bass content of the audio signal itself.

[@saardean4481]

Amazing little device. Regarding the Comp 1+2 switch,,,,, does it mean that when i am switching and fine tuning i have to remember where everything is set for each compressor? Cause i don`t see any optical feedback that would tell me what value it is set to for each compressor? Or am i missing something 🧐

[@Ilikethatmusic_typebeats]

How does it sound if you just sum through the preamp with no compression

[@channelite]

Cool

[@ssef3232]

Anyone knows what it means by modeling? From what I understand its a digital plugin in a physical box, is that right? Im not hating when im using the description above btw

[@tovermoran4360]

If you search youtube for 'kush parallel compression' there's an excellent video on the glories of p.c. :)

[@marantz1]

In the beginning you compare with the pedal and without the pedal but if the pedal makes things louder, of course one's ear will think its 'better'. You really need to compare with equal output levels.

[@edwardlee8273]

He literally does this later in the video and says “of course it will sound better when it’s louder”

[@marantz1]

@@edwardlee8273 just isn't a logical way to start things off.

[@kevindewinter8235]

Nice competition for EHX Platform. Is Max, 32bit floating?

[@lundsweden]

Hey Ricky, love the channel. This seems like a really great sounding compressor, but I'm thinking louder stuff always sounds better. Compression makes stuff louder (on average) so how does this compressor rate compared to the inbuilt Digitakt one? Or other compressors? No doubt this one would sound better, but I'm curious.

[@christianwheeler8386]

No link to pedal

[@insidestraight4659]

I know we are meant to use our ears etc, though I would find it difficult to use an 1176 or LA-2A without the meter.

[@PorchBass]

The led is giving you a bit of metering though?

[@eternalvernal1286]

​@@PorchBassI didn't notice until you mentioned it. This is a big deal for me. You sold me on this because of your observation. Thank you! 👊👍🙂

[@dovgoldman3078]

The app includes a gain reduction meter as of v1.13. This was a go-no go issue for me - I’m used to a pair of analog compressors, and those meters are crucial for dialing in the sound for me.

[@djjimmskeedjjimmskee1231]

I’ve been playing with idea of using this for vocals in my head. I’m not sure how or if it’s possible. Any thoughts anyone ?

[@eternalvernal1286]

Me too...Its perfect. Just run your auxiliary out on your mixer into it and then return it into your mixer. 👍

[@daemeonation3018]

Ok. I am building a DAWLESS synth setup here in Shanghai. Hard to find stuff unless it's made in China and the shopping apps are in Chinese. I just found this one for $350 US.

[@zzkjbry7490]

For authentic techno suck and pump get a s/h 3630 it is real analogue with side chain and costs 10% of that UAFX pedal you can upgrade the buffer opamp for cleaner sounds with head room if you want more pro. Sorry that pedal is never going to be an LA 2a or 1176.

[@iancain6647]

[@romi2910001]

If you sample parts of the song and focus on compressing those samples the way u want them, you avoid the compression issues you get when trying to compress the entire song together imo..

[@wadeteo8282]

Got mine today, green led never goes yellow or red...with major signals...any ideas?

[@willjam3068]

Update the firmware, they added meters

[@wadeteo8282]

@willjam via the Bluetooth app? I done a factory reset of the pedal too...I think its version 1.2 something...still nothing, maybe I need to do through USB

[@willjam3068]

@@wadeteo8282 yeah update via usb

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

All sounded so great, even the interface was speaking my lingo...then "in the app" comes in. And it's over. Bummer. Why couldn't those options just be interact dials or secondary functions :(

[@henryhill92]

I understand why a guitarist would want to use this live, but for studio musicians it makes very little sense to me. It's literally a few UAD plugins in a box, but unlike most hardware, the controls are less immediate because of the app. If you're in front of your DAW, just run your gear in and compress in the box with way more options and ease. Analog compressors I understand owning in hardware, but this just feels like an unnecessarily expensive and awkward to use plugin. Also, gotta be honest, it sounds like shit in this context. An 1176 completely eats all the bass when used as a mixbus compressor like this, it turned these tracks into flat, pumping messes. It really needed to either have the sidechain filter on, or have the kick uncompressed on a separate track. It'd be far more useful in this context if they added something like the SSL Bus comp or the Neve 33609

[@illegalgiant_]

there is a comp in the digitakt though :( ive never loved it but im sure it could handle A LOT of this

[@Dekkie61]

Yeah was wondering this too

[@tapsy]

wondering too!

[@eyesintheskies]

Just wish they’d given a stereo option, but still very nice

[@eyesintheskies]

Have just realised it is dual stereo 🤦🏻 I’m in!

[@thinkognito344]

nice, could use it for a quick home master...

[@kyivnewbachdad1017]

We need techno creations back bro! This track 5 sample - trippin me as fuck...)

[@Dekkie61]

Loved the video, but somehow YT served me 4 big commercial blocks in those 22 minutes, so it almost becomes unwatchable. That is not the standard, right? Does anyone know how this works, like, do they now know I like Ricky's videos and try to capitalize on this? Anyway, I am looking for an compressor for my (our actually) live setup, so we'll def take this one into consideration

[@minimal3734]

Adblock for KZbin works for ne.

[@RickyTinez]

Interesting! Thanks for the heads up Dekkie. Let me take a look at the backend.

[@chambre466]

very hi note

[@miguelmikemigs]

So I like the low-end from the 1176. Putting a 2a after that would exagerate that even more when all i want from the 2a is maybe the top end sizzle or the low-mid bloom at the transient. Parallel gives me the characteristics I like from both without them having be too much. I use it on the Mixbus "sometimes" when I'm trying to be delicate. It makes sense for the unit to have it since it's already stereo.

[@miguelmikemigs]

That was a really awesome demo man! I'm most of the time a guitar player but your use case is so compelling!!!!

[@billyellis4149]

Thinking of trading my deep6 for this…

[@crowfoot7355]

Sago Ricky

[@ChumpyDumps]

God…. I won’t ever buy non-eurorack effects ever again but Jesus UA makes some of the sexiest looking pedals.

[@Kyle-xk4ke]

Care to explain why you're against non Euro effects?

[@iancain6647]

​@@Kyle-xk4ke once you start building a rack, it's silly to spend money on things that could build up your rack but don't. That would be my reason.

[@DwsLuthierandAudio]

digital the specs say. I don think there are any analog circuits. I think this is plug ins in pedal format. You can now get the plug ins for less. Makes sens if using a daw. This pedal only in reality makes sense for live purposes. Outboard gear that you can have in plugin in your daw just slows workflow

[@hoagy_ytfc]

Quite a lot of hiss on the talky bits of this vid, just FYI Ricky e.g. around 2:30

[@iancain6647]

Usually it's on point. That's weird.

[@blakekaiser87]

It’s from the compressor

[@PorchBass]

Filth at the end there. Makes you wonder about a real 1176!

[@ILLUDIUM_Q_36]

Try running it in serial before you write ✍️ it off.

[@GizzyDillespee]

He explains why he doesn't run it in serial at 2:27

[@henryhill92]

@@GizzyDillespee Running it in parallel would have made it sound much better in this case. Running one compressor much softer to let the transients and bass still come through

[@nostandingonlydancin]

He says that he does run it in serial “because who wouldn’t want to compress their compressor”

[@smmmyes8807]

I wish people who demo gear with a drive function actually crank it, not just slightly turn it up. Let's hear how it can blaze :)

[@DELLUEdotCOM]

good demo... would've been great if he didn't talk over it so much. but still I'm sold

[@dandman2k11]

parallel compression is so 2010

[@MrThecarrott]

Bro use less ratio so we can "hear" it 😜

[@mollirodhaet7224]

Tell me you have no idea how to use compression without saying..

[@mastaboog749]

Cool cool I've been wanting a UA product and I've been wanting to compress some live vocals and drums in my jams. Reserved on zzounds. That track at the end was something else

[@decapitateallcops3214]

When the drum beat stoped in the first sound example the music got louder. Why? Is the compressor not dialed in correctly?

[@decapitateallcops3214]

@@MatthewHyatt but records don’t sound like that

[@patfinn2697]

@@decapitateallcops3214 depends on the record. Usually when a limiter is used a whole mix you find a balance so it doesn’t do that and basically amplify your noise floor, but Ricky is pushing it much farther, because he can, and it’s cool.