Tube-Tech SMC 2B Multiband Compressor Review

[@fernandoboin3265]

Seeing you adjusting this multiband compressor on the fly was a very valuable lesson to me! Thank you very much. Cheers!

[@vonotebook]

Thanks a lot for the audio examples

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Great to hear they are being found useful

[@sailorsaturn_]

curious to know where you are going to use it in your chain. does it have a true bypass?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

I won't be getting this version. If I was getting one I'd choose the mastering version which is stepped. This was brought in to demo and try out to see if it fits my workflow. I would use this in my chain after the SPL iron compressor.

[@KacyDennis]

Very nice demo. I would love to hear about what role in your studio you plan on using this unit for. (Meaning, in which situations would you use it; which problems would it help solve; and what enhancements to your sound do you expect; etc.)

[@CT-ho6si]

he's going to use it for multiband compression

[@KacyDennis]

@@CT-ho6si Of course, that goes without saying. But "when" would he be using multiband compression, and with this particular unit. As the well seasoned pro engineer and a savvy businessperson that he is, I'm guessing that he had some fairly specific reasons/needs for buying this particular unit. Like with the Neve Master Bus Transformer he primarily uses it for the Silk saturation, as I recall.

[@danielkisel5661]

Really lovely peace of gear with fairly subtle but pleasant tube coloration. Btw. do you still have and use that Freqport freqtube USB saturator? What is your opinion about it after some period of time do you still find it a good value, is it being used even during mastering or you wouldn't recommend using it on the masters and rather just on individual elements? Thanks for all the comparisons they are really useful and keep up the good work! Cheers!

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

When I got the freqtube I loved the idea and really enjoyed the forward thinking approach it had. I used it a lot but eventually it got replaced by the blackbox hg2 which is better but at an obvious price difference. Now the blackbox has been replaced by my own design on the Hendy Amps Michelangelo XL. The freqtube doesn't get any use in this studio anymore. But that's not to say it wouldn't be a great addition to other studios. Mine just got replaced with something better. I'm the first to be open and honest about a piece of equipment. I'd have used it a lot more if it had an analogue IO.

[@danielkisel5661]

@AudioAnimalsStudio thanks that's a perfect answer! I'm primarily in the box, and HG-2 isn't something I would consider at this point. I have most of the high-quality plugins like Softube Weiss series, Tube-Tech, Acustica Audio, etc. I'm planning to eventually go hybrid, probably using 500 series. Would this Freqport add something which high-quality software can't or doesn't offer at this point in time and would it be worth as quick first piece to go hybrid, or I should forget about it, save up the cash and just buy something like Neve542 or WesAudio Rhea (I don't have the IO and rack for that for now) How big of a difference in sound quality is there from HG-2 compared to something like Freqport? You mentioned it is pretty much on the same plane as Vertigo saturator. Is the 65V good enough for those Freqport tubes? Sorry for all those questions, just really curious about products like Freqport. I'm wondering how much would it add going from fully in the box to hybrid starting with something like this FreqTube and adding other pieces of gear later? (IMHO I'm not really into SSL Fusion as one stop shop that drive and couple other sections need some redesign, so thinking about bit more custom route) Thanks for all your wisdom! Cheers!

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

@danielkisel5661 one I would recommend looking into for your workflow is the Mcdsp apb8 or apb16. These are very good. I use a mcdsp 8 in one of my mastering studios. And I want to build 5 into this room soon. The hg2 is better than the freqtube. Which is why i switched. Did I really say that about the vertigo saturation? I may have done but I'd consider the vertigo at a level above the freqtube.

[@kristosvidinakis]

Great.. how close is the Softube Version?

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Very close if you ask me. Check the plugin vs hardware review here kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpOvi6qde7edpJosi=znVC5NNwiPkvCsVx

[@simeonmatthews4584]

I know Wes Audio are bringing out some new stuff. But I’ve been trying to convince them to build a digitally controlled multiband compressor. Maybe with some extra features like dynamic eq etc. Of all the digitally controlled compressors a multiband is the one that would benefit the most from having digital recall. With so many parameters. Maybe you could bend their ear 😊

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

Yes, this would be very useful and I think it would be the first digitally controlled multiband compressor on the market.

[@miguelseabra5834]

Holy shit

[@johnisrael5183]

MAN, your always reviewing something 80% OF PEOPLE at home that produce and engineer cannot afford

[@AudioAnimalsStudio]

I review the equipment I buy and use, or equipment I'm thinking of buying such as this product. Which is always good quality equipment. Everyone else reviews the more accessible products. We stick to high-end audio products.

[@LOADTRACKMUSICART]

I have the mastering version; it's really good hardware, but I prefer my Elysia Alpha compressor.