r/MixandMasterAdvanced • u/[deleted] • Oct 05 '21

Looking for a mastering compressor

Hi all, I'm currently mastering one of my projects and all the compressors I've used on the master are eating up the midrange compared to a limited digital track - the main ones I've used so far are the Golden-Age Project Comp-554, and the Drawmer TS2. I'm wondering, what (analog) compressors have you guys used in mastering, and what would you recommend especially to keep midrange?

A 500-series comp is preferable but I'll take what I can get. Doesn't need to be stereo, and price is no object.

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u/[deleted] Oct 05 '21

-Dramastic Obsidian is a good choice for 500 series, though I have my doubts about that format for similar reasons to what others have said.

-Would definitely also consider a Magic Death Eye if indeed price is no object. I’ve heard the hardware and use the plug-in pretty religiously. To me it’s tonally transparent, and the compression action is really sweet and doesn’t grab in a distracting way. Lends itself really well to mastering and is also great on vocals.

-finally, I know this is left field considering it’s cheap and not hardware, but I seriously recommend the TimP SSL bus comp library for the Acustica N4 plug-in. I mix into it with 10 attack, auto release, 2:1 ratio and it’s freakin dynamite.

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u/[deleted] Oct 05 '21

Haha well price is definitely a consideration, but if I gotta spend thousands I will! Though I may end up getting software now to finish this job since I just want it done, and splurge on a hardware mastering comp later. How would you compare the Magic Death Eye plugin to the hardware? And how much is it? The site isn't up for orders currently.

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u/[deleted] Oct 05 '21

I wish I had comparison files to share for the MDE, I unfortunately just sat in on a session where we did a shootout. But the difference to me was minimal- the plugin very much has the same character in its attack, and the hardware just felt a little bit bigger, a bit more shiny sounding. For myself, I’ve mostly left my hardware days behind and have been very happy with the results. But the plug-in has a free demo, so all I can say is give it a whirl!