anyone converted the sslComp to a dual mono compressor?

[dramadisease]

would it be worth it? im looking for a good compressor design that is CHEAP in parts but GREAT in sound. (isnt that what alot of people want?) so i thought maybe the ssl in dual mono?
thanks!
-bryan sours

 

[Svart]

that would be a great idea for a new layout if someone was willing. For now, though, just populate one channel on two boards. voila!

 

[dramadisease]

ive used the actual ssl comp in an 4 or 6 thousand - cant remember! i think it was a 4 anyhow - liked it alot but i dont need a buss comp i need a good allround comp that i can use on pretty much anything - though i plan on having an la2a at somepoint for bass (just my home setup nothing too fancy..)
maybe i should sit down and try to hack it myself! haha

 

[gyraf]

As Svart says, it would be the easiest approach to just use the PCb as is, leaving out components for the second channel.

And even then, there would be little more cost and effort in building the whole stereo version, and just using one channel when you need a mono comp. It works well on bass and some types of vocals.

Having the stereo unit also allows you to comp things like stereo-mic setups and drum subgroups.

I really don't see a need for a mono version...

Jakob E.

 

[matthias]

maybe another advantage when you build it as dual mono...
you have 2 individual sidechains !!

if you process a lot of stereo material you have a better
and wider stereo image... am I right ??


mat

 

[gyraf]

Nope. Stereo imaging won't be better by using dual-mono, but stereo tracking will possibly suffer.

The reason why we made the clone with a summed single sidechain was to avoid the tendency towards "tilting" the stereo image when compressing heavily. We did the sidechain-summing trick to our SSL4000 desk back in the old days, and I implemented this in the clone as well.


Jakob E.

 

[sismofyt]

Interesting that you did that to the 4K at Feedback. I would have thought the original sidechain network would be a great sonic part of that bus comp?

How does the original work? It use the the loudest channel, right?

Just curious...

 

[gyraf]

No, it compresses each channel individually, I think.

 

[sismofyt]

But then it's not a stereo/bus comp :? :?:

 

[DrFrankencopter]

SSLtech can totally explain this better than me, but here goes:

I'm pretty sure the original SSL does an individual sidechain for each of the 4 channels (quad compressor), and then does a diode summing of the CV signal, and busses the result to all 4 audio path VCAs. It's a subtle difference from how the Gyraf summed to mono SSL clone works. Think about what each one would do on a purely left panned signal with a common threshold setting.

Cheers,

Kris