If you have been following me for a while you’ll know that I love mixing through my analogue master bus chain.
It gives my mixes the glue, punch and energy we’ve all come to know and love on our favourite records.
Over the years, I’ve mixed many great sounding records such as Aerosmith, Ace Frehley, The Fray, and most recently the new Rick Springfield album though my go-to processors: A pair of Pultec EQs and a SSL Bus Compressor.
While there are many other great bus compressors out there, this chain is widely considered some of the best equipment by many a-list mixing engineers. It’s not cheap – these units have a combined value of well over $10,000 – but it sounds absolutely fantastic!
Now why am I telling you all this? To have you drool over gear? – Heck no, I’ve got something far more exciting for you!
Today, we are going to put up the Tegeler Audio Crème Bus Compressor/EQ up against one of the best stereo bus chains in the world!
– That’s $1,700 vs $10,000 of equipment!
The Crème combines a Pultec-style EQ with VCA Bus Compressor modeled after (have a guess ;-)) all in one unit.
To make it a fair comparison, I’ve chosen very challenging source material: A highly energetic, loud and dense Rock/EDM mix of the song ‘Warrior’ by Kayden Kashmir, which I produced and co-wrote with my good friend Liana James.
I was absolutely blown away by the results of this comparison: The Crème adds amazing punch and glue, without muddying up the low end or dulling out the mix. The mids and highs are transparent and clear and open up the track beautifully.
You know I love my Pultecs and SSL Comp and I’ve been using them rigorously for many years. But believe it or not: At least on this particular song and mix I actually preferred the sound of the Crème! Tegeler are giving my trusty gear a run for its money, if not even the sound!
Am I going nuts? Check out the video and judge for yourself! You can download all of the samples we printed of both my Pultec SSL chain, as well as the Crème, so you can make your comparisons in the highest audio quality possible.
I’m beyond excited to be able to give away a Crème Compressor/EQ to YOU, thanks Tegeler Audio!
P.S. Even if you aren’t lucky enough win this giveaway, every participant will receive steep discounts up to $200 on all Tegeler Audio products including the Crème. You can only win by participating in this giveaway!
You can also request a free 14 day trial of the Crème Compressor Tegeler’s website!
Please enter the giveaway by taking the suggested actions above. Remember: The more actions you take, the more likely you’ll be to win. Good luck.
Warren Huart
If you have any questions about this giveaway, please feel free to reach out to: [email protected]
Download The Comparison Audio Samples:
Interesting. I was just looking at a snippet about a compressor they have built with motorised pots! These guys are definitely doing interesting stuff. It does sound very good, so here’s hoping I win the raffle!!! 🙂
Thanks very much @plap-disqus-c75b6f114c23a4d7ea11331e7c00e73c:disqus!! You Rock! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Thanks Warren for another informative video, nobody out works you that I can see. We live in amazing times my friend we have rovers running around on Mars, cars that drive themselves, full blown computers in our pockets that also make phone calls. I think the engineers can make a quality piece of equipment that emulates the legacy gear of the past and do it cheaper and maybe even better. So for me at least I am on the amazing train and enjoying the ride. I love analog legacy stuff but like you I am a cheap or maybe thrifty? I recently purchased a line6 Helix LT ( the less expensive one) and for my purposes its every bit as good as any of the legacy tube amps/effects it emulates. I have already sold one of my Fender tube amps and probably sell a couple more. Not everything new is bad or stark sounding-cheers!
wow im one of you huge fan more power waren and godbless you always
Many thanks Warren, it’s an excellent review. Tegeler Audio Crème Compressor / EQ sounds amazing!!!
Thanks very much @seba_lucero:disqus! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi .. Don’t know if anyone else has downloaded the samples, but win zip on my system has encountered an error on these
and I’m unable to listen ? Many Thanks !
Thanks warren, watched the review, and downloaded the files and had a listen….. great review, and fantastic unit. Nice song by the way.
This is really cool. Thanks for doing this. I have a few questions:
May I ask do you use the Pultecs into the SSL or the SSL into the Pultecs.
Also, when you say you run your mixes hot, how hot do you run them into your Pultecs if that’s what you use before the SSL.
Are those Pultecs tube based?
Lastly, is there a way to get this mix without the ending processing SSL/Pultec? Be interested in comparing it to few units here.
Again, thanks for taking the time as always. Also the Tegeler sounds really good.
Very impressive Tegeler! As always, thanks for the awesome content and insight Warren, your a true champion! The Tegeler would definitely elevate my mixes to another level! Thanks for the marvelous opportunity!
Hi @DrueX:disqus!! Agreed 100%! I really was impressed! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren, Could you provide untreated samples so we an test against our own gear? Thanks! Sam
Hi @disqus_IP0zSOk8Ia:disqus this full mix went through my console! I will see if I can print them as cleanly as possible in the future, although the gain make might be quite different! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Excellent review. The comparison is great and the tegeler looks and sounds amazing!
Hi @disqus_9HdIWLTsdN:disqus agreed! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
🙂
Hi Warren!
Thanks for your ongoing great reviews!
I´m just wondering why you didn´t levelmatch the files you offer for comparison.
I´m sure you know that already half a db louder will always let you think it is the better sound.
I suggest to levelmatch files like that using RMS with the Gain Plugin in Pro Tools.
Cheers
Kurt
Hi @disqus_NyyLErsiv4:disqus Thanks for the message! I’m not sure what you mean? The units were set up identically, so the differences are the performances, please feel free to turn them up or down to suit your own ears. Obviously the differences between them is quite evident. Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi Warren!
Well! Different units can´t be set the same way. You mentioned that yourself during testing and one of the differences in sound of the testfiles is that the Tegeler opens up more on the high end which could be caused by the highshelfed EQ set to pos. 2.
Anyhow. I´m sure you know the fletcher munson curve. Because of the fact we hear the midrange best we will alway have the feeling that louder signals (0,5 dB is enough) are brighter and fatter.
For that reason it is very important to levelmatch a comparison as good as possible if you look after the different qualities of tone.
If you don´t do so you will always have the feeling the louder is the better.
That´s what I meant.
But don´t get me wrong. I think the Creme is great and probably one of the best units you can get in terms of value.
Next to that the people at Tegler are really great. I got to know them personally as I had a booth next to them on a SAE Convention in Berlin. Michael ist great fun too!
Cheers
Kurt
I think you’re right, the Tegeler sounds better in my ears, right from the start. It has nicer balance in the entire spectrum.
Thanks very much @roarhoogdorp:disqus!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
What is the default bandwidth on both frequency channels since it doesn’t have a Q control like on the Pultecs?
Hi @disqus_qn7KbOy6RN:disqus!! That’s an extremely good question, it’s very musical though! I’d have to check their site to see! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Wow, Warren! What a cool product! Thanks for letting us know about it. This just may go on my 2018 wish list. Cheers!
Thanks very much @plap-disqus-13fe9d84310e77f13a6d184dbf1232f3:disqus!! Agreed, amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Thank you Warren, I’m going to look seriously at this piece. It does sound pretty amazing, might be a wonderful addition. 🙂
Hi @plap-disqus-2e65f2f2fdaf6c699b223c61b1b5ab89:disqus! I agree, an amazing piece of equipment! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren