Compressor vs. Glue compressor?

[Icetickle]

The new Ableton Live 9 came out with new compressor called "Glue Compressor" and I started putting it on everything instead of the old one.. Is that like, bad?
Are there times when I should use the default compressor and times when I should use the glue one?

[Benji]

I think the Glue Compressor is for compressing multiple elements together like drums and such, but if it works it works

[re6ter]

I think the Glue Compressor is for compressing multiple elements together like drums and such, but if it works it works

what makes it different? I could put any old compressor on a bus that receives multiple input. Does it handle it different for that specific case?

[SunkLo]

It's just an emulation of the SSL 4000 G Series channel compressor, which is a famous hardware unit beloved for its ability to glue tracks together into a cohesive whole. Everyone's made emulations of it, Cytomix The Glue, Waves G Master Buss Compressor, UAD SSL G Series... Sonnox Dynamics does it I believe, as does a McDSP plugin I think.

It's just a nice buss compressor, although it might work on single channels as well depending on the situation. Put it on your drum buss or your master for some character compression. I've never used the Ableton compressors but the standard one is probably better for general purpose compression whereas the glue compressor is for character buss compression. No rules though, A/B them each time till you get an idea of where they excel and where they don't. Even when you've got an idea of which compressor is right for the job, you can always be surprised by finding the perfect setting on one you didn't expect, so experiment.

[Untitle]

The glue is more for mixing multiple sound on grouped tracks, really does a great job! Very powerful. But I've used in on individual sounds too, and i can tell, that the main idea of compression still applys, really improves the sound.

[claudedefaren]

I literally only use it for sidechaining.

[Icetickle]

Thanks for feedback! I was using it for both bus compressing and compressing like single tracks. lol
Also does anyone know what "rate" knob does within that plugin?

[SunkLo]

You mean ratio? I'm looking at the UI and there's no rate knob I can see.

[OfficialDAPT]

I love the glue compressor in Ableton 9, but I don't like the sidechain option on it. Anyway, I don't think it's bad to use it on everything. Like the name says it's good at gluing things together and making them sound cohesive. I've noticed that you cant get as in depth with the attack and release knobs on the glue compressor because it has notches with values e.g. .1, 1 etc. But besides that the glue compressor gives off a great sound IMO.

[SunkLo]

Yeah that's an homage to the hardware. I think the attack and release settings are tuned along with their curves. So you have a discrete range of options instead of a continuous sweep across the range. Those settings will probably sound better than the alternative though as long as you can live with having limited options.

[claudedefaren]

DAPT - make a rack with three glues, all sidechaining, ratio of 4, attack and release as fast as they can go. Dial in the threshold. I love it. That's the only way i sidechain. Same with the normal compressor. But i just prefer glue for some reason. Give it a shot tell me what you think

[Icetickle]

You mean ratio? I'm looking at the UI and there's no rate knob I can see.

Yeah, ratio..

[AxeD]

Yes, I'd say that's bad.

[SunkLo]

Ratio's the ratio that audio above the threshold is compressed. You know, like every other compressor?

[knobgoblin]

I haven't really looked into it, but I thought that the new Ableton compressor was just a licensed version of the cytomic one?
Although its billed as a bus compressor, it's just as good at individual tracks. It's just more of an attempt at the ssl bus comp, but that is pretty much a standard vca comp. So use it when you want to hear more of the compression sound than the ultra clean/colorless/sterile sounding standard comp. Not a problem to use it on everything tho. Even on the real ssl boards the channel comp isn't a substantially different circuit than the buss comp, just more flexibility in the buss comp.