Shout-out to the overlooked silver-sided 903 compressors made for the 900 racks. 202C "Gold Can" VCA's were used in a LOT of classic late 70's / early 80's machinery - the original SSL Quad Bus compressor comes to mind.
I have in my home studio: - DBX 160A - DBX 560A - DBX 160X (X2) - DBX 118 All of them are amazing, I use the UAD plugin too a lot but, anytime I put these analog racks in kick and snare... it always make me smile. Great video. loved It
I've got a few now (a 160VU, a 165, pair of 160A's and an Audio-Scape 260 which is an excellent clone version of two 160VU's) but _man,_ I wish I had known better back when I was in high school and saved all the money I made from my restaurant job. Back then (mid-to-late 1990's) 160VU's _pairs_ went for +/- $600, 162's and 165's would go $200/$250 and the latter 160X/XT/A's could go for anywhere from $50 to $150. Not to mention how cheap 1176's, 1178's, LA-3A's, and Pultec EQ's were. _Ughh!_ I get physically sick just thinking about it. The State college in my town had a recording arts program and back then they were fully committed to going digital and were selling stuff like that. They also ran and housed a radio station and were liquidating gear at that time. Pultecs, 1176's and 78's, CBS and Altec compressors, Urei "Little Dipper" EQ's, EV RE20's and original Shure SM7's etc. etc. I had _multiple_ opportunities to buy that stuff but naively, I thought I'd always have an opportunity to buy others down the line and although I knew it was useful stuff, I didn't realize just _how_ useful. _Ha!_ What a fool I was. Now I kust after this stuff. To this day my friend's father still has two "silver face" (Rev H?) 1176's, a pair of Pultec program EQ's, a pair of LA-3A's and several CBS Volumax broadcast compressors that he modded into _awesome_ units that sound incredible on lots of stuff but especially vocals and bass and a stash of RE20's and SM7's. All of which he bought from that college here in town for a price that today wouldn't get you _one_ LA-3A or pair of 160VU's.
You omitted the 163X Over Easy Compressor. Half rack mono unit with a mounting bracket system, so you could build your own stereo version. Unbalanced I/O. Stereo link via TRS. It had an extra Hi Z input on the front and just a level pot and a horizontal fader marked MORE at the right end. Clearly targeted for guitar- and bass players. I didn’t get the soft knee concept at the time, I just thought the unit sounded cool. My limited budget prevented me from buying a proper stereo unit. This unit allowed me to buy one half at a time😎
I'm a 165 fan. That unit took the 160 and added what should have been in the 160 originally. The 165A is a dog. The clipping makes the peak stop limiter a useless addition.
I have the old 166 (not sure if the numbering is an indicator of being a successor), and yeah, it's not what you'd expect for a limiter. But you definitely can make good artistic use of it, to add harmonic distortion on snare drums, vocals etc. (edit: 1 extra spacebar)
This is the coolest channel I’ve subscribed to in YEARS
For sure my favorite is the 160A, it was a staple on bass racks in the late 90's early 00's so it triggers the nostalgia.
Shout-out to the overlooked silver-sided 903 compressors made for the 900 racks. 202C "Gold Can" VCA's were used in a LOT of classic late 70's / early 80's machinery - the original SSL Quad Bus compressor comes to mind.
I have in my home studio:
- DBX 160A
- DBX 560A
- DBX 160X (X2)
- DBX 118
All of them are amazing, I use the UAD plugin too a lot but, anytime I put these analog racks in kick and snare... it always make me smile.
Great video. loved It
Thanks for sharing!
My favs are the dbx118 and the dbx566. That 118 is especially hella fun!
They should make a 160 gtr pedal compressor. Sell like hot cakes
What a fabulous video - subscribed
Thank you, do spread the word!
I use the 160A and 166 a lot. Would love to get the 163s and 165.
Hated the 162 back in the day … wish I had one now😎
Love this video!
I've got a few now (a 160VU, a 165, pair of 160A's and an Audio-Scape 260 which is an excellent clone version of two 160VU's) but _man,_ I wish I had known better back when I was in high school and saved all the money I made from my restaurant job. Back then (mid-to-late 1990's) 160VU's _pairs_ went for +/- $600, 162's and 165's would go $200/$250 and the latter 160X/XT/A's could go for anywhere from $50 to $150. Not to mention how cheap 1176's, 1178's, LA-3A's, and Pultec EQ's were. _Ughh!_ I get physically sick just thinking about it. The State college in my town had a recording arts program and back then they were fully committed to going digital and were selling stuff like that. They also ran and housed a radio station and were liquidating gear at that time. Pultecs, 1176's and 78's, CBS and Altec compressors, Urei "Little Dipper" EQ's, EV RE20's and original Shure SM7's etc. etc. I had _multiple_ opportunities to buy that stuff but naively, I thought I'd always have an opportunity to buy others down the line and although I knew it was useful stuff, I didn't realize just _how_ useful. _Ha!_ What a fool I was. Now I kust after this stuff. To this day my friend's father still has two "silver face" (Rev H?) 1176's, a pair of Pultec program EQ's, a pair of LA-3A's and several CBS Volumax broadcast compressors that he modded into _awesome_ units that sound incredible on lots of stuff but especially vocals and bass and a stash of RE20's and SM7's. All of which he bought from that college here in town for a price that today wouldn't get you _one_ LA-3A or pair of 160VU's.
Cool Could you do a video on the dbx 150X Type I Noise Reduction. I have one and not sure what/how it works.
I see lots of 118 love all over the net, but 119 is the GOAT
It's ironic that Blackmer is most famous for the opposite of what he was originally trying to accomplish with his first few products.
You omitted the 163X Over Easy Compressor.
Half rack mono unit with a mounting bracket system,
so you could build your own stereo version.
Unbalanced I/O. Stereo link via TRS.
It had an extra Hi Z input on the front
and just a level pot and a horizontal fader marked MORE at the right end.
Clearly targeted for guitar- and bass players.
I didn’t get the soft knee concept at the time,
I just thought the unit sounded cool.
My limited budget prevented me from buying a proper stereo unit.
This unit allowed me to buy one half at a time😎
We do have information for the dbx 163X on or website now: www.vintagedigital.com.au/dbx-163x/
@@VintageDigital 👍
What about the awesome 166 stereo with gate from the 80s and 90s?
It is a 'brief' history, not a complete history.
I'm a 165 fan. That unit took the 160 and added what should have been in the 160 originally. The 165A is a dog. The clipping makes the peak stop limiter a useless addition.
I have the old 166 (not sure if the numbering is an indicator of being a successor), and yeah, it's not what you'd expect for a limiter. But you definitely can make good artistic use of it, to add harmonic distortion on snare drums, vocals etc.
(edit: 1 extra spacebar)
The entire unit isn't a dog, just the added peak stop limiter function is.
Wow. One of the worst sound tracks ever. Don't know how to duck ?