Rockruepel COMP.TWO Compressor - The power to revolutionize your sound!

Rockruepel COMP.TWO Compressor - The power to revolutionize your sound! The Rockruepel COMP.TWO Compressor is one of those rare pieces of gear that comes along that can really benefit your sound. Having spent quite a bit of time using the COMP.TWO, we can honestly say that this particular compressor is difficult to make sound bad. But in the hands of an expert-engineer, a hidden beauty - much like a genie from the bottle - is able to be coaxed out of their work. Still, the COMP.TWO's mastering quality all-tube signal path has a wonderful habit of making everything that passes through it sound better without even the first squeeze of compression. 

The Rockruepel COMP.TWO is not what we would call a 'grabby' or "edgy" compressor. In fact, it's sound is deliciously smooth, which is certainly keeping in-step with the mythical Fairchild designs - but we would say that the 'feel' is that you have a lot more range and flexibility throughout all ranges to shape the compression characteristics. But like the Fairchild, you can drive the Rockruepel into explosive and exciting compression artifacts on drums (though never really over-the-top), making it a very nice companion in the mix on room mics - either straight up or in parallel. Unlike the controls of the Fairchild, you don't have the release-constants that are oft employed on some newer vari-mu designs as homage to the Farichild design. Instead, both Attack and Release are much more conventional (and flexible, we might add) controls, but they are stepped for accurate recall. So, it's sort of the best of both worlds in this regard. We find that it's easier to get specific results quickly with this functional layout of 'faster/slower' where you can remain artistic and in the moment. And 'artistic' is an important word here - this box inspires the 'mix-artist' within when you're working with it.

 
The Rockruepel COMP.TWO is easy to use and easy to get the sound out of it that you're after - something not always attainable in many classic compressors which often exhibit a narrow range where they sound their best (or even just 'good'). Where we have found that we love to have the COMP.TWO is on the mix bus after summing. When put together with a Dangerous Music BAX Equalizer (and a Manley Massive Passive tossed in there wouldn't hurt, either), we find that this is where the COMP.TWO takes something that is good and turns it into something exceptional. We consider the COMP.TWO to be that final, and all-important conduit through which everything passes. Where summing can get things deep and wide to a certain point, the COMP.TWO puts that special magic all over the mix without introducing artifacts that start changing the mix in ways that mess things up. Just passing signal through it without compression sounds good - hence the inclusion of the AMP ONLY mode - which is different than Bypass in that bypass is a hard-wire detour direct to the output; giving you an accurate comparison as to what the COMP.TWO is actually doing for your audio. 

An important distinction to make is that not all 'premier' compressors of the same operational principle can be made to sound alike. There are specific (and often not-so-subtle) nuances that come forward in the mix when things start to push. Where other variable mu design compressors can make certain vocal elements 'strident' or biting when a singer suddenly 'goes for it', the COMP.TWO absorbs the energy and doesn't go harsh. In fact, it's rare to find a compressor that wouldn't at least tend to lean in the direction of 'harshifying' when pushed hard. And they'll likely even still impart some sort of distortion in other areas that alters the mix in unexpected ways that aren't desirable. So, what many customers have found when bringing the COMP.TWO into their studio is that their other 'flagship' compressors do not negate the need for the Rockruepel. In fact, their function and sound almost beg for it. Bottom line - if you could own only one stereo mix-bus or mastering compressor... yep, the Rockruepel COMP.TWO Mastering Bus Compressor is the candidate. From tracking to mixing, and mixing to mastering, the Rockruepel COMP.TWO is the emerging star of legend in the engineer's stable. All of the customers who have purchased them so far are thrilled with the results. And we would love to help put a Rockruepel COMP.TWO Compressor to work into your studio so you can hear for yourself what it can do for your work.