Description
At war with the loudness war
We’re not going to hide our intentions: when we set out to design The Dangerous COMPRESSOR, we spent over two years figuring out how to achieve modern levels of limiting and compression while avoiding the deadening effects of today’s ultra-limited productions. We make gear that helps you deliver the impact, punch and clarity that brings music to life, and when it comes to compression and limiting our answer was not to avoid it like some purists might, but to deliver an audiophile-grade tool that provides powerful compression and limiting without robbing the music of its lifeforce. The Dangerous COMPRESSOR points the way to the future of dynamics.
Transparently beautiful
Compressors fall into two basic categories: so-called “color boxes” capable of drastically changing sound, of which there are hundreds available, and the much more difficult to design “transparent units” that control dynamics without introducing obvious sonic artifacts. The Dangerous COMPRESSOR is decidedly in the latter category, delivering crystal clear compression that allows you to easily alter and control dynamics without drastically changing the original sound. But don’t let the word ‘transparency’ trick you into thinking The COMPRESSOR doesn’t sound beautiful – like all Dangerous gear, the low end is big and powerful, the mids maintain texture and detail, and the top-end is open and deeply engaging, even during very active gain reduction. This level of open musicality is unique even among the small field of transparent compressors, putting The COMPRESSOR in a class of its own where sounding transparent and beautiful is no longer a paradox.
Beyond versatility
Because the Dangerous COMPRESSOR is so transparent and simple to operate, it can handle a wide range of tasks often left to automation and eq during tracking, mixing and mastering. Few compressors are as versatile. Tedious vocal level rides can be handed over to The Dangerous COMPRESSOR’s VCA as if it were a trusted assistant intuitively riding a fader. Use the internal sidechain EQ curves to tame a sibilant vocal or to let deep bass punch through untouched, or both simultaneously. Effortlessly peak-limit a master in the analog realm and dispense with your digital limiter using the unique Smart Dynamics feature. Patch an eq into the external side chain for dynamic eq across the midrange, or use the two channels as independent mono units, or in series to achieve ultra-transparent “cascaded compression.” Beyond versatility, The Dangerous COMPRESSOR invites you to creatively solve sonic problems without worrying about unwanted sonic artifacts.
A no compromise design with unique features
Hand assembled in the USA, at the heart of The Dangerous COMPRESSOR is a unique and unparalleled audiophile-grade circuit by legendary designer Chris Muth. In typical Dangerous fashion, nothing is sacrificed, and The COMPRESSOR delivers intelligent, innovative, easy-to-use features with unsurpassed sound.
Combine to taste
Whether you’re tracking, mixing or mastering, The Dangerous COMPRESSOR works beautifully with vintage analog gear or patched into today’s cutting-edge digital systems, allowing you to achieve truly modern levels without the undesired artifacts that plague so many modern productions. Combine it with our ultra-transparent BAX EQ for one of the most open EQ/Compressor combinations possible, perfect for mastering or mixing. Place The Dangerous COMPRESSOR after any “color box” — a console, a vintage tube compressor, a funky EQ, or all three together — and you can dial in the exact dynamics you want without having to rely on the often unruly controls of yesteryear’s gear.
The world’s most intelligent analog compressor
With its sophisticated dual detector circuit, unique Smart Dynamics section, automatic attack and release function, unmatched versatility and incredibly transparent, audiophile-grade sound, The COMPRESSOR from Dangerous Music is today’s most intelligent analog compressor. Taking modern loudness seriously while prioritizing clear, open sound, The COMPRESSOR is pioneering a new and innovative approach to modern compression for today’s most discriminating tracking, mixing and mastering engineers.
