Sometimes the best things in life can be gotten for free. Such is the case with the Solid State Logic LMC-1 Listen Mic Compressor, which is plugin version of the Listen Mic Compressor included on vintage SSL 4000E consoles.
It's available for Mac or PC. On Mac, it's available in VST and AU formats. On PC, it's available in VST format. No matter how you want it, the SSL Listen Mic Compressor can be downloaded for free from the SSL website.
Legendary producers and engineers, Hugh Padgham and Steve Lilywhite, get the credit for discovering a musical use for the compressor on the talkback mic on the SSL console while recording Phil Collins on drums. SSL designed the compressor with set attack and release curves to facilitate the listenability of the talkback mic from the studio to the control room. In essence, SSL made the compressor somewhat "heavy."
Upon discovering the qualities of the compressor on drums, Padgham got the SSL modified for recording. The console came from the factory with no intent it be used in tracking. It only applied to the talkback mic.
I downloaded the PC version of the plugin. I got it installed and up and running in Acid Pro 6.0 within a few minutes. I inserted some drum tracks. The LMC-1 features a minimum of controls. There's an "in" button. There's a variable knob for "less" and "more." There are slso variable input and output controls.
It sort of boosts frequencies that bring an "in your face" quality to tracks. It's the perfect compressor to add presence to snare and toms. It's something I'd tend to put on things without a crucial low end or crucial high end frequency content.
The Bottom Line: It's free. It heavily compresses ambient drums for that Phil Collins sound. Recommended.
Link relating to this review: Solid State Logic
