Recording - October 2012 - 21
In use So how does it sound? In true Grace Design fashion, it doesn’t! The m502 is an ultra-clean, transformerless compressor that does its job of smoothing out transients but adds no sonic imprint of its own to the signal. If you are a person who needs exact ratios and settings this unit’s variable controls and minimal markings may frustrate you a bit, but to me this is also a large part of its charm as it becomes a touchy, tweaky, feel piece. It’s a natural (literally!) on acoustic guitar, where a 3:1(-ish) ratio, 2–4 dB of reduction, a slow-mid attack, and a fast release nicely control both heavy strumming and picking without sounding as if the signal is being squashed. On vocals you can dig very deep, up to 6–9 dB of reduction, and the vocal pops but does not pump (unless you want it to). Thanks to their speed, a pair of m502s are surprisingly nice for 2-bus compression, and very versatile. With a 2:1 (-ish) ratio, about 1–2 dB of reduction, and the release timed to the rhythm of the music, you can make your mix more lively, or transparently smooth it out, as you play with the threshold and the attack simultaneously. Both can sound quite good. On saxophone I appreciated the fully variable ratio as I could dial it by ear until the sax sat nicely in the mix. Saving the best for last, opto-boxes have long been favored on electric guitar and bass; the m502 is no exception and easily worth it for these two tasks alone. The only place I did not like the m502 was on the drum bus, where I still preferred the spit and spank of a good VCA or FET unit. While quite fast for its kind, the m502 does not have an aggressive bone in its body. Compared to some other compressors in my collection, the m502 was indeed faster than my Millennia TCL-2 opto compressor, as well as my Vari-Mu-style Retro Instruments Sta-Level, but of course it was not as fast as my UA1176LN FET compressor or my dbx 160SL VCA comp. Sonically I was able to match it fairly close to my TCL-2 in solid-state mode, but it was noticeably faster on both its attack and release settings than the Millennia. I will say that the TCL-2 is more “clean/hi-fi” sounding, while the Grace is more transparent and smooth. Conclusion The Grace Designs m502 is one of the fastest and most versatile optical compressors I have ever used. It is ultra clean, ultra controllable, plays well with my Workhorse, and carries a respectable street price of $625. What’s not to like? Price: $625 street More from: Grace Design, www.gracedesign.com Paul Vnuk Jr. (vnuk@recordingmag.com) is a recording engineer and sound designer working in Milwaukee.
RECORDING October 2012
21
http://www.radialeng.com
http://www.gracedesign.com
http://www.radialeng.com
Recording - October 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - October 2012
Recording - October 2012
Fade In
Contents
Talkback
Fast Forward
A Silver Celebration—25 Years of Recording!
Grace Design m502 500-Series Optical Compressor
Edwards Audio Research LE-10 Mic Preamp
Celeste Lear
AEA KU4 Unidirectional Ribbon Microphone
Reviewed and Revisited: PreSonus Interface Cascading
Plug-in Outlet: Nomad Factory MAGMA
Approaching The Mix
Roland R-MIX
Dangerous Music Bax EQ
Plug-in Outlet: Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines
Mojave Audio MA-301fet
Reviewed and Revisited: Toontrack EZmix 2
Mixing—Rethinking The Process
Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 10: Signal Flow Part 2
Readers’ Tapes
Advertiser Index
Fade Out
Recording - October 2012 - Intro
Recording - October 2012 - Recording - October 2012
Recording - October 2012 - Cover2
Recording - October 2012 - 1
Recording - October 2012 - 2
Recording - October 2012 - 3
Recording - October 2012 - Fade In
Recording - October 2012 - 5
Recording - October 2012 - Contents
Recording - October 2012 - 7
Recording - October 2012 - Talkback
Recording - October 2012 - 9
Recording - October 2012 - Fast Forward
Recording - October 2012 - 11
Recording - October 2012 - A Silver Celebration—25 Years of Recording!
Recording - October 2012 - 13
Recording - October 2012 - 14
Recording - October 2012 - 15
Recording - October 2012 - 16
Recording - October 2012 - 17
Recording - October 2012 - 18
Recording - October 2012 - 19
Recording - October 2012 - Grace Design m502 500-Series Optical Compressor
Recording - October 2012 - 21
Recording - October 2012 - Edwards Audio Research LE-10 Mic Preamp
Recording - October 2012 - 23
Recording - October 2012 - Celeste Lear
Recording - October 2012 - 25
Recording - October 2012 - 26
Recording - October 2012 - 27
Recording - October 2012 - 28
Recording - October 2012 - 29
Recording - October 2012 - AEA KU4 Unidirectional Ribbon Microphone
Recording - October 2012 - 31
Recording - October 2012 - 32
Recording - October 2012 - 33
Recording - October 2012 - 34
Recording - October 2012 - 35
Recording - October 2012 - Reviewed and Revisited: PreSonus Interface Cascading
Recording - October 2012 - 37
Recording - October 2012 - 38
Recording - October 2012 - 39
Recording - October 2012 - Plug-in Outlet: Nomad Factory MAGMA
Recording - October 2012 - 41
Recording - October 2012 - 42
Recording - October 2012 - 43
Recording - October 2012 - Approaching The Mix
Recording - October 2012 - 45
Recording - October 2012 - 46
Recording - October 2012 - 47
Recording - October 2012 - 48
Recording - October 2012 - 49
Recording - October 2012 - Roland R-MIX
Recording - October 2012 - 51
Recording - October 2012 - Dangerous Music Bax EQ
Recording - October 2012 - 53
Recording - October 2012 - Plug-in Outlet: Slate Digital Virtual Tape Machines
Recording - October 2012 - 55
Recording - October 2012 - Mojave Audio MA-301fet
Recording - October 2012 - 57
Recording - October 2012 - Reviewed and Revisited: Toontrack EZmix 2
Recording - October 2012 - 59
Recording - October 2012 - Mixing—Rethinking The Process
Recording - October 2012 - 61
Recording - October 2012 - 62
Recording - October 2012 - 63
Recording - October 2012 - 64
Recording - October 2012 - 65
Recording - October 2012 - 66
Recording - October 2012 - 67
Recording - October 2012 - Recording Fundamentals. Chapter 10: Signal Flow Part 2
Recording - October 2012 - 69
Recording - October 2012 - 70
Recording - October 2012 - 71
Recording - October 2012 - Readers’ Tapes
Recording - October 2012 - 73
Recording - October 2012 - 74
Recording - October 2012 - 75
Recording - October 2012 - Advertiser Index
Recording - October 2012 - 77
Recording - October 2012 - 78
Recording - October 2012 - 79
Recording - October 2012 - Fade Out
Recording - October 2012 - Cover3
Recording - October 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_20205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/nxtd
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com