A newer one: the Highland Dynamics BG2
Highland Dynamics is Bryce Gonzales in Los Angeles. Before this he built the Lisson Grove AR-1. The BG2 is a mono, all-tube variable-mu compressor, transformer-balanced and wired point to point.
It has two feedback modes. “British” is the cleaner one and “American” adds more harmonics. There’s also a line-amp mode for when you just want to run something through the tubes and transformers without compressing it.
Sound On Sound’s review called it astoundingly good on vocals. John Vanderslice, who runs Tiny Telephone in the Bay Area, told Vintage King they keep a BG1 and a BG2 in both rooms. That’s a decent endorsement from a place that has tracked a lot of indie records.
On a vocal
Set it so the loudest lines get three or four dB of reduction and then leave it alone. Variable-mu compression gets gentler as the signal drops, so the quiet lines barely get touched. Try both modes on the same take before you decide.
Watch and read
- Sound On Sound: Highland Dynamics BG2 review
- Tape Op: BG2 review
- Vintage King: Highland Dynamics BG2
Gear in this post: Highland Dynamics BG2, Highland Dynamics BG1
-- I mix rock, indie, punk, electronic, acoustic and Americana records. Got songs that need finishing? Here's how it works.
