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| Bargain Priced Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE in Bento 2 Rack |
WHAT IS IT?
The Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE is a complete and fully professional 500-series compressor module. It uses a FET as the gain reduction element so depending on the hardware settings it’s capable of lightening-fast performance. Ratio is adjustable from 2:1 to 20:1 which is wider range than an 1176 rack mount model. The Threshold of gain reduction is fixed and the compression depth is controlled by increasing the gain, while adjustable output level is available to make up losses from compression. A gain reduction meter composed of 12 LED shows you what the compressor is doing and there is a PEAK LED which lights when the level hits +24dBu (2 dB before clipping at +26dBu).
CONTROLS
Looking at the front, the top knob is the INPUT level control which indicates 20 dB of gain is available for pushing it deep into compression territory. The next knob is the RATIO which goes from 2:1 all the way up to 20:1 for some hard limiting. Below the Ratio knob is the RELEASE knob which controls how fast the compression goes away. Under the ratio knob you’ll find the OUTPUT knob which indicates another 10-dB of gain available for smoothing out level.
The bottom knob is MIX, this is where you dial in parallel compression magic — all the way down gives you the dry, input signal, unprocessed — all the way up gives you the output from the compression circuitry — anywhere in between the two extremes is the mix of processed and unprocessed. This is a high end modern feature for a budget priced compressor, and it works very well.
ATTACK TIME
Attack time is selectable with a tiny three-position toggle switch, the switch is labeled ATT. You get three options to choose from, 0.5 ms, 5 ms and 25 ms.
BYPASS
The switch underneath the attack knob controls BYPASS so you can switch the whole module in and out of the signal path, both positions are noted by individual LED indicators.
SIDE CHAIN
There is an option to insert a built-in filter at 300 Hz or 150 Hz into the gain reduction, side chain of the compressor. If switched to either of these two frequencies it prevents low frequency signals below the selected value from being processed by the compressor.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Considering this compressor uses active balanced inputs and outputs, I found it to be fuller sounding than I expected. I love the MIX control, it’s easy to go from no compression to full ON and keep on top of what your sound really is. On Voice-Over work I preferred the slowest attack, the two faster settings had an odd snap to their sound, I’ll need to work with it more to iron that out. There is a lot of gain available on the input and I had no trouble squashing the daylights out of some vocal tracks. I like the sound of the Artistic Comp when it’s inserted on an analog track while mixing — in every situation I used it as an insert, I liked this compressor better than plugin substitutes. In faster settings it can sound snappy (not a good thing) but invariably I could tweak the options and get a big, bold, fully produced sound that sat in the mix better than plugin IMO ;-)
SPECIFICATIONS - Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz +/- 1dB
- Distortion: <.05% no compression
- Input Impedance: 5,000 Ω
- Output Impedance: 600 Ω
- Max Input Level: +26 dBu
- Clip Light: +24 dBu
- Max Output Level: +26 dBu
- Power Supply: +/-16V +/-75mA
LIKES
- Large gain reduction display
- Parallel compression mixing
- Fast, clean, compression sound
- Fits 500-series chassis nicely
DISLIKES
- Only three attack settings, sometimes too snappy sounding
- Release is a little fast even at slowest setting
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| Fredenstein modules work well with Radial Thumb Set Screws |
EPILOGUE
As always and with any processor, it’s completely a matter of what you do with it to determine real value. Would I choose this compressor? Well, I did, I bought it for this review. Now that I’ve had a chance to play with it, I like it and will continue exploring uses for it. I’ve been having fun using the Artistic Mic Pre instrument input with the Artistic Compressor for mono synthesizer tones. This chain of signal processing adds a lot of focus to the sound from Moog-style clones.
The Fredenstein Artistic Comp SE is only $149.00 and that is certainly inexpensive if you already have a 500-series chassis to install it in. If you are just getting into 500-series, have a chassis, or are buying one then this module provides a lot of compression processing power for not much money. However, if you don’t have a 500-series chassis there are better compressors to be had.
The Klark Teknik 1176-KT is physically a lot more unit taking up 2RU of rack space but it gives you transformer coupled isolation on the inputs and the outputs, though it does not offer parallel compression. Besides the KT I have one of the $3,000 Universal Audio 1176 in the H.o.T. studio and I often choose the KT for its bright sound and fast attack to make a track pop in a mix. The KT is currently selling for $209, so only about $60 more than the Fredenstein Comp SE and no 500-series rack needed.
The Artistic Comp SE lives up to its name, this SE model arms you with lots of artistic shaping and dynamics-control for an incredible low price. That is indeed, a Special Edition.
UPDATE: Sadly the Artistic Comp has earned a DO NOT BUY AWARD and the one in our review is heading back to the dealer it was purchased from. During extended testing the Artistic Comp could not get through a full-track of recording without making a gross sound (strange attack, grabby sort of noise, just "not right"). I could not find an adjustment where it did not leave this nasty artifact in its wake. It is the kind of thing that makes you wonder if the designers ever actually used it in an audio production. It's an enticing bundle of features and we'd be willing to give it another go in the future, but for now it's a loser, for us.
Thanks for reading High on Technology, Good Music To You!
©May 2025 by Mark King, It’s not ok to copy or quote without written permission from the author.
Go forth and create something beautiful………………
