On a side note, I hate tracking vocals through the built in compressor on the 610 - dont mind it for bassguitar DI, but the attackrelease times just seems off to me when it comes to vox.

So I received the wave CLA compressor plugs for a present and I just purchased a Distressor.

I dont have too much time to shoot this stuff out and I have the waves c1 and c4 and the vocal bundle and the buss compressors too I run a uala610 with the compressor when tracking My goal is mainly up front clear vocals to understand each and every slayable and to sound thick and warm then of course the units will be used to mix all other parts of the music but mainly for this reason Please keep in mind that the distressor cost a lot more money and I dont want to spend a lot of money, but if the unit smokes these classic plugs then yes I will keep the distressor if the distressor is just a tad bit better then I will return this and most likely buy another mic pre instead like a API lunch bx with 512c I prefer someone who has a good amount of experiences with both the hardware distressor and the waves plugins such as the CLA ext this mainly for mix reasons not tracking.

I would use the Distressor when tracking, and on key signals via analog inserts when you mix and something just.needs that tone.

I would use the CLA stuff for mixing since you can have many instances of the plugins.

You cant track with the CLA stuff.and you cant mix every track in a song simultaneously with the Distressor.

You said you want your vocals thick and warm, which quite honestly (all other things being equal) is more a description of the la610 than the 512c.

So based on that alone, I would suggest not returning the plugs - because doing so for the purpose of getting a 512c I dont think is going to move you closer in the direction you want to go, or at best, it will only move you negligibly closer.

Hardware is a pain during mixing (recalls, or you have to print your outboard, either way isnt the most fun unless you are doing down-n-dirty mixes) and it is becoming more and more common for me to discover that a plugin is beating out hardware for a specific task.

So assuming you like the distressor, I would keep it for front end duties.

Giving up one of the other is not worth a 512c in your specific situation based on what you are describing you want in terms of sound.

I had 2 distressors.

Just sold one. My primary reason for having 2 was to use them on the drum buss during mix.

However, the Steven Slate compressors sound so good that I sold one so I can mix completely ITB for 90 of my stuff.

If the source is well tracked and produced you should be fine.

My current philosophy follows the advice above right now actually too.

I have a few good but notsoexpensive outboard Ill be using during the mix process (FMR RNLA for random mojo compression needs and a Chameleon Labs bus compressor on the master bus likely).

Other than that. everything is software, Ive grabbed UAD, Soundtoys, Klanghelm, Toneboosters, Slate VTM, and a few other good men.

I also think that from a sonic imprint point of view, having the lead vocal going through the Dist is gonna help you get that upfrontclear sound youre after in a mix, rather than just having a CLA76C1 slapped across every channel.

I think you can push a Distressor to places youd never get a CLA76C1 plugin to go too.

Unless youre really strapped for cash, Id hold onto it - its not like its gonna depreciate in value.

Cla Compressor Waves