yet another (hopefully) simple compression question
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Posted on Feb 17, 2006 08:42 pm
hafler
Member Since: Feb 11, 2006
in my next setup i'm going to be using a mackie onyx 1220 mixer, and finally going to get a hardware compressor. my question is, is it better (soundwise) to use it on a channel insert, or in the aux send/return? i would like to use it in the aux loop, so i can put compression on already recorded tracks that i'll be monitoring through the mackie, and so i can use it on several channels at once while recording (don't want to buy multiple compressors). what i don't know is if it is designed to work better on an individual channel insert, in terms of signal.
thanks for reading, any help would be greatly appreciated. trying to get my gear set up in my head before i start buying it.
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Feb 17, 2006 11:07 pm As far as I know, the only way that it'll do any good as a send effect is if you make sure to turn each channel's FX send up all the way. If any dry signal is mixed in with the compressed signal, it pretty much nullifies the effect.
So I guess it'd work as long as, when the aux or fx is turned all the way up on a given channel, that 100% of the signal is routed through that aux loop.
Feb 20, 2006 12:02 pm i gotta say the insert is gonna be used more for tracking, and accually, i use a compressed signal as an aux effect ALL THE TIME!
drums and vocals get the most outta this type effect, because you preserve the original transients AND get the plus side of the stable and punchy compressed signal....you may have heard of 'exciters' and this is generally what the effect does (along with a high-midrange boost of about 3db's or even more)....infact i always stem my vocals and drums this way now, where i route all drum tracks to a 'main drum buss' then i have a send (pre fader) from that buss go to an aux set up with compression, it's cool cuz you can eq the compressed signal before the compression, which means you can cut at around 80hz and the compressor won't freak out every time the kick drum hits....is veddy good deal.
