Behringer mixer and compressor question
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Posted on Jun 05, 2002 04:33 pm
Sonico
Member Since: Apr 19, 2002
Hello guys!!
I just bought a behringer 8 channel
mixer and I'am trying several ways to
patch a hardware compressor between the
mixer and the soundcard.
I've tried sending the mic signal to
an aux send and returning the processed
signal to a free channel and then to
the soundcard, but didn't like the result.
I think some of you have a similar mixer
and I'd like to know what are you guys doing.
Thanks in advance!!
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Jun 05, 2002 07:55 pm i have the 1804x from behringer.. and heres my set up
mic -> tube preamp -> input on the mixer. then heres the fx loop.
the aux send on the mixer -> hardware in and.. efx return on the mixer -> hardware out.
works beautifully for me.
Jun 05, 2002 10:04 pm I use the 802 and I add my compression between thru the aux send and it gives me the results I am after...I also have a 31 band EQ in that aux chain.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 05, 2002 10:07 pm Do not send the signal back to an open channel on the mixer as it will not give the full effect of the compression. You need to send the signal back to the Aux Return, this will allow you to control the amount of dry signal heard which should be very little. The point of sending the signal through the compressor is to return the signal compressed and record that part of the signal. When you send it back to an open channel you are not doing that. So make sure you send it back through the Aux Return.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Jun 05, 2002 10:11 pm I still need to buy a compressor, but heres my chain
Mic-Preamp-In of Mixer
Guitar-ZoomGFX 707- In of Mixer
Bass-Direct Box- In of Mixer
Effects out to Ins on my Reverb unit, out of reverb unit into FX return of mixer. 2nt Outs of mixer into Instrament in of Soundcard. Headphone out of soundcard going to headphones
SonicoMember
Since: Apr 19, 2002
Jun 06, 2002 10:02 am Ok, I'll try sending the signal back to the aux returns but I've read that this is not the best way to apply compression.
It's supposed to patch the compressor in an insert point wich my mixer doesn't has. I read an article that explained how to patch a compressor without an insert point and it said that you have to conect the mic to the mic pre and turn down the channel fader and then send the signal to an aux send and return it to another mixer channel. At first sight it makes sense to me because you end with a compressed signal in a mixer channel and then route it to the soundcard but I'am not happy with the results.
Thanks a lot for your time, I'll try the aux returns after work and let you know tomorrow (I can't wait to do that)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 06, 2002 09:30 pm Yes, that would work, but with that mixer you are still getting the signal's from the other channel's mixxed into the new track. Unless you are listening not through the mixer but through maybe headphone's direct out of the card or something. Then that approach will work, but if you tried it and it didn't, then something is amiss. Remember too, that compression is for the most part a very subtle effect.
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Jun 07, 2002 06:39 am Noise speaks the truth! We have just started using a little compression on live recordings of a 17 piece band for limiting purposes. We have a couple of horn players that like to put in occasional blastisamo. As long as we stay around 4:1 or less there is no coloring to the sound. We put it between the main outs of the mixer and the recorder. Does a nice job of holding the levels down and lets us pump the input just a little to get less audiance in the mix during play.
SonicoMember
Since: Apr 19, 2002
Jun 07, 2002 10:08 am I'am monitoring the pre-recorded tracks thru the 2track outputs, that way no signal is mixed with the tracks being recorded.
And I want to tell you guys that I tried several methods for adding compression and I'am happy with the one recomended by Noize but also with patching the compressor between the mixer outs and the soundcard ins especially for limiting purpouses. It's very comforting when you can record a hot signal without worriying about clipping and concentrating only in your performance.
By the way, I still wonder about the benefits of recording digital, let's say a guitar signal from the spdif outs of my fx processor to the spdif of my sundcard. Is it headroom?? clarity?? no clipping??
Thanks for sharing your knowledge in this rocking site!!
Jun 07, 2002 10:32 am Digital output gains in clarity by way of less signal conversion. You plug your guitar into the FX box, it is an analog signal that is changed to a digital, processed, than changed back to analog to go to the speakers, mixer or whatever. If you output digital, the signal then doesn't have to gothrough the last conversion. After processing it stays in the digital domain for the rest of it's life. Theoretically keeping it more clean.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 09, 2002 12:20 am Clean, untill you want it dirty. Then you just beat it silly with Magneto, or any other plug in that will add sonic mayhem.
