Can I not use a phisycal compressor?

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The Quiet Minded
Member Since: Jan 01, 2003

Do I need a real compressor unit or can i go only with the plugins(like C4)?

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Feb 12, 2003 02:48 pm

I personally could not get by without an outboard compressor of some sort. Many times compression is needed before the signal even gets to the sound card. By the time you can use a plugin it's too late...tho plugins are good for tweaking, not for the original recording of the instruments.

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Feb 12, 2003 04:43 pm

I don't own a compressor, but i'm looking into one. I have trouble getting good mic levels (mic > mixer > soundcard) before the transients begin to clip. Having used VST and DX software compressors and understanding what the effect is capable of, and understanding the limitaions of analog to digital conversion, I'm beginning to realize just how much of a difference an outboard comp in the effects loop will make. Those behringers are pretty afforadble too.

The Quiet Minded
Member
Since: Jan 01, 2003


Feb 12, 2003 05:53 pm

Should I have an outboard reverb too?

Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Feb 12, 2003 05:54 pm

Outboard compressors are an essential purchse - even if you don't use microphones in your home-studio, you will still benefit from adding compression to keyboard lines, softsynths - almost anything (IMHO :) - plugin's simply can't give that certain something that a good compressor does - and it certainly can't be used in the analouge realm (where compressors are at there most helpful :) However, having said that, the Waves Renessance (spelt that wrong) Compressor (RComp) isn't half bad when it's overdriven a bit.

Behringer units aren't too bad (we have quite a few at college) - but the dbX 266Xl is much better and give a much more "punchy" sound when use with thigh settings and a very natural sound when used with slower settings (essential if you are using at the input stage), not to mention it has an excellent "auto" mode (which will adapt the Attack and Release times, according to the material it is processing) and and "over-easy" mode which acts as a limiter - great for getting your mixes as loud as possible!

However, having said that, I was pleasently impressed by the Behringer Tube Compressor, which is a REAL tube compressor (huzzah!) - it colours the sound very nicley indeed and even tho it is only £129 ($199) it acts and feels like a far more expensive unit! This badboy will add a nice bit of warmth to your signals as it compresses and will provide very "pleasing" results - I'm considering purchasing one of these for vocal mix-down work - tho it would be equally at home phattening up a bass guitar or synth lines.

So I would either go for a:

dbX 266XL compressor / gate ($149) (£99)
service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear

or, if you can afford it and like analouge warmth:

Behringer T1952 Tube Composer ($199)(£129)
service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear


jues.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Feb 12, 2003 09:45 pm

Thank You Jues!

I've been eye-balling that Behringer tube unit and hopeing that someone would post something on it. The specs looked right, just wanted to hear it from a user.

Thanks again!

Member
Since: Feb 20, 2003


Mar 05, 2003 08:36 pm

Alesis 3630 is on sale at guitar center for a hundred bucks and it is kick *** for that price.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 09:13 pm

Tried it about 2 weeks ago Walt. I liked it alot, but it seemed a bit twitchy when ya twisted it itno higher settings. I was told after it warms up for about an hour it will smooth out. I do believe that as valves do need time to warm up. And at the price, I can keep my composer Pro and add that one for special occasions.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 09:22 pm

Very cool! It does make sense that the tube would have to warm up. An hour seems like a bit of a long time. I wonder if they meant the first time around to get the grids conditioned? Let me know (if you think of it) how it does in a month or so. Behringer sure is making a mark on the industry. Interesting company.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 09:37 pm

Yes indeed they are. I am going bacck up there this weekend to look at a pair of moniters for a job I got going. He said I could play with it some more when it had been running. I would guess that maybe that is what he meant though. Warm it up for an hour for the first time. Although my first Soldano always took about 45 minutes to warm up properly. I cant wait to see what they have coming out this month. Their website had a big splash on the sidebar about some new big deal in products they have coming out this month. So I am a bit excited. I think I was the first guy I knew of all my recoding and playing buddies that invested in Behringer gear, and now the maojority of them have turned to the big B for gear. I think I am up to about 10 pieces of their gear and counting. I have been debating swapping off my 2 other mixers and adding another MX2442A desk to the rig, but havent decided if I can make room for it or not. All I can say is I will be a loyale Behringer customer for a long time to come.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 09:46 pm

I would be willing to bet that if you could fit in a MX9 you would love it. Mine thrills me every time I use it. That's when I get my turn from Sam.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 09:52 pm

My only fear is its overall height, and I do like having all my jacks available right in front of my face with the 2442. I guess I should take another look though at the 9000, they are essentially the same desk except for the meter bridge and the jacks all on the back. Oh ya and it is 8 buss. I guess I could figure a way around that though. But the physical size is a bit larger. That is the bothersome thing in this room.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 10:12 pm

OK Walt, now ya got me surfin to the Behringer site to get the PDF files for the dims of that thing and what do ya know. its really not that much bigger then mine. You really like the thing? It would eat up some realestate in here, but now ya got me thinin.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 10:20 pm

You got a good handle on the down side. The jacks and switches to the rear. That is a problem in my area too. I am going to put a slanted mirror in back of mine to get around that. But just like you where saying about the pre amp, I love the meter bridge, the two little goose neck lamps. It is one bomb mixer and a wonderfull play station as well. It calls to me...come mix with me, come touch my knobs, watch my meters pulsate. Woah... almost passed out.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 10:28 pm

Ya, the meter bridge thing I can take or leave. I usually watch it all in Sonar. But the extra space is something I dont have enough of the way this room is now. And I would rarely use 8 busses, although if I had em I know I would use em. Dang it Walt, now I am confusin meself. I would like to go back to 100mm faders too, I am just now getting used to 60mm. But again, I do almost all the mixing in Sonar, the faders are really just to control the synths and samplers, once there set, the rest is automated in Sonar. do I sound like Im trying to sell myself out or into this thing. MF has a used one for $1169.00. I am guessing I can get my guy to pop a new one lower then that.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 10:39 pm

Man, I don't know which way you are going. But if you decide to look into it more I can ask my daughter to take a run down to the outlet store and see if there are any that look good there. Last time I was there I saw one for a flat "G" that looked new out of the box. Film over the bridge and all. I wish you where close enough to give mine a go over. I am one of those that has to use all of the senses to make decisions like that.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 05, 2003 10:47 pm

Ya thats the way I am with big stuff like that. I can buy a piece of rack gear from specs, but I wont do that with a mixer. I gotta touch it like you said. That said, I must go dream, maybe the great enginer in the sky will give me a vision in my dreams, and I will figure it out.

Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Mar 06, 2003 05:30 am

Noize,

Sounds to me like you want the MX3282a - bit smaller and less expensive then the MX9k and all the connections are on the front pannel.

I've got one, it's lovely.

jues

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 06, 2003 10:25 pm

True indeed jues. I had looked at adding that desk a year ago. I do so prefer the connections on my 2442a being right up front. I think that is the route I may take. Then I can dedicate the 2442a to nothing but the synths, and not have to worry about tweaking it much at all. I did measure last night, and found that the 3282a will fit just into the space the 2442a and another Behringer mixer sit. I will not loose much space at all. That is the problem with this room, it is just not quite enough space. But if I had a bigger room, I would just cram it as full as this one is.

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