Multi-Channel Compressor ... ? poste...

Multi-Channel Compressor ... ?

Posted on Jul 17, 2003 01:32 am
Bob
Member Since: Jun 20, 2003

Just acquires a Behringer MDX2600 (Composer Pro-XL) 2-Channel Compressor. Starting to figure this baby out. I've now got it wired into the inserts (pre-fader) of two of the channels in my UB1622FX-PRO Mixer.

One thing I did not realize about compressors, until I brought this one home, is that you really need a compressor channel for every channel you want to mix (that could be a lot of compressor channel$). Previously, I was under the impression that I would just run a couple of stereo outputs from the mixer, through the compressor and then into the recorder. It looks like that is possible but you probably would only want to do very light compression and/or peak limiting if you're running multiple mixed sources through the compressor. Am I right about that or is there some better way I can accomplish compression on many sources with only a 2-channel compressor?

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Sonico
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2002

Jul 17, 2003 10:53 am

Hi Bob,

Are you recording multiple tracks at the same time?? or are you mixing your recorded tracks on the Behringer mixer??
I suppose not (looking at your profile) so if you're mixing within Sonar you can apply compression and eq with plugins and use as many as your cpu can handle.
That way you can record with a little hardware compression (using your new compressor) and if you think you need more, you can use plugins.

Hope this help

Bob
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2003

Jul 17, 2003 03:50 pm

Sonico,
Yes that's also the conclusion I came to. That is, that if I do light enough compression on the combined sources out of the mixer (ie use the compressor more like a limiter), that maybe that would work. Then do the rest in SONAR. But probably the ideal method is just to deal with recording one track at a time and use 1 compressor channel per mixer channel (in the prefader insert). That way I can compress more heavily without getting undesirable interations between the sources.

So here's another compressor question : When you're micing drums and you want to compress, would you typically have an independent compressor channel for every mic?
- B

jues
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002

Jul 17, 2003 07:15 pm

If you only have 2 channels of compresison to play with then I would reccomend only compressing the Snare and the Kick - The snare to make sure it does't clip, and the kick to add a bit more release to the signal.

Also, make sure that nothing is gonna clip on the other mics when you are recording by watching the levels before actually recording takes.

jues.