seeing as i compress everything...
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TheTincanbugsloppy dice, drinks twiceMember
Since: Aug 05, 2003
Nov 04, 2003 11:22 am Flame, I'm afraid I have no experience with that unit. I like the Alesis Nanocompressor, personally, that's the only one I've used. Hope you don't mind, :) but I'm piggybacking your post to ask if there's a rule of thumb when it comes to comression. I compress everything going into the sound card, and then again usually when I see how peaky my levels are. I don't know nuthin' bout no fancy ratios, I actually have the "cheat sheet" to my compressor hanging on my wall, and I use that to change the compression for each instrument.
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Nov 04, 2003 11:29 am i just blag it as i go, to be honest, so i dunno!
Nov 04, 2003 08:30 pm flame, i can't determine the model number on that one. if it's the 1400 you could almost get one new for that much.. otherwise, unless it's in poor condition (something else i can't determine by the vauge description and crappy photos) i'd say that's a good deal.
something to think about: this guy is pretty new to eBay. he's only had two feedbacks since he joined back in the summer time, both positive though. i also might point out he didn't indicate a shipping amount. unless he's willing to let you drive out to Godalming (anywhere near you?) and pick it up yourself. you might email him/her and ask about the shipping, "P+P" as i guess you'd say. Ask for the model number and maybe ask if they've got other photos of it. Ask what condition it's in, functionally and cosmetically. Maybe after you have a few emails with them you can determine something about their character.
tincanbug, i don't think there's any rules on compression. it's a tool there for you to use if you know how to use it. Though I would imagine any soundcard input could stand to have a limiter in front of it with it's threshold set at or just below 0dB to prevent any nasty "overs"
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Nov 05, 2003 05:34 pm Tincan,
As jamie said, there are no real golden rules compression and ratio - however, I would advice that you don't over compress on the way in, because once the signals been squished, there isn't much you can do to bring it back to life (so to speak).
I only compress as much as you need to on the way in to avoid clipping the soundcard. Sometimes, where I can get away with it, I don't compress on the way in at all which gives me tonnes of flexibility upon mixdown.
jues.
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Nov 14, 2003 01:38 am ive NEVER compressed on the way in, which is making me wonder if i need to start now...
TheTincanbugsloppy dice, drinks twiceMember
Since: Aug 05, 2003
Nov 14, 2003 08:58 am If I don't compress, I have to back off my levels so much that everything sounds distant. Especially the drums and vocals. Guitar could probably do without the compressor, but I think it sounds better with it. The compressor might be a dirty solution, but it's serving me well so far with my little closet studio, and my tracks sound better than going without. If this were a pro studio it might be very wrong, but in the closet there's no one to object but me... :)
vdalehubbardLost for words with all to say.Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003
Nov 14, 2003 03:57 pm I like to use software compressors. That way, you don't kill the signal coming in like has been said.
Hey, anybody know a good software plug-in to use with like Sonar 3?? I know we're talking about physical units but thought I could ask ;)
Nov 14, 2003 04:16 pm Waves C1 compressors are very nice, I use them a lot.
Nov 14, 2003 06:35 pm If you have the Producer Edition it comes with two great compressors, the Sonitus Ultrafunk Compressor and Multiband. I think they're awesome plug-ins. Also, the DigitalFishPhones compressors are great. Blockfish and the other one. Blockfish has some nice saturation-- you can get really good compression effects with it.
www.digitalfishphones.com
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 16, 2003 01:37 pm Agreed, Xonar 3 comes with several excellant compressor pluggins. I have used some of the older ones and they were very well done.
Nov 16, 2003 08:43 pm The Multiband is absolutely killer... I don't know how I ever lived without it :)
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Nov 16, 2003 11:00 pm Wow! A year ago this whole thread would have been hardware compression. Software compression has come a long ways. I'm with Jues on this one. I love the latitude to have as much origional signal to work with as possible during mix and pre master. Even though compression only acts on amplitude, it alters the preception of tone and there is a definate "squashed" sound to heavely compressed signal. With some critical work I would rather use a wave editor to alter sections of amplitude rather than reshaping the waveform by compressing it. Just don't have those options if it is pre-squashed.
Nov 17, 2003 02:14 pm Hey... Walt's back! :)
I'm a big fan of the "sound" of compression, personally, so I like to load it on a lot of things, mostly drums and vocals. But I definately can relate. It is very nice to have a relatively clean signal to work with, since you have more flexiblity and an easier time making things fit together when you get to the mixing stage. However, I do feel it's still important to have the signal coming into the recording interface pretty hot with a nice big signal-to-noise ratio :)
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Nov 17, 2003 06:54 pm Good point Mr. Muffins! Important to get a good S/N. Don't know if I am actually "back" just yet. A little lull in action at work at the moment. No predictions just yet, although usually I have a little more time to be social during the winter without all of the yard work and such. Regardless....good to drop in!
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Nov 18, 2003 04:14 am nice to see ya dude!
maybe il stick with software compressors for the minute...they seem to do the job alright...
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Nov 19, 2003 11:01 pm Man, I am getting SX under control finally and I like the soft compression a lot better than the outboard hardware coming in on an insert. Especially because it interacts with everything else so much. Change EQ and balance out it with the compresser. Hard to do if it's pre comrpessed. Actually impossible. Ya, I agree. Especially if there is not too much room noise etc. No need to keep tape saturated recording digital. I love the latitude of using lower levels on incoming and keeping headroom that way. This digital stuff is sweet!
