compressor question!

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The Nawnz
Member Since: Apr 12, 2007

okay so check it out. so im using a dbx166xl Compressor/limiter/gate to record vocals. my question is give me the configurations for nice smooth clean vocals it would really help! please make sure you give me great instructions! thanks

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Member
Since: Apr 05, 2007


May 01, 2007 10:00 pm

I wish i fully understood how to use compressors myself :(

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 02, 2007 12:23 pm

keep your ratio under 3:1, use a slower attack time, and a longer release time....don't use the gate.

wyd

we prefer "percussionist"
Member
Since: Jul 21, 2004


May 02, 2007 03:47 pm

I finally gave up and downloaded a copy of BetaBugs compressor (I forget the name). It's got one knob - turn up for more, down for less. You can't do all the "tricks" with it, but for generic, run-of-the-mill compressing, it solves a lot of headaches!

Oh yeah, being free is a nice touch too!

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 02, 2007 04:28 pm

that sounds like a limiter too me, and a limiter is a really fast and aggressive compressor.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


May 02, 2007 04:36 pm

If your are talking about Simple Squeeze or something like that, it works great. Ya, limited but it's often all you need (IMO).

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


May 02, 2007 04:39 pm

Another good one-knob limiter is the Classic Master Limiter from the Classic Series VST plugins.

Works great on kick, snare, overall mixes, and anything else you want to squish the crap out of.

But for vocals, you're going to want something with controls for gain, threshold, ratio, attack and release. Vocals tracks are probably the single most vulnerable to over-compression. It really sticks out like a sore thumb when someone's vocals are overcompressed.

If you don't know what all of those controls do, there are tons of articles around the net that'll teach you. There's a good compression article here at HRC as well.

Give a man a preset and he can compress for a day...teach a man to compress and, uh, well OK so the metaphor breaks down there but you get the idea.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


May 02, 2007 05:30 pm

hey tad, have you ever tried 'multing' (as in mutiply) your drums and compressing one, and leavin' the other dry....this is one of my favorite tricks to giving drums real punch....

tape saturate the crap outta the kick and snare...then let a dry one sit on top of it.

easiest way to fatten drums.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


May 02, 2007 06:02 pm

Hey thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


May 02, 2007 10:17 pm

I've been using saturater's for years. I actually had a hardware one before Steinberg released Magneto. Then I found the PSP Vintage Warmer, wow what treat that was. It is more along the lines of a fancy high end comp/limiter but it can do the saturation thing very well. I have another one that is some odd ball plug I picked up from some little out of the way place. If I find it I'll let you guys know what it was. I haven't used that one in years but it did work a charm.

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