Just bought a compressor and it's not working right i don't think
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Posted on May 26, 2003 01:50 am
Loki
Cone Poker
Member Since: Apr 07, 2002
I just got a yamaha comp/limiter GC2020b II and i have it hooked up but it isn't doing anything i don't know if i have it hooked up right or not but i don't know
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May 26, 2003 01:19 pm it's not exaclty the most obvious signal processor to listen for. compression seems to sound best when it's more obvious that it isn't there.
what's it doing? what makes you think it's not working right? insert it in your mixer's aux/effects loop and confirm you've got a signal by checking dB meters, you might try and bypass the effect at first to ensure you'[ve got a good strong signal to begin with. start singing or strumming a guitar or whatever's your thing and push the threshold below the peaks (if you're peaking around -3dB, turn the threshold down below that), then turn up the ratio above 1:1, try something extreme first, for a more obvioud effects. you might start with a fast attack. by now you shouls be able to tell that you are not peaking as high anymore.
oh, and once you got it clamping down on your signal, be sure to use the output (blue/purple knob on right) to adjust for however much gain you lost.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 26, 2003 09:50 pm OK Jamie, I gotta ask. How do you know its a blue/purple knob on the right?
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
May 26, 2003 10:33 pm well I'm turning knobs and stuff and I really don't notice anything happening. heh
May 27, 2003 12:27 am Noize, i searched it up on eBay. It's a quick, straight-from-the-user's-mouth description of anything and everything.
Loki, there's some "on/off" bypass switches on each channel, make sure they're on, and actually, this is a great way to test the effect. Just toggle that on/off and listen for changes in volume. Also watch the dB meter on your mixer or on your Delta or where ever. It shouldn't be peaking as high with the effect on.
Start with some hardcore over-the-edge settings, like -40dB theshold, highest ratio setting which is probably infinite or limiting, and a fast attack. also too long of a release is easy to pinpoint because it stays clamped down too long. and start with the output at 0dB; it'll make it easier to listen for the difference.
hope the thing isn't broke !! -j
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
May 28, 2003 02:05 pm heres something I forgot to mention, I'm running the compressor through the effects loops alog with my reverbs and sampler, so the sound is going out of the desk, into the effects, then back into the desk. Should I instead of plugging the mic into the desk be plugging it directly into the compressor?
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
May 28, 2003 07:25 pm Signal chain:
Source (Microphone) -> Preamp -> Compressor -> FX.
May 29, 2003 04:48 am Loki, definitly try out just the compressor first. At least until you start to get the feel of it.
And um, I'm not positive, but if you have the option, I thing you'll want to use "pre-fader" sends so that you can turn the input channel's fader all the way down and just use the return's fader (i'm not familiar with any of your mixers). That will keep the output 100% wet. If any dry signal is getting thru then it will be hard
sorry if i'm talking brown
Jun 01, 2003 10:37 pm are you figuring it out?
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Jun 02, 2003 05:25 pm first I need to get my mics back from my friend. hehe. Also the only source of phantom power i have is my small phonics mixer, would that work for a preamp before going into my other desk?
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Jun 02, 2003 08:02 pm Yeah - use the phonic to amp the mic signal - then pan it hard left so that you can buss it out straight into the Compressor - that will work just fine.
(did we establish your mixer doesn't have insert points?)
jues.
LokiCone PokerMember
Since: Apr 07, 2002
Jun 03, 2003 04:33 pm No insert points on the yamaha but there are insert points on the phonics.
juesContributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002
Jun 03, 2003 08:38 pm However, unless you plan to use the phonic as your main mixer (which might be an idea, depending on how clean the channels and pre's are on the yammaha job) they're not that useful.
jues.
btw: so is it working yet?
Jun 04, 2003 02:12 am Loki, plug your electric guitar in direct. Find a dB meter downstream and watch the amplitude as you listen and turn knobs. YOu should be able to "see" and hear the reduction occuring as you toggle the channel on/bypass.
Start with a good clean siganl, peaking to at least -6dB. start with a hard threshold, -12dB or something. Crank the ratio to like 10:1. Everything should get quieter as the compression kicks in to quiet your attacks. Correct the perceived volume loss by turning up the output. Maybe +6 or so. Watch the dB meter and listen, and you'll understand what it's doing. Play with the attack and release, input gains, whatever. when you get it working just right, you should be able to make the guitar sustain forever. -j
