How come I can't "insert" my compressor?

[SteveMac]

Does a DBX compressor not work at line level that I can't insert it into an individual track of the Tascam 308 board for recording? As it is I plug the mic directly into it. I'd like to keep it in an insert chain but it doesn't seem to get a strong enough signal to drive it.

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by SteveMac

Does a DBX compressor not work at line level that I can't insert it into an individual track of the Tascam 308 board for recording? As it is I plug the mic directly into it. I'd like to keep it in an insert chain but it doesn't seem to get a strong enough signal to drive it.

Don't do that!

Plug your microphone into the 308's mic input where you have proper gain-staging and use the standard TRS insert jack on the mixer with the appropriate patch cords.

Cheers!

[Track Rat]

You can't plug a mic into a compressor. Compressor's run at line level and mics don't put out near enough. You'd need a mic preamp for the first stop and then either line out of it to the compressor or if the pre has an insert, you could patch it there.

[up-fiddler]

Agreed. Mic pre then insert or line out to compressor, Dave.

[FALKEN]

I think he meant he is going mic-mixer-insert(compressor) and not getting enough signal from the insert.

[snipeguy]

Originally Posted by SteveMac

Does a DBX compressor not work at line level that I can't insert it into an individual track of the Tascam 308 board for recording? As it is I plug the mic directly into it. I'd like to keep it in an insert chain but it doesn't seem to get a strong enough signal to drive it.

Crank up the output and input of the comp a bit. If not check your insert cables. What are your comp settings?

[SteveMac]

Thanks all for the input.

Actually, it does work plugging directly into the compressor even non powered mics. I've been doing it for years though apparently, by the response here it's probably not the best way to do it.

I want to plug the mic directly into to the mixer and use the insert on that channel. Each channel has an insert. Everything else I've used works fine with the insert except for the compressor. It wont get a signal. There is no input knob on it so it get's whatever you give it.

I'm going to try a few other things to see if I can get a signal. Like cranking it up. Or using the XLR input because the signal is alot stronger from that maybe I went in the 1/4" jack the times I tried it. The DBX compressor does have it's own TSR insert so it doesn't make sense that it
wouldn't work with a mixer.

Good to see you back GFM! Hope all is well.

[The Ghost of FM]

What specific model of dbx compressor are we talking about here?

If it has balanced in and outs, you don't want to be using those with the 208 as the insert is un-balanced on the mixer!!

As mentioned already, gain-staging and comp ratio setting are important info to fill us in with as any of those setting done poorly, could explain your problems.

Also the TRS insert on the comp might be a side-chain for ducking and should not be confused with the normal ins and outs of the compressor.

Cheers!

[SteveMac]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

What specific model of dbx compressor are we talking about here?

If it has balanced in and outs, you don't want to be using those with the 208 as the insert is un-balanced on the mixer!!

As mentioned already, gain-staging and comp ratio setting are important info to fill us in with as any of those setting done poorly, could explain your problems.

Also the TRS insert on the comp might be a side-chain for ducking and should not be confused with the normal ins and outs of the compressor.

Cheers!

Well, It works now?? It's a DBX 266a I have no idea what I was doing different before. Maybe I was going in the side chain and it is like you said for ducking (whats ducking?) I'll have to check that out. Now I'm going into the regular mono in/out with a splitter then into the mixer insert with a TRS and it works!

[snipeguy]

The Analog Gods work in mysterious ways.

[The Ghost of FM]

Originally Posted by SteveMac

Well, It works now?? It's a DBX 266a I have no idea what I was doing different before. Maybe I was going in the side chain and it is like you said for ducking (whats ducking?) I'll have to check that out. Now I'm going into the regular mono in/out with a splitter then into the mixer insert with a TRS and it works!

Glad to read the problem has rectified itself!

About ducking;

Ducking is a method of automatically getting a compressor to kick in when triggered by an external source that, itself, is not being compressed.

As an example; Imagine yourself in a wonderful shopping market, where wonderful Muzak hits from 1964 are attacking your very soul, urging you to be a good citizen and not to steal from the store....Sudenly, the manager's squeaky voice comes over the bull-horns, stating there is a spill in isle four and the police have been dispatched!

What happens when the manager comes on the system is that the muzak mutes downward in volume and pops back to its previous level via the magic of ducking!

Ducking uses a cue feed from the manager's microphone to go into your compressor's insert point to act as a trigger signal to get the muzak to mute downward in volume via the compressor's setting to gain reduce its signal.

Aren't you glad you asked?

Cheers!

[SteveMac]

Originally Posted by The Ghost of FM

Glad to read the problem has rectified itself!

About ducking;

Ducking is a method of automatically getting a compressor to kick in when triggered by an external source that, itself, is not being compressed.

As an example; Imagine yourself in a wonderful shopping market, where wonderful Muzak hits from 1964 are attacking your very soul, urging you to be a good citizen and not to steal from the store....Sudenly, the manager's squeaky voice comes over the bull-horns, stating there is a spill in isle four and the police have been dispatched!

What happens when the manager comes on the system is that the muzak mutes downward in volume and pops back to its previous level via the magic of ducking!

Ducking uses a cue feed from the manager's microphone to go into your compressor's insert point to act as a trigger signal to get the muzak to mute downward in volume via the compressor's setting to gain reduce its signal.

Aren't you glad you asked?

Cheers!

Yeah, Well now I know I can duck muzak with it. You never know when you might need it.

[acorec]

How come I can't "insert" my compressor?


It is probably too big. Those insert points only take 1/4" jacks. Any compressor is gonna exceed this by a large margin.

The one exception is the software compressor which by all accounts is already "in-the-box"


You are welcome.

[audioholic]

One more idea for future reference is to always know the "Pin out" of the gear you are using. Sometimes different mixers will switch the insert pins for in and out.

[SteveMac]

Originally Posted by acorec

How come I can't "insert" my compressor?


It is probably too big. Those insert points only take 1/4" jacks. Any compressor is gonna exceed this by a large margin.

The one exception is the software compressor which by all accounts is already "in-the-box"


You are welcome.

I thought it looked too small.