Buying Compressor

[Abbott]

I am ready to buy a compressor. It would mainly be for rock music: drums, bass, vocals, etc. Would you recommend this supposedly magical Really Nice Compressor over something a hundred bucks cheaper like let's say the Behringer Composer Pro????

[Gidge]

if you want a really nice compressor, get the RNC....

i think the Composer pro may lack a little in the apps you want it for...the limiter on it works great, but you cant hit the compressor really hard without getting those nasty artifacts......

[mikemoritz]

Side question:

Would the RNC be useful for say a radio station compressor? We're looking to update the school's station, and there are no compressors. The only other option the school was looking into was DBX, but I told them to check the RNC. Would it be good for maintaining a good level on a radio station while switching tunes?

Mike

[dr.colossus]

i'm unsure wether the rnc has a side chain (composer pro does) which is usfeul in radio apps, because you can use it to "auto fade" voice overs, ie; it quietens the music whilst someone speaks over it...based on what i've heard, if the rnc has one of these i think it would do o.k. for radio

[VotaIdiota]

the rnc would work very well as a radio station compressor, as it does have a sidechain.

[trebles]

scv make decent compressors radio stations might like as well but the behringer is hard to go buy for the money im buying one myself after so many have spoken well about it you cant go wrong for that little money

[Patrick (B)]

I extensively use the 2 Behringer Composer Pro (MDX 2200) for bass, acoustic guitars and vocals.

We play classic rock (Toto, Dire Straits, Frampton, Bryan Adams, Police, Doobie Brothers, ...) and I can assure you that it really rocks !

For more advanced vocal recording, I would be keen to consider a "voice channel" (TLA, Focusrite, ...) but then I'll have to buy a TLM103 to upgrade from my current Sennheiser 855.

Ooohhhh ... not forgetting :
- a simpler DOD compressor (2 channel) that I only use to protect communication mics (drums, ...) and
- the Behringer Ultradyne 9024 (6-bands compressor-limiter-enhancer-...) used as a mastering tool ! Incredible result for an equipment recently bought at the equivalent of 180 USD !!!


Cheers,

Patrick
Brussels

[chessrock]

Originally posted by sonusman
The Composer Pro DOES have Balanced I/O on XLR AND 1/4" connectors. It also has a pretty darn good Peak Limiter, and that would be something attractive to a radio station, ESPECIALLY AM.

Well I for one am sick of everyone flocking around like sheep and grabbing whatever gear Ed recom . . . . . . wait a minute, I must be having flashbacks.

Ed's right. The compser's what you should get. The peak limiter is a big plus for broadcast.

Anothing useful accessory I would highly recommend is actually software-based. Although the description says it only works on wav files, it can be configured to work in real time with a normal audio signal. Here's the description: ". . . It will scan all selected frequencies in the wav file to determine the minimum and maximum amplitudes. It will then correct these variations by automatically increasing or decreasing the levels of attenuation at specific frequency intervals (usually 1/3 octave).

The result is a nearly linear frequency response. For the listener, this creates more consistent sounding audio. . . . A common problem that many of these stations experience is an inconsistency in true audio reproduction (i.e., different songs sound different). By utilizing this function, one may be assured that there will be an average and consistent degree of bass and treble response, independent of a specific song title or artist."

It's called the Graphic Equalizer Studio.

http://www.audio-software.com/