Compressor problem, help!!!

[Da Arsun]

Well I have a DBX 266xl compressor, my problem is somtimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The reason I say that is two days ago I recorded and when I spoke into the mic I would see the LED lights on my compressor light up and down. And on my pro-tools my vocals would come out nice and compressed. Yesterday, the LED lights weren 't workin and my vocals were peeking when I wasn't even speaking loud into the mic. Can someone tell me whats going on? Oh yeah and my compressor doesn't have a on/off switch so someone told me to just leave it plug in at all times is that true?

[MISTERQCUE]

Do you have the unit in the "IN" position?

Are you using the mic direct in to channel or do you have unit connected to a board's channel inserts?

[Da Arsun]

My compressor is inserted into my mixer channel insert with a "Y" cable..

[Fletcher]

OK... you're using it on an insert... but are you sure the unit isn't "bypassed"?

[Blue Bear Sound]

Originally posted by Da Arsun
My compressor is inserted into my mixer channel insert with a "Y" cable..

Hopefully, it's a 2 conductor Y-cable...??

(ie, 1/4" TRS at one end, two 1/4" TS on the other end)

[Da Arsun]

Certaintly I'm sure its not on bypassed, and the cable I have is a 1/4 on one end that splits into two 1/4 tip and ring sleeve.

[MISTERQCUE]

Put the unit's gain at unity.
Slowly increase compression thresh while maintaining a hi ratio
and speak into mic.
Is the mic signal being processed at all!!??

[Son of Mixerman]

What is the single ended side? Just 1/4" or is it TRS 1/4"?
Insert cables are different than typical "Y" cables. Just double check, you also might have the I/O backwards, the compressor should tell you if the tip is out or in to match the mixer insert. Some of the older consoles are wired backwards.

SoMm

[chessrock]

I think you fried it.

Sounds like it's toast, to me.

[Son of Mixerman]

Ok, did you change the hook up of the compressor from a couple of days ago?
A couple of days ago did you have the compressor to work at +4 and if so did you change it to -10 when the problem started or visa versa? Its possible you broke it, or some opamp popped on ya, its an electrical device so sometimes stuff just happens. Free Electron damage

You might want to check you mic preamp to see if the distortion is a separate issue from the compressor...things can get bumped without knowing..

SoMm

[Blue Bear Sound]

Originally posted by Da Arsun
...and the cable I have is a 1/4 on one end that splits into two 1/4 tip and ring sleeve.

That didn't really answer the question... the single-sided end MUST be TRS 1/4" (ie, looks like a headphone plug), while the split ends must each be 1/4" TS (looks like a guitar connector)...