Using hardware compressor with an audio interface??

C

chava

New member
To my understanding, a hardware compressor should fall in-between the pre and converter in a recording signal chain in that order (pre-->compressor-->converter). True?

So how exactly do you incorporate a compressor in a signal chain that has an audio interface which does not give you the luxury of putting anything in-between the built-in pres and converters? I'm guessing maybe you cant? Which means that one needs a standalone pre to enjoy the services of a hardware comp for recording?
 
You've got the right idea. Fortunately, there are some pretty good compressor plug ins. Unless you have a hardware compressor that provides some unique mojo there's not a whole lot of reason to bother with hardware compression.
 
Thanks. Reason why I was considering hardware compression is I wanted to be able to compress on the way in and SEE (not just hear) the results. I am using logic and the comp plugs are channel strip inserts so you don't really SEE the changes in the wave-form as you compress. Gotta admit that it's a bad habit I picked up from my cool edit days; I depend on my eyes probably much more than my ears when it comes to judging dynamics.
 
You don't need to create a new track, just render the compression on the track you got (you can always undo if you need to.) And if the 5 seconds it takes to do that is too time consuming, the I suggest you need to dump a few of the things you go on your plate because no one should ever be that pressed for time. ;)

G.
 
SouthSIDE Glen said:
You don't need to create a new track, just render the compression on the track you got (you can always undo if you need to.) And if the 5 seconds it takes to do that is too time consuming, the I suggest you need to dump a few of the things you go on your plate because no one should ever be that pressed for time. ;)

G.
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hehehe...roger that Glen! Thanks for the help everyone.
 
chava said:
Thanks. Reason why I was considering hardware compression is I wanted to be able to compress on the way in and SEE (not just hear) the results. I am using logic and the comp plugs are channel strip inserts so you don't really SEE the changes in the wave-form as you compress. Gotta admit that it's a bad habit I picked up from my cool edit days; I depend on my eyes probably much more than my ears when it comes to judging dynamics.
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"Bad" habit doesn't even scratch the surface of how horrible an idea that is... The last thing you should be doing is looking at a wave-form (I don't even turn mine on most of the time). And most would wholeheartedly argue against recording through a compressor unless you have a very specific reason for doing so and have a VERY solid handle on proper gain-staging. If you're watching wave forms, I'm going to assume you may have a little to learn in that regard, which makes this even a more horrible idea.
 
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