Compressor question?

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diRegRemo

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Ok, I'll just start by saying that my eyes are sore from reading so much info about compression; and I still know jack. I'm somewhat of a beginner when it comes to home recording. I know what sound I want.. Just knowhere near how to get it. My main question for now is... When it comes to outboard compressor/ gate.. Before or after the mixer, going into PC? I have a 2 channel Behringer compressor/ gate. Now, by saying Behringer, you're probably clued into the fact that I don't have a tremendous amount of money to spend on equipment. These days I have to focus monies on Transformers, and Wonder pets. Please don't tell me I need to buy something different, and a list of what you've got is not going to motivate me to go get it. I'm a firm believer in working with what you got, and I aim to pull the most out of this Behringer (German for crap) equipment as I can..

Thank you
~Chad~
 
diRegRemo said:
Ok, I'll just start by saying that my eyes are sore from reading so much info about compression; and I still know jack. I'm somewhat of a beginner when it comes to home recording. I know what sound I want.. Just knowhere near how to get it. My main question for now is... When it comes to outboard compressor/ gate.. Before or after the mixer, going into PC? I have a 2 channel Behringer compressor/ gate. Now, by saying Behringer, you're probably clued into the fact that I don't have a tremendous amount of money to spend on equipment. These days I have to focus monies on Transformers, and Wonder pets. Please don't tell me I need to buy something different, and a list of what you've got is not going to motivate me to go get it. I'm a firm believer in working with what you got, and I aim to pull the most out of this Behringer (German for crap) equipment as I can..

Thank you
~Chad~
Click to expand...

Why do you want/need to compress what you are recording? Looking for a particular sound? Trying to get more overall level without clipping? Because you were told or read you had to or you weren't doing it right?
 
Ummmm.

To be honest, I have no idea. The main reason I bought the gate is to eliminate noise from the room i record in, and I thought that was the answer to all my problems. Then some say only gate the drums, so now I'm confused. The gate has compressor to, so I assumed that I need to use it. I don't have a clue why my mixer has up +4/ down -10 buttons beside the controls on each channel. My next question was about that. Can you see that I am one confused green pea?
 
diRegRemo said:
To be honest, I have no idea. The main reason I bought the gate is to eliminate noise from the room i record in, and I thought that was the answer to all my problems. Then some say only gate the drums, so now I'm confused. The gate has compressor to, so I assumed that I need to use it. I don't have a clue why my mixer has up +4/ down -10 buttons beside the controls on each channel. My next question was about that. Can you see that I am one confused green pea?
Click to expand...

1st, read the manuals that came with your gear. That will clear up a lot, if not all for you. You didn't mention what gear you are attempting to get to work together. Starting with the mic through the interface to the PC. That will help those trying to help you.
 
Gear..

Mics=1 MXL 990 condensor, 4 Nady Sp-1, and 1 Sure sm58. Behringer compressor pro xl MDX 2600. Behringer virtualizer pro 24-bit multi-engine effects processor(no clue what all that means, but I like the resonator). into Behringer Eurorack ub1002. out to TEAC EQA-220 Graphic Equalizer. In to Behringer U control uca202 interface. I have the effects looped into my mixer, so that my effects knobs control the amount on each channel, but can only use one effect at a time. I also use Acid pro as my software( so yeah I'm all about cheap). Oh yeah, and the Behringer manuals are not very helpful to dummies.
 
If you use the gate to eliminate room noise you will find that the room noise will still be there when the gate opens. Say you are recording accoustic guitar through the gate. When the GTR is not playing no noise! BUT, when you start playing the overall sound level at the mic rises to a point that causes the gate to open and allow all sounds though. The gate does not differentiate between noise and the desired sound.

If you compress you will find that the noise becomes louder. (damn it! i know). What to do?

You are going to have to try and eliminate the noise at the source, or at least minimize it. Do this with mic technique and selection. The first this is to close mic with one that has a cardioid pattern. Then make sure the coincident side of the mic (the back side) is pointed towards the place were the noise is the loudest. That might help. If the noise is equal energy ambient (noise floor) you are just going to have to get the input signal significantly above the noise floor.
 
Hey dean,

Thanks man.. Your reply was very helpful! What is an example of a time when you would actually need gate or compression, or did I get talked into something I really don't need?
 
dean1964 said:
If you use the gate to eliminate room noise you will find that the room noise will still be there when the gate opens...

..You are going to have to try and eliminate the noise at the source, or at least minimize it. Do this with mic technique and selection. The first this is to close mic with one that has a cardioid pattern. Then make sure the coincident side of the mic (the back side) is pointed towards the place were the noise is the loudest. That might help. If the noise is equal energy ambient (noise floor) you are just going to have to get the input signal significantly above the noise floor.
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And a third tool would be to set up some isolation and soft absorption around where you're recording. Generally covered fiberglass is good and cheep, heavy blankets, pads, (a closet?) will help.
What you're doing here is increasing the wanted-to-unwanted signal difference. The quieter the source you're recording the more a given background noise is in proportion.

diRegRemo said:
... What is an example of a time when you would actually need gate or compression, or did I get talked into something I really don't need?
Click to expand...
The comp tends to be more useful for recording, gates -generally something done at mix down, an example would be on a snare/kick or toms.. The problem with gates on sustained things is the 'noise is heard popping up and in with the voice or whatever. Better to fix it so it's not needed.
 
There is a book that can help you get started: Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies by Jeff Strong. He covers starting points for compression, eq, etc. The book is a good read and you can skip over sections that might not pertain to you.

But really, you probably don't want to do any compression, eq, effects on a signal before it goes into the computer. Just capture the take raw then apply what is needed when you mixdown. That way you can figure what works best to make the vocals, guits, etc fit within the song. If you compress, eq, apply effects when tracking (before mixdown) those changes are permanent and might not work with the rest of the tracks, instruments, song, etc.

Peace.
 
Chili said:
There is a book that can help you get started: Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies by Jeff Strong. He covers starting points for compression, eq, etc. The book is a good read and you can skip over sections that might not pertain to you.

But really, you probably don't want to do any compression, eq, effects on a signal before it goes into the computer. Just capture the take raw then apply what is needed when you mixdown. That way you can figure what works best to make the vocals, guits, etc fit within the song. If you compress, eq, apply effects when tracking (before mixdown) those changes are permanent and might not work with the rest of the tracks, instruments, song, etc.

Peace.
Click to expand...

You know that makes total sence... Why screw it up to begin with. You can always undo what was done on the software.. Thanks everyone, You've been a big help!
 
Packing blankets can be a gift from god in all sorts of situations.

To answer your question. Compression is used anytime you want to change the envelop of an audio signal. And that about as broad of an answer there is. Compression is an extremely versatile tool, and dangerous. We as humans tend to recognize louder as better because our hearing is frequency and amplitude dependent. Compression can be wonderful and exciting in the short term but not so much the next morning.

Vocals is the first thing that comes mind as a possible use of compression. but usually just a few dB of reduction at the top dynamic. Kick drum too. A lot of times I'll duplicate a snare track and compress the two differently. One for a lot of snap and the other squished to bring up the decay of the drum. It kinda of varies.
 
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