Strange Noise coming from DBX Compressor..?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Drek
  • Start date Start date
D

Drek

New member
Greetings all!

So I had an older cheap interface that kind of auto compressed my signals so it was pretty smooth coming in but now i just got a really nice interface (focusrite liquid saffire 56) which doesn't seem to do that. So i got a DBX 166XL after hearing of its good reputation, However, I've been getting this "buzzing" sound when i run my mic cables through it--even with no signal going through it(no mic, just cable). I've checked all my cables and the pre's and it's definately the compressor.

This is very strange to me since all the knobs are at zero and compressors shouldn't add any noise. This is my 2nd unit with the same issue. I REALLY need a compressor between the signal and pre/DAW. Could it be something I missed or is there a plug-in i can use before the signal goes into the DAW that i can try instead?

My gear's through a power conditioner and there was zero noise before adding the compressor.

Please help! :)

Thanks, Derek
 
May be you would want to use the dbx as an insert instead.
 
Drek said:
Greetings all!

So I had an older cheap interface that kind of auto compressed my signals so it was pretty smooth coming in but now i just got a really nice interface (focusrite liquid saffire 56) which doesn't seem to do that. So i got a DBX 166XL after hearing of its good reputation, However, I've been getting this "buzzing" sound when i run my mic cables through it--even with no signal going through it(no mic, just cable). I've checked all my cables and the pre's and it's definately the compressor.

This is very strange to me since all the knobs are at zero and compressors shouldn't add any noise. This is my 2nd unit with the same issue. I REALLY need a compressor between the signal and pre/DAW. Could it be something I missed or is there a plug-in i can use before the signal goes into the DAW that i can try instead?

My gear's through a power conditioner and there was zero noise before adding the compressor.

Please help! :)

Thanks, Derek
Click to expand...

Mics directly through the dbx? If that's what you are doing, it's not going to work properly. It wants to see line not mic level. If you are going to use the compressor on the way in, the chain should be Mic - Mic Pre - Compressor - DAW
 
RRuskin said:
Mics directly through the dbx? If that's what you are doing, it's not going to work properly. It wants to see line not mic level. If you are going to use the compressor on the way in, the chain should be Mic - Mic Pre - Compressor - DAW
Click to expand...

So my chain now is: Mic-> comp In -- comp out > Pre 1(in interface) --- Firewire > CPU and this is incorrect then?
Thanks for the reply btw!
 
Drek said:
So my chain now is: Mic-> comp In -- comp out > Pre 1(in interface) --- Firewire > CPU and this is incorrect then?
Thanks for the reply btw!
Click to expand...

Correct. Your chain as described above is wrong and will never work. With few exceptions, the 1st thing any mic should see is a mic pre.
 
RRuskin said:
Correct. Your chain as described above is wrong and will never work. With few exceptions, the 1st thing any mic should see is a mic pre.
Click to expand...

ok thanks, good to know. Forgive me for asking, but how exactly do i put it after the pre when the pre's go out through firewire to the CPU?

Sorry i'm not too familiar with compressing this way and the manual was no help :P
 
Drek said:
ok thanks, good to know. Forgive me for asking, but how exactly do i put it after the pre when the pre's go out through firewire to the CPU?

Sorry i'm not too familiar with compressing this way and the manual was no help :P
Click to expand...

Your interface needs to have a send/receive loop are an aux out/aux return function in order to use any signal processor on the way in. If it doesn't, you're out out of luck. Ask me again why I still use an analog console.
 
RRuskin said:
Your interface needs to have a send/receive loop are an aux out/aux return function in order to use any signal processor on the way in. If it doesn't, you're out out of luck. Ask me again why I still use an analog console.
Click to expand...

Oh i see it now, thanks much for your responses! Well i see your point..Yeah this doesn't seem too practicable in a lot of ways. Is there perhaps a plug-in/software alternative that would essentially do the same thing? I mean you can probably tell what i'm trying to do here and if i need to do multiple channels or don't have the aux i/o's then what is there?
 
Oh you know what..what i'm trying to do isn't possible the way i was thinking. So i guess i'll just have to record at low volume and compress after with a plug in etc. Thanks a lot for your help though!
 
RRuskin said:
Your interface needs to have a send/receive loop are an aux out/aux return function in order to use any signal processor on the way in. If it doesn't, you're out out of luck. Ask me again why I still use an analog console.
Click to expand...

No need to ask why ... but what do you got for a console?
I've got a Yamaha PM1800 32channel.
 
moresound said:
No need to ask why ... but what do you got for a console?
I've got a Yamaha PM1800 32channel.
Click to expand...

TASCAM 2600-32. Excellent board as long as one avoids the mic pres. Using the preamps, it's no better than a Mackie of the same era.
 
A lot of people cannibalize Yamaha PM series console to make bouquet micpres . I'm fortunate to have the whole console!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top