Is my Compressor faulty?

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Kriz

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Hi, I own the Joe Meek VC1Qcs and i haven't used it as much as i should. I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to using compressors, I found when turning up the comp it acts as a noise reducer or volume reducer (Dampening the sound) From my limited understanding a comp works by reducing the dynamic range there by making the sound appear louder without having to increase the overall volume noise etc kinda the opposite of what i'm hearing, However I read on the joe Meek website that that you have to have the gain input/output volume up for the comp to work. Not sure on what their getting at hear but it's contrary to what i know about compressors? :confused:
 
Compressor compresses. That means you'll get less volume out than in. That's what the "makeup" or "gain" knob is for. Your compressor has effectively leveled out the peaks (depending on Ratio) by a number of decibels and your job is to put the level back up. Now it will be louder than the original because the peaks were leveled off and you re-established the original peak. Clear as the driven slush?
 
Wow! Just downloaded the manual for the Meek and that is quite a compressor and a bit more besides.

I have only skimmed through the 21 page manual but it seems THE most comprehensive I have read for a long time (other mnfcts please note!).
Armed with such clear and concise instructions, if you can't learn to drive that device, flog it and use software!

BTW, what is the compressor connected from and to? It is an unashamed "professional" level device with a "takes no prisoners" max output of +26dBu, i.e. about 15volts rms.

Dave.
 
Very often all a track needs is just a bit of reduction. In that case it isn't pulling the volume down much, and very little make up gain (or none) is needed.
Another thing that 'pulls a track back' (relative to a given amount of threshold or reduction) is slow release. A faster release -well it's spending less time in reduction i.e. louder overall, but it can also be a more forward (tends to sit more up front in a mix.
 
Very common comment from new compressor users, because the first thing you notice is the volume drop. Don't forget that the input gain controls where the compressor knee sits and where compression starts. Hearing a compressor needs plenty of practice, because often what it's doing isn't that obvious until you have other stuff in the mix, and you suddenly realise the compressed track starts to be easier to hear. Time and experimentation. Trouble is, you will develop your favourite settings and tend to use them without experimenting more!
 
Kriz said:
Hi, I own the Joe Meek VC1Qcs and i haven't used it as much as i should. I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to using compressors, I found when turning up the comp it acts as a noise reducer or volume reducer (Dampening the sound) From my limited understanding a comp works by reducing the dynamic range there by making the sound appear louder without having to increase the overall volume noise etc kinda the opposite of what i'm hearing, However I read on the joe Meek website that that you have to have the gain input/output volume up for the comp to work. Not sure on what their getting at hear but it's contrary to what i know about compressors? :confused:
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If your compressor has an auto-gain make up mode, switch it on.

If not, adjust it using your ears, make the input/output the same in RMS (hearing volume to not speak with weird terms). :)
 
Paschalis I. said:
If your compressor has an auto-gain make up mode, switch it on.

If not, adjust it using your ears, make the input/output the same in RMS (hearing volume to not speak with weird terms). :)
Click to expand...
Ick. So many 'auto gains' just blow! :p:) They can often over do it, and just confuse the issue.
 
mixsit said:
Ick. So many 'auto gains' just blow! :p:) They can often over do it, and just confuse the issue.
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Agreed.

I can't remember the last time I've even touched a make-up gain knob, let alone auto-gain. Once I compress something, that becomes it's volume. If I then need to adjust volume, I just use the fader. I never use make-up gain.
 
Make up gain might go through a transformer or tube, so it would (in theory) color the sound.
I've played around a bit with mine and it gives a bit more "tone".
I've also just used the gain to get that tone (no GR) and it's a cool effect.
Most of the time though I use the same old settings....
 
ido1957 said:
Make up gain might go through a transformer or tube, so it would (in theory) color the sound.
I've played around a bit with mine and it gives a bit more "tone".
I've also just used the gain to get that tone (no GR) and it's a cool effect.
Most of the time though I use the same old settings....
Click to expand...
You think? I always thought make up gain was the last thing in the chain and is just a volume and nothing else. But I might be wrong, I never really thought about it or played with it.
 
First, after viewing the manual for the VC1, :drool: :envy:
Second, at least on this unit, RAMI is correct in that the output is just a volume control...
 
Here's the inside of my comp - you can see the tubes on the right side where the compressor is.
LA610MKII-3.webp
 
I'm illiterate when it comes to that. What am I looking at and what does it prove?
 
Make up gain turns it up. If the design sticks it through a tube section then it will indeed be altered (for better or worse, depending on your own viewpoint). The makeup gain control turns up, whatever you have. I always find I need to do it a little on computer systems, while not so often on external analogue systems.
 
Hi Everyone Happy Easter, Thanks for your responses, I record and mix everything digitally, I guess you don't learn as much this way though where everything seems to be set at optimal settings and i'll include VST's too you certainly don't have to mix this stuff as much as audio tracks, However i do use a lot of audio instruments guitars, mono synth, digital synths etc and i need a preamp to bring everything up to my mono's volume. So thats why i bought the VC1Qcs mainly as a pre but i though i'd tool around with the comp too.


The best thing i discovered about this unit is it's EQ great fun to fool around with and easy to use. The pre is a little noisy but only at incredibly loud volumes probably not good enough for audio purists though. I got a surprise on the comp section, I was expecting it to make my music louder somewhat thinner more compressed less overtones more like an old valve amp but this one seems more on the cotton wall variety. Yes the attack and release set to higher speeds did leave more overtones untouched (louder) I did get some more rounded pro audio (kinda like your listening to a mastered track) sound. I think it's so far sounded best on long evolving pads and drum patches which is where the eq sounds best. On guitar i'm not so sure it's mainly robbed it of it's character and i do use a lot of external analog effects tape delays oil can and drum echo's etc, Perhaps it's not great with these devices or maybe it's just not for guitars. My guess is it's mainly used as a mixing device in a all analog recording setup not as a front end pre for recording audio instruments to digital but i could be wrong it does have a digital upgrade facility on the back.


Summing up, I'm probably planning on selling it, I've got some folks interested at buying it at $300 and i'll probably need all the cash i can get to restore my faulty echo's devices. I just have one more question. On opening up the unit i did find the circuit boards marked VC1Q no mention of the cs on any of them and only 1 transformer for the out put not sure at all what the difference between the models is? Maybe cs doesn't stand for current sense but rather missing input transformer?
 
Hi, I can see where i've gone wrong here, i've been using limiters as comps and comps as limiters So the comp is mainly used for volume levelling a track and getting rid of those unwanted loud bit's, Would i be right to assume a limiter would be used for increasing the overall volume without the added noise that comes from increasing the volume gain etc? If so i guess i got the two mixed up the wrong way around and while this was not so much of a problem with Software synths Midi etc ( which seem to have their volumes pretty much set) It's a problem with audio instruments. On my previous album i either left the loud transients in or edited them out and the softer tracks i just brought down the volume of the louder ones to match or wrecked them with a comp ( wrecked is a harsh word maybe changed them) but i guess you can use a Comp as a Limiter but never a limiter as a Comp.
 
If some tracks are louder than others and need levelling, rather than turn tracks up, just turn the louder ones down. There's no reason to have things as loud as possible while mixing. Using a limiter is overkill for what you want to do. Not only do you not need a limiter on tracks, you really don't need to turn tracks up. Turn tracks down instead.
 
RAMI said:
If some tracks are louder than others and need levelling, rather than turn tracks up, just turn the louder ones down. There's no reason to have things as loud as possible while mixing. Using a limiter is overkill for what you want to do. Not only do you not need a limiter on tracks, you really don't need to turn tracks up. Turn tracks down instead.
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Thanks Rami, That sounds like nearly a vote of confidence on my last album but have you heard it? It sounds a little quieter than a standard CD release and CD volume is and was all i was interested in of course most releases these days are much louder than you standard CD/ Tape/ Vinyl. I compose mainly ambient film soundtrack music where volume loudness is not an issue but i do send it off to radio stations too where it could be an issue. So CD volume is the mark i'm aiming for.
 
RAMI said:
If some tracks are louder than others and need levelling, rather than turn tracks up, just turn the louder ones down. There's no reason to have things as loud as possible while mixing. Using a limiter is overkill for what you want to do. Not only do you not need a limiter on tracks, you really don't need to turn tracks up. Turn tracks down instead.
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This. You compress for the sound of compression, not to avoid clipping. If you're so close to clipping that you feel you need dynamics then everything is way too hot. Turn it all down 18dB.

If there's noise and you add gain the noise will get louder. Dynamics processors don't change that.
 
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