Is my Compressor faulty?

[Steenamaroo]

In general, make-up gain is situated more in the front of the circuit, often the first thing, and so it drives the rest of the comp and affects your choices.

I'm glad Rami brought that up.

In general doesn't mean one obscure example. I've no doubt there are more, but enough to be considered the norm?
If the OP packed up his shit and left after the above quote, he'd be misinformed. There's no debate in that.

In general, makeup gain is at the end of the chain.


If you had said "I've seen rare examples where 'makeup gain' is labelled at the input of a comp. Sure, it's not common but I thought I'd point it out..."
this would have been a totally different thread.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Please Miro, just stop arguing this silly point.

Yes, we get that that compressor has that printed on it. And you wasted this much time arguing that it is a common thing....

Point taken and opinion reinforced.

Oh yeah,

 

[miroslav]

Yes, we get that that compressor has that printed on it. And you wasted this much time arguing that it is a common thing....

Since you're saying something I never said...I'll post to clarify it, for the sake of accuracy.

I don't think I ever said it's a common thing to have it "printed" on comp inputs.
What I was saying/meaning was that it's common to have input gain (which is technically a signal make-up) situated in front of a lot of comps...and that "gain" ALWAYS implies "make-up".

That said, I think it's fair to say that the only time it's accurate to use the term "Make Up" on any input or output is when it's purely a boost, a gain, a way to make-up the signal, and also when it's at minimum it's always unity and never below.
The device I pictured is exactly that...purely an input boost, which = make up gain...and they labeled it accurately.
When any comp has "Make Up Gain" marked, but also allows you to cut and go down past unity...I also think it's fair to say that terminology is incorrect, and is more confusing than what I've been saying.

If those points seem silly to some here for discussion in this thread...I can't change that, but please don't change what I really said and meant.

Otherwise...there was/is no desire on my part to get into this whole terminology discussion with any negative attitudes...with anyone here.
I'm not religious, but it is Easter weekend, so peace and a happy weekend to all, and let's all enjoy the rest of it.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Good to have you back, Miro.

 

[Kriz]

Not sure where this thread has wandered but the Meek compressor under discussion has no valves in it nor audio transformers according to the manual (OP, the traff you see is the mains power jobbie) .

They are at pains to point out the very high headroom of both the inputs and output circuits and since Meek did work to BBC specifications it is unlikely that this is one of those compressors that has much of an attitude.

Sadly they do not see fit to include even a signal flow diagram much less a schematic!

Dave.

Hi Dave, So the Meek VC1Qcs has no audio transformers and the tranny to the right is for power. I think the VC1Q had at least 1 transformer not sure if it was for the input or output, So the cs has two chips and the VC1Q a chip and a tranny and that would explain the slightly different sound. Not sure why the cs has a more mellow compressor but supposedly it does as i don't own the cs less version i couldn't tell you.

 

[ido1957]

I read somewhere that people will limit their individual tracks for that exact purpose - to make them all loud as ****. Something about mixing for loudness. Sounds like a total waste.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Since you're saying something I never said...I'll post to clarify it, for the sake of accuracy.

I don't think I ever said it's a common thing to have it "printed" on comp inputs.
What I was saying/meaning was that it's common to have input gain (which is technically a signal make-up) situated in front of a lot of comps...and that "gain" ALWAYS implies "make-up".

That said, I think it's fair to say that the only time it's accurate to use the term "Make Up" on any input or output is when it's purely a boost, a gain, a way to make-up the signal, and also when it's at minimum it's always unity and never below.
The device I pictured is exactly that...purely an input boost, which = make up gain...and they labeled it accurately.
When any comp has "Make Up Gain" marked, but also allows you to cut and go down past unity...I also think it's fair to say that terminology is incorrect, and is more confusing than what I've been saying.

If those points seem silly to some here for discussion in this thread...I can't change that, but please don't change what I really said and meant.

Otherwise...there was/is no desire on my part to get into this whole terminology discussion with any negative attitudes...with anyone here.
I'm not religious, but it is Easter weekend, so peace and a happy weekend to all, and let's all enjoy the rest of it.

Well, I suppose saying 'go find eggs' is nicer than 'go suck eggs'.

Happy Easter buddy.

I say we all gain by doing a 'make up' and end this conversation.

 

[ecc83]

Hi Dave, So the Meek VC1Qcs has no audio transformers and the tranny to the right is for power. I think the VC1Q had at least 1 transformer not sure if it was for the input or output, So the cs has two chips and the VC1Q a chip and a tranny and that would explain the slightly different sound. Not sure why the cs has a more mellow compressor but supposedly it does as i don't own the cs less version i couldn't tell you.

Hi Kriz. It is an educated guess (OP please post a smudge!) but if the unit contains just ONE thing that looks like a transformer I strongly suspect it to be a power traff. It could be that they use an SMPSU in a tin but I doubt it in such a "conservative" design.

I have no access to any of this kit (and it wouldn't matter if I did from a sound "judgement" point of view!) so I base my observations on maker's speccs. Note that the Neve diagram shows quite clearly that the output amplifier is POST the compressor gain control element so changing that gain will have no effect upon the compression characteristics.

Note also that the use of audio transformers is not bound to give a sonic change? The very well respected Focusrite Red pre amp uses* both input and output traffs but is one of the cleanest and most accurate around. It is also said that if you DO overdrive it, it does not get "warmer" just nasty!

*And also the NE op amps so reviled of Adiophools!

Dave.