Advice on compressors

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dogman
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Dogman

Dogman

Unkle Ticklefingers
I'd like some advice on getting a compressor, or mic preamp if needed.

I record at home for fun, and am having trouble getting a good vocal sound. I've tried various things in mixing, and some different recording techniques, and gotten some decent results, but vocals always sound thin, and somewhat tinny. I'm not a great singer, and don't want to sound like anyone else, just get a fuller sound. I have a Shure SM-58 mic, and run it into a Digitech VR300 vocal pedal as a preamp, and use some of the delay and reverb effects, then into a Boss BR-532 digital recorder. There is a built in compressor on the vocal pedal, but I don't know if it does much.

Question is, would I be better to get a vocal compressor to put in line, or some kind of mic preamp? I've seen a few advertised at various sites, anywhere from $50 dollars for a basic one, on up. Suggestions on what is a good value for home use, just to help get a richer sound, not work magic.

Any help and input is appreciated.
Thanks
Ed

:confused:
 
Good mic technique...

will beat the sound of a great, expensive compressor anyday. For your average home use, spend your money on a mic pre.
 
Thanks. Any particular bran you've had good/bad experience with? I'd like to stay under $200 if I can, just because I'm not a singer, just want better sounds. I've seen a Behringer MIC 200 Tube preamp with Modeling for $55.00. Also an ART Tube Pac Microphone Preamp and Compressor (Model 131) for $120. Is this what I should be looking at, or something different?
Thanks again.
Ed
 
Dogman said:
Thanks. Any particular bran you've had good/bad experience with? I'd like to stay under $200 if I can, just because I'm not a singer, just want better sounds. I've seen a Behringer MIC 200 Tube preamp with Modeling for $55.00. Also an ART Tube Pac Microphone Preamp and Compressor (Model 131) for $120. Is this what I should be looking at, or something different?
Thanks again.
Ed
Click to expand...

If you use the search feature at the top of the page, you will find a wealth of opinions on preamps in your pricerange. Here are a few to consider.

1 Channel:
Rane MS-1B - ~$150, clean sound
Studio Projects VTB-1 - ~$130, has a blendable tube for a more colored sound

2 Channel:
M-Audio DMP3 - ~$160, clean sound
 
Thanks for the reply. You're right, there are a lot of opinions on these things.

Mainly just trying to get some equipement so the sounds are better than recording dry into a 4 track, and editing it on the pc. I've gotten decent sounds from the instruments, but vocals are always either thin, or way to deep. Mainly technique, so I know what needs the most work.
 
Dogman said:
I'd like some advice on getting a compressor, or mic preamp if needed.

I record at home for fun, and am having trouble getting a good vocal sound. I've tried various things in mixing, and some different recording techniques, and gotten some decent results, but vocals always sound thin, and somewhat tinny. I'm not a great singer, and don't want to sound like anyone else, just get a fuller sound. I have a Shure SM-58 mic, and run it into a Digitech VR300 vocal pedal as a preamp, and use some of the delay and reverb effects, then into a Boss BR-532 digital recorder. There is a built in compressor on the vocal pedal, but I don't know if it does much.

Question is, would I be better to get a vocal compressor to put in line, or some kind of mic preamp? I've seen a few advertised at various sites, anywhere from $50 dollars for a basic one, on up. Suggestions on what is a good value for home use, just to help get a richer sound, not work magic.

Any help and input is appreciated.
Thanks
Ed

:confused:
Click to expand...


Before you throw any money towards this particular problem:

Does the Boss unit not have a preamp built in? If so, where exactly are you putting that Digitech? I dont think you can use that unit for a preamp - it is expecting line level signals. That right there might explain your thin, tinny sound. The digitech should go after a preamp, or in the insert on the boss (if it has one). If you want to spend money, I would put most of it towards another mic instead, and less of it towards a preamp. A 49 dollar ART tube mp or the 55$ behringer will go far in your set up - for DI, phantom power, and as a preamp. There are lots of 150$ condensor mics you would want to try out too.
 
I believe the Boss has a preamp, as it has several "settings" for a mic that can add effects. The Digitech is right after the mic, then into the recorder. The Digitech pedal has some amp and compressor settings along with EQ and other effects, but I'm not sure how well it does the job. It does have a gain and master knob, and both XLR and 1/4" input and output. If I plug the mic directly into the recorder, it works ok, but gets thin if I'm more than 2" away from it. And using the Digitech pedal, I can turn the gain and master up, and get further away, but it still sounds "Off", if that describes it.
I've definitely considered another mic, but don't know what order I need to acquire stuff in to build a better vocal sound. What I mean is, what is the most lacking, besides my voice, that I should look at first. It could even be the recorder, as it records to SmartMedia, and maybe there is something happening there that takes away from the sound quality. I've even put a guitar compressor into the chain, right after the Digitech pedal, and it did make the sound much fuller, but got noisy, so I assumed that was the wrong thing to stick in there.
If a preamp will help, it's cheap and I will need one with a good condensor mic, won't I? I don't know much about mics, byt I think that is something I will need to purchase soon also.

Anyway, thanks for the reply, and if you think of anything else, I'd appreciate it.
Ed
 
Seems like your thread made you more questions...

than answers. What four tracker are you talking about?
 
Right now I have a Boss BR-532 recorder. It has 4 basic tracks, and 32 virtual tracks you can bounce to. I have no idea if something like this does any compressing on its own as you record, or not. I will eventually get something nicer, but I needed something to get me started since the last thing I used was a 4 track cassette recorder around 1988. No effects and one $16 mic. The new stuff is great, but I probably bought too cheap.

That's why, if a simple but good mic preamp will help, I can justify that right now, and look at upgrading the pricey stuff later. If it won't do anything for me, then I need to look at another link in the chain. Again, I don't expect miracles, as I know what I am capable of, and better yet, not capable of. I guess the best way to describe it is, just speaking into the mic and recording that, doesn't sound real. It sounds like a recording that is not natural. Missing some tones or something. Very thin. Kepping the mic close brings a lot of the color back, but if the voice gets very loud, then it distorts, and very soft, it just gets thin again. Hope that describes a little better what I am looking at.
And any tips on using the mic better...I need 'em!!
Thanks again.
Ed
 
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