arghhh - inserting compression

  • Thread starter Thread starter Damo
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Damo

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'sake...just got back from the music store with 2 y-cables, 1/4"TRS to split female XLR...hooked these up to my stereo compressor (dbx 266xl) and insert the 1/4" ends in my main inserts (i use a mackie cr1604vlz)...as soon as they are in, NO SIGNAL!!! what the hell am i doing wrong?

also, if someone knows how i'm supposed to hook up a stereo EQ along with the compressor, could you please let me know...as the y-cables are taking up all available XLR jacks on the back of the compressor, can i out from the EQ into a 1/4" input on the compressor (ie. can the compressor take both the xlr and 1/4" inputs in one channel?)

sorry for the rant...hungry/lightheaded/mad...
 
i just thought of something...are the connectors to the compressor supposed to be TRS too, or can they be XLR?

fuck this is doing my head in.
 
Was it an "insert" cable or a "Y" cable... A "Y" sends the same signal balanced signal to both XLRs... the "insert" cable splits to an unbalanced send and return
 
Looks like 'tip is send on the mackie. Does the cable have tip going to the male XLR for the input (FM) on the dbx?
No ohm meter? Maybe jack the input up, threshold down and tap the tip or ring.

To add eq to the chain just continue the the loop- comp (or eq) out > eq (or comp) in, out > to insert return.
 
.........can the compressor take both the xlr and 1/4" inputs in one channel?...

Not sure this is a good idea, but maybe refer to your hardware's manual/schematic?
I did read somewhere that just because you have 2 sets or formats of I/O, you wouldn't necessarily use them at the same time.
Generally, for inserts (master or channel) I stick with the 1/4 inch stuff, it works very well.
I do run a 'program compressor' and 'graphic' as my master fx inserts, and these are 'looped' together (as I only have 1 master insert in my desk), as MIXSIT suggested above!!!

Regards,
Spit.
 
http://www.mackie.com/pdf/1604vlzpro_om.pdf

Your mixer says to use 1/4" insert cables for the main inserts. I would try those, that's what I use.
The way I hook up my EQ and Comp to the main inserts is, the SEND to the Comp In, Comp OUT to the EQ IN, EQ OUT on the RETURN to your main insert.
You do this for each L&R insert. Good luck.
 
so no xlr anywhere?

every 1/4" should be TRS?

i'm praying that the inserts themselves haven't been screwed with - i bought the board second hand and the pod had been flipped.
 
No there's just no advantage to the XLR in this case since the insert path is unbalanced.
every 1/4" should be TRS?
Click to expand...
The insert end is TRS because it's two paths.
Download the manual. Look at the circuit explanations.
Then test the in and out paths.
 
There's always the possibility that you've swapped your send and return... you have tried them both ways??
 
all this talk of gender and going both ways.....!!
geesh......am I in Adult Matchmaker, or what!!!?













heehe!
 
Damo said:
so no xlr anywhere?

every 1/4" should be TRS?
Click to expand...

Not true, it can be either it doesn't matter.



Have you tried reversing as mentioned?

If still no luck just trouble shoot to see whats not working.

Are the lights showing a signal coming into the 266?

Try running a 1/4" from the insert, to the line in on a different channel to verify that its sending a signal.

Then
 
So Damo, did you get it figured out? What happened?
Just curious.
Wayne
 
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