Behringer DSP9024 Ultra-Dyne Pro® Compressor/Gate?

[Robertt8]

Hi people!

I could be wrong, but this compressor looks pretty sweet! Any feedback here?

I also have another question...I'm fairly new and inexperienced at this recording stuff, I've got a Roland VS-880EX. How would I use this compressor with this recorder (or any generic recorder for that matter)? Would I (for example) plug my guitar into this compressor and then into the recorder? or do I record it and then modify the sound and then patch it back in to another track? I'm a little unclear as to where and how to use this.

Feel free to email...
robert@birdsallinteractive.com

Thanks!

 

[Gidge]

that compressor may be a little overkill for your needs...I just picked up a Behringer AutoCom Pro for $79 and it works pretty well.....

As far as hookup, put it between your sound source (mic,guitar,etc) and the recorder and record as normal....unless your recorder has auxillary channels, which I dont think the VS has?....

 

[Robertt8]

thanks for the help!

alrighty...

it claimes that I'll need a pre-amp when inserting a mic (for example). I'm used to plugging straight into my recorder. Am I going to need to go through an amp or something if I use this?

Also, do I basically want to compress each track and then mix all the compressed tracks? Is that usually how it's done?

How's that AutoCompro thing? I've toyed with compressor filters on my computer, but they never seemed to make that much difference...plus it doesn't really help that I really don't know what I'm doing.

 

[Garak]

Just about all compressors are line level so before the signel from the mic gets to it, it has to go through a preamp. Alot of recorders have preamps built in so If you want to use a compressor you will have to insert it. If your recorder dosn't have an insert on the channel you want to use the compressor on your out of luck and you have will have to use an external preamp like the midiman/M-Audio audio buddy. Its usually best to mic an amp rather than take the gutiar directly. But if you take it direct the pickup is basicly the same as a mic so you need a preamp.

Compressors reduce the dynamics. Compressors can make something sound louder or fuller. A compressor will shorten the distance between the peaks and the vallys in the wave form so that you can turn it up a bit more with out the peaks causing it to clip. A simple example of where you would use a compressor would be with a kick drum. The kick has a big dynamic range it goes from 0db to very loud in a very short time. That very big short peak usually makes it clip so you have to turn it down. But then you only hear the peak loud and the rest of the sound is lost. A compressor will basicly turn it down for the peak and back up for the rest of the sound. This is usefull where you want to get the sound of the beater hitting the head and the low sound of the actual drum.

 

[Robertt8]

thanks guys...

Hey,just out of curiosity, why is it better to mic the amp instead of plug straight in?

I do know what the compressor dose, I just haven't really noticed much toying with the compressor in some software. It almost seemed like I'd turn it too high and It would start to get distorted.

Do I want to compress each track seperate? and then mix?