Buying a Compressor?

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UPNADAM

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I am a newbie when it comes to recording.............. I am too confused about what I should look for in a compressor for vocal recordings. I am looking to spend no more than $300(us) on one. Any suggestions? Who has good quality products for a reasonable price?
 
FMR Audio RNC, its my next purchase this summer. Its been highly recommended by more people than any other compressor under the $200 to $1500. I have a 1/2 space open in my rack...mmmm nice fit :0)


Peace,
Dennis
 
What qualities, effects, and expectations should I look for in any compressor?
 
effects? how about transaprent compression - thats a cool effect ;)

rnc does that one well
 
It's impossible to really tell you what to look for with text. If you can really hear the effects of the compressor you are using too much compression or it just sucks.

Just get the RNC and everyone will commend you on your prudent purchase and you will have a good compressor. Or go buy a Behringer and you can defend it till the day your ears mature.
 
Thanks for the help. I was at a music store yesterday and the salesperson told me all compressors were the same? Now I saw a Behringer ($79.00), a Sampson ($149.00), and Lechicon ($199.00). I called and asked about the RNC just now and they do not carry it.

I will visit RNC website.
 
UPNADAM said:
Thanks for the help. I was at a music store yesterday and the salesperson told me all compressors were the same? Now I saw a Behringer ($79.00), a Sampson ($149.00), and Lechicon ($199.00). I called and asked about the RNC just now and they do not carry it.

I will visit RNC website.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Buy online.

www.samash.com
www.musiciansfriend.com
www.americanmusic.com

all excellent sources for gear your local shop won't carry.
 
UPNADAM said:
........ I was at a music store yesterday and the salesperson told me all compressors were the same.....
Click to expand...

What he actually told you was that he didn't know what he was talking about, that you can't trust his gear recommendations, and that you should probably avoid a store that would employ a moron who would lie to your face for a sale.
 
I agree with vox about that salesperson.....

and i agree with the RNC recommendation......
 
whats the quickest way to weed out a salesman from a support person? Ask a question!

If a Pro-Audio guy/gal has never heard of an FMR Audio RNC, then he is either a Guitar Center Employee, Musicians Fiend Employee, American Musical Employee or a Burger King Manager working the drive thru PA system.


Peace,
Dennis
 
Griffinator said:


www.americanmusic.com
Click to expand...

No, no no...do not buy from American Music! Ive been ripped off before by them. They used to have a nasty habit of advertising a sale price which was actually the list price, and the list price was always advertised as being 10 to 15 percent higher than the distributor price sheets list price.

Was that a typo Griffinator? Should it have been american musical.com? Or do you live in King County?

Peace,
Dennis
 
UPNADAM said:
Thanks for the help. I was at a music store yesterday and the salesperson told me all compressors were the same? Now I saw a Behringer ($79.00), a Sampson ($149.00), and Lechicon ($199.00). I called and asked about the RNC just now and they do not carry it.

I will visit RNC website.
Click to expand...

Upnadam,

Not all compressors are the same. As a newbie, I don't want to confuse you, but do not believe what that salesperson told you.

These are the basic definitions:

A LIMITER is a device which stops the output of a signal path going above a pre-determined level.

A COMPRESSOR is a device which reduces the dynamic range of program material.

A 'perfect' compressor is an amplifier where the input/output ratio is constant: So, when using a compressor with a 2:1 ratio, increasing the input by 2dB gives a corresponding 1dB increase in the output.

Early compressors which used variable mu thermionic tubes or photoelectric devices only approximated true compression over a limited range. They had a soft 'threshold' where compression started and held to a predictable ratio up to a certain level, then they returned to a more linear amplification allowing transients through.

This is in stark contrast to modern VCA compressor/limiters where designers thought it 'sensible' to combine the functions of a compressor and a limiter to 'stonewall' any and all signals above a certain level. The musical effect of this is that VCA compressors sound muddy and flat, while old 'Vintage' type compressors sound lively and retain high end sparkle.

A good VCA compressor limiter will do a good job making medium wave radio sound a bit louder and protecting a radio transmitter from exploding, but it is a poor tool for making a voice track stand out in a project or recording studio.

Do your homework, look at a few of them. If your willing to spend $300.00, you will get a good compressor. Decide what applications you really want it for. If it is vocal, and guitars, a photo-optical may be your best choice. Take some time, ask more questions, and you will end up with a good unit. Just make sure you get one that meets your application needs.

Alan Hyatt
PMI Audio Group
 
Sam Ash s*cks

I was buying cables for my RNC at Sam Ash, and I was telling the guy that my RNCs just came in and I was excited. He never heard of them so I explained the deal. He told me (paraphrase) - "The sounds like a piece of junk, all the pros use the Alesis 3630".
They also never heard of the Great River when I went to get cables for that (XLR -> 1/4" TS). I haven't gone in there in over a year, and the store is about 2 minutes from my job!

atomictoyz said:
whats the quickest way to weed out a salesman from a support person? Ask a question!

If a Pro-Audio guy/gal has never heard of an FMR Audio RNC, then he is either a Guitar Center Employee, Musicians Fiend Employee, American Musical Employee or a Burger King Manager working the drive thru PA system.


Peace,
Dennis
Click to expand...
 
Since Alan was kind enough to offer advice without self promotion I'll help him out with the dirty work and recomend you look at his Joe Meek line.
 
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