Can Anyone Make an Expander Recommendation

[dlt123]

Hi, I am starting to include external hardware in my music. I originally only used VST so now want to add more Hardware to my home recording.

I am getting an RNC for compression, maybe a couple. Can anyone recommend a good Expander/Gate hardware rack unit that falls into the price range of RNC?

I haven't really seen too much written about Expanders and I am beginning to wonder if they really are a neccessity when recording with hardware?

Thanks in advance for fielding my questions.
DennisT

 

[mixsit]

...I haven't really seen too much written about Expanders and I am beginning to wonder if they really are a neccessity when recording with hardware?

Gates, expansion, noise reduction are maybe better to leave to mixdown as it's easy to get it wrong during tracking.
wayne

 

[dlt123]

Gates, expansion, noise reduction are maybe better to leave to mixdown as it's easy to get it wrong during tracking.
wayne

Thank you for responding. What I planned to do was patch my external sequenced synths, drum machine and my Quasamidi Polymorph sequencer through my mixer, then do my mixing through my mixer, then route my mixer output to my RME sound card into my DAW.

I thought I would place a expander at this point, between my mixer and DAW to make sure there is no extra noise going to my DAW. Maybe, I have it wrong. Maybe, I better stick with a VST expander instead. Is this what you are suggesting? As you can tell, I'm new to hardware vs VST recording and haven't really got a good handle on how to do this correctly.

Thanks again,
DennisT

 

[MessianicDreams]

i would suggest mixing without any effects on whatsoever, especially dynamic processors, as if you fuck the settings up you'll ruin what could be the take.

i would suggest recording clean and then routing the recorded signal to your processors, its much safer.

 

[mixsit]

Thank you for responding. What I planned to do was patch my external sequenced synths, drum machine and my Quasamidi Polymorph sequencer through my mixer, then do my mixing through my mixer, then route my mixer output to my RME sound card into my DAW.

Sorry about that then. In that case we (I ) may have had it wrong. You're capturing the mix and can hear all the variables going in. More importantly, all the elements look to be repeatable, as opposed to a live track where things are less predictable.
Still, and I know squat about midi, I would recommend going after unwanted noise at the track level first if you can. That could be a win-win as it makes you look at the gain staging and quality at the sources (it applies to midi velocity also I would assume..?) and maybe the mix would take less of the hit.
Wayne

 

[SonicAlbert]

I wouldn't put an expander/gate there. It's so easy to trim off the silence before and after the music in your DAW. You don't need a gate for that.

Gates are still useful if you mix analog, but best when gating any particularily noisy/hissy individual tracks or single pieces of gear. If you've got a hum you just can't seem to get rid of, and it's attached to a particular unit, you can gate that off so it is not there when the gear is not in use.

But putting a whole mix through a gate, I'd avoid that.

 

[dlt123]

Thanks everyone for responding. It looks like I better rethink this whole thing. I'm off to do more reading and research.

It can be pretty confusing to figure out how to mix DAW VST tracks with external hardware recording. I'll eventually get it though.

Thanks again,
DennisT