Compression Recording Live

[BlueLou]

I was wondering if anyone could help me. I have a 12 into 2 console from Studio Master. It has 12 XLR in and two 1/4 inch out.
It has a foldback?? and effect send and return.

I would like to record this rock band live to
2 track,(VHS Hifi stereo) and I was wondering how I should use the compressor (Fostex 3070 stereo compressor) I want to compress the bass drum and vocals. Do I need two compressors? Or do I patch in the effect in and out of the console and use the same ratio for both vocals and bass drum?

Any ideas??

Thanks in advance for the feedback

 

[Sabith]

Well, itz a stereo compressor so just use 1 channel for your vocals and the other for the bass geetar. Look on your board and try to find "channel inserts" and patch the compressor using them. U need to use a serial patch to get the proper use out of the compressor(and by serial I mean sends the whole signal)

 

[James HE]

The Studiomaster might not have channel inserts. The foldback is, I think a seperate level control for a monitor mix (that's how it is on my old PA head). If you want to compress just the vocals and the bass seperatly and you don't have inserts you could run the bass and vocals throught the Aux send and then back into another channel. (IF you have two extra channels and IF you have two Aux sends and aren't using other effects)

Actually if you are running a DI from the bass, you could just plug the compressor in line before it hits the board (wouldn't work well if your micing though) Then maybe use your Aux sends (or the foldback out)to send the vocals to the compressor and back into an open channel like I said.

This is not the best method, but you've got to work with what you got.

-jhe

 

[gaffa]

That desk sounds suspiciously like my desk - a Studiomaster Diamond 12-2 (it has the wiring diagrams for the XLR and 1/4" plugs just above the main faders?). Its a reasonable desk, but lack a lot of things I would like.

Basically James HE has nailed it. You don't have any channel inserts, so you've got to use the two aux sends to compress the signals. Using a DI on the bass will free up one for reverb or whatever. Also, there's no monitor (foldback) out, so you'll have to be even more creative.

- gaffa

 

[Burger]

Thanks a lot for the input. Theres only one FX send and return and it is called echo send and return. This is an old board. It is a "Recording Studio Design" (I figured it was studiomaster because it is the same font used and it is designed by Eaton or something like that.) Anyways it is pretty old but it sounds good. There are no inserts and no 1/4 inch inputs, only 12 XLR going in.

Now Reverb on the vocals??

Thanks again for the feedback

Louis
AKA Burger(at work) and BlueLou (at home)