Compressor For Live Use & Hook-Up Question

[Ivorykeys]

Hi,
I think I understand the role of a compressor in recording work, but in a live sound application, can the effect of a compressor actually be heard to the audience, or does it's effect only get transferred to the recording medium?

Also, I want to hook-up both a compressor AND a graphic EQ to a single channel with a mic for voice. I assume I would do this with the channel insert, which is on my Mackie Onyx 1202. In the signal chain, should I hook-up the compressor first, & then the EQ, or the other way around? My voice is rather thin (trebley), and I want to increase the mid-base a bit, so I'm thinking that maybe I'd want to hook-up the compressor first to first limit the low/high peaks of the whole range, and then boost the low/mids a little. Please tell me if this is the correct train of thought. I'm using a KMS-105 mic directly into the ONYX preamp.

Lastly, my EQ has 2 balanced inputs & 2 balanced outputs (Klark Teknik DN360), but, with the exception of the Klark manual (which is very brief, albeit, tough for me to understand) all books that I've read suggest that only a single (i.e., left) channel on an EQ is required for hook-up, and not a dual (i.e., stereo-left/right) is required. And some tutorials say to use special "insert-Y-cables", that have a TRS jack that branches into 2 mono jacks. Klark calls for all balanced (XLR) cables, so I'm thoroughly confused about this mono/stereo & balanced/unbalanced thing.

I would appreciate any thoughts about how this thing is supposed to be hooked-up in conjunction with the compressor on the same channel.

Thanks,
Ivorykeys

 

[Ivorykeys]

Sorry I doubled up on this thread--having network issues.

Ivorykeys

 

[mixsit]

The patch sequence is somewhat determined by what you are doing with the eq, and/or what (or how) the compressor is reacting to the track. For example let's say there is too much low end and the compressor is also grabbing excessively to those low frequencies -you would want to fix the tone imbalance first. (The compression problem could be addressed at its side chain, but that's not the point here..

For mild tone shaping and where things are not too far out of whack to begin with it's a mater of taste, like an -either may sound a little different but neither wrong.
As far as the eq, for a mono signal, only one side is called for.
Wayne

 

[Ivorykeys]

Wayne,

Thanks for your perspective on the compressor/EQ signal chain. Do you have any thoughts on the balanced vs. unbalanced inputs & outputs on the EQ, and what, if any, impact does that insert 'Y' cable have with this application. i.e., do I need this, or should I just use regular XLR's with the Klark?

Ivorykeys

 

[RAK]

I put a response on the other post, saw it first.