Compressor/Gate/Limiter To Interface??

  • Thread starter Thread starter 916rapper
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916rapper

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Is it possible for this chain: 48v phantom power condenser mic > Compressor/gate/limiter > Presonus Firebox > Computer ?

The thing that I'm wondering is that, will certain compressor/gate/limiter come with 48v phatom power and the xlr output or line out of that is able to be connected to the the xlr firebox input.
 
No. You don't want your effects to come before the preamp for two reasons.

The preamp is designed to raise the weak mic signal up to line level, so things like compressors and such can better deal with them.

The second reason is that 48V will not pass through that sort of device. It may cause damage.
 
You can do it but not that way. The firebox doesn't have inserts, which is how you'd normally do it. So the workaround is: You'd have to run the mic to one of the mic inputs (ch 1/2) on the firebox, then route it to one of the outputs. The output can go thru your compressor and fx, then run that wet signal back into one of the line-in's on the back (ch 3/4). You can now record the dry signal on ch 1 or 2, and/or the wet signal on ch 3 or 4.

You compressor may have xlr ins/outs, but it's still expecting a line level input. A mic level is so weak, you'd never come close to the threshold to start compressing, even if you turned the threshold as low as it could go. And at that point you'd have to crank the makeup gain so high, your track would be nothing but hiss...
 
hmm interesting.. but how can i route to one of the outputs so the compressor will do the job?
 
916rapper said:
so how can i work the compressor when i have the presonus firebox?
Click to expand...

Skip the compressor and don't let the track get to the point of peaking. Have you discovered that you absolutely need a compressor?
 
Well, i dont exactly know if I need one but the firebox alone isnt enough. For some reason theres these hiss and it bothers me and i want my vocals to sound like a million bucks.. Lol
Its best to expierence and learn so thats why im asking this. haha
But how exactly can i route ch 1/2 to one of the outputs? Do i have to use the FireBox Mixer they provided?
 
A better option might be to record the dry signal, and use a software plugin to compress the track during mixdown. It's nice to have a compressor in the monitoring chain during tracking, so the musician can hear it, even when I do that tho, I record the signal completely dry. You can't remove compression later if you track it wet, and you put it on a little too thick or something..
 
916rapper said:
Well, i dont exactly know if I need one but the firebox alone isnt enough. For some reason theres these hiss and it bothers me and i want my vocals to sound like a million bucks.. Lol
Its best to expierence and learn so thats why im asking this. haha
But how exactly can i route ch 1/2 to one of the outputs? Do i have to use the FireBox Mixer they provided?
Click to expand...

Yes. The firebox mixer will send any input to any output you specify, and at zero latency. It is a good learning experience, but you will find that adding a compressor will not remove hiss, it will only increase it.. Hiss will be below your threshold, so it will not get compressed. Then the makeup gain will make it louder.
 
916rapper said:
but shouldnt the gate remove the hiss?
Click to expand...

No.

And if you have to ask this then that suggests you shouldn't be using the gate anyway... when the input signal passes above the threshold and the gate opens, the entire input signal is allowed through. There is no form of filtering / hiss removal in a gate.
 
Hiss usually comes from turning things up too high. If all you currently have in the signal path is microphone and preamp, then the preamp is most likely causing the hiss. How high (dB) does your track get to while recording? Is your preamp turned up real high?
 
Thanks guys! Really useful here.. I guess i wont be getting one then. I dont want to waste my money since I'm only a young teen. Thats the reason why i dont understand because im a young teen. Lol
 
my vocals are between -9 and -6..
yes i use plugins but im not satisfy.
 
Need to do some troubleshooting...

The Firebox has two preamps right? Have you tried using the other one? That would kinda rule out a preamp fault.

Other than that, it could be a problem with the mic, either a fault or it might just inherently have high self-noise. You haven't actually mentioned what mic you have.

A cable problem?

Or are you sure the hiss is even in the recordings? It could simply be that your monitors are a bit noisy?
 
I would suggest keeping the signal at the mic as strong as is reasonable. Get closer to the mic and use a pop filter if you need it. I usually record at a few inches away. Only turn up the preamp input as high as necessary to get your track peaks between -20 and -12. Later you can normalize or compress the track to make it sound bigger.

Anyway, this approach should help keep hiss to a minimum.
 
mattr said:
Need to do some troubleshooting...

The Firebox has two preamps right? Have you tried using the other one? That would kinda rule out a preamp fault.

Other than that, it could be a problem with the mic, either a fault or it might just inherently have high self-noise. You haven't actually mentioned what mic you have.

A cable problem?

Or are you sure the hiss is even in the recordings? It could simply be that your monitors are a bit noisy?
Click to expand...

Its a shameful mic I dont even want to mention and it could be the problem why theres hiss. Its a MXL 990.. Really want to upgrade but I got to come up first.

RawDepth said:
Only turn up the preamp input as high as necessary to get your track peaks between -20 and -12. Later you can normalize or compress the track to make it sound bigger.

Anyway, this approach should help keep hiss to a minimum.
Click to expand...


Nice tip.. I might try this.
 
916rapper said:
Its a shameful mic
Click to expand...

Hey I use a Studio Projects B1 through a Studio Projects VTB1 or M-Audio DMP3. It's not necessarily the tools but how they are used.

I have no hiss but can turn it up and make one hell of a hiss!
 
-6 is a pretty hot track. Mr Clean is right, -18 to -12 is perfect. I dont think a 990 is that bad, I dont own that particular one, but I wouldn't expect anything by mxl to sound noticable hissy, unless it's broken.. I got a buncha mics I'm positive are way worse than that! :D I'd run thru that troubleshooting advice Matt mentioned, you need to pinpoint the source of your noise and take care of it.. Adding more stuff to your chain can't possibly remove your noise.
 
RawDepth said:
No. You don't want your effects to come before the preamp for two reasons.

The preamp is designed to raise the weak mic signal up to line level, so things like compressors and such can better deal with them.

The second reason is that 48V will not pass through that sort of device. It may cause damage.
Click to expand...

Rode K2 Mic > Mic Power Supply > Preamp > Compressor > CPU

So based on what you said do I need to swap the preamp and compressor?
 
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