M
maxpayne
New member
I Just Got My Compressor Today,but I Dont Really Know How To Use It...i Read The Manual But Its Confusing,if Anyone Can Help Please!
jimmy2sticks
New member
Sorry to do this, but I love wikipedia these days:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_level_compression
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_level_compression
scrubs
Not of sound mind
Why did you buy a compressor if you don't know how it works?
jimmy2sticks
New member
scrubs said:
I bought a guitar before I knew how to play it. I bought microphones before I knew how they worked. Everyone needs to start somewhere. He probably knew he needed it, but not exactly what for. That is the beauty of product marketing - solving a problem you don't even know you have.
M
maxpayne
New member
yeah i bought because evry sound engineer at guitar center said i need it one,but i dont really know how to use it
M
maxpayne
New member
ok i read over the widiapeka article thing and i ran into
Common uses
Common uses Compression is often used to make music sound louder without increasing its peak amplitude. By compressing the peak (or loudest) signals, it becomes possible to increase the overall gain (or volume) of a signal without exceeding the dynamic limits of a reproduction device or medium.
thats what i was told i need mine for but it didnt explain how to set you compressor for this use can some please help thankz!
Common uses
Common uses Compression is often used to make music sound louder without increasing its peak amplitude. By compressing the peak (or loudest) signals, it becomes possible to increase the overall gain (or volume) of a signal without exceeding the dynamic limits of a reproduction device or medium.
thats what i was told i need mine for but it didnt explain how to set you compressor for this use can some please help thankz!
jimmy2sticks
New member
Ok, so you understand what it's for, just not how to use it.
Which compressor did you get by the way?
You have Threshold, Ratio, Gain and Knee settings, correct?
Which compressor did you get by the way?
You have Threshold, Ratio, Gain and Knee settings, correct?
M
maxpayne
New member
yeah i know what its for...yeah i have a behringer mdx 2200 its very similiar to the mdx 2600
M
maxpayne
New member
yes it has Threshold, Ratio, Gain and Knee settings and a limiter too
jimmy2sticks
New member
Ok, lets just set up one example of how to use a compressor. Let's say you are recording a vocalist. During the verses he is singing quietly, so you want to turn up the mic to pick up the most optimal signal going to tape/disk. But then, the chorus comes and he is screaming balls out. Bam, you clip and it sounds horrible. Welcome the compressor into the picture. If you run your signal through the compressor (after the mic, before the recording medium) you can set a threshold of how loud something can get. So then, if Mr Rock and Roll hits a certain level that you have set on the threshold, it won't clip the input. Do you understand that?
M
maxpayne
New member
yes thanks....i understand,so how do i know how to set the threshold at thr right place?
jimmy2sticks
New member
It depends on the source and the sound you want. Play with it. You will figure it out.
D
dementedchord
Psychotic State alumni ch
$.25
don't ley em fuck with ya man.... no-ones born knowing this shit... but i would suggest you use the search function there are loads of responces about compreesor basics.... seems i remember writing a few myself...
don't ley em fuck with ya man.... no-ones born knowing this shit... but i would suggest you use the search function there are loads of responces about compreesor basics.... seems i remember writing a few myself...
M
maxpayne
New member
ok thanks!
R
RAK
Manufacturer - Shure, Inc
If I may jump in here,
Threshold is the dB level at which point the Compressor "kicks in."
So say you set your threshold to -20dB. That means that when the level of the signal goes above -20dB, the compressor starts working.
The Ratio is the reduction relationship between the output and input levels. A Ratio of 4:1 means for every 4 dB of input gain above the threshold, the output is 1 dB. Basically, the Output is 4 times as less as the Input.
Gain is the Output gain after compression has happened. This is where you can boost the gain of the over signal, but because of the compression, the really loud sounds will not clip.
As Wikipedia says, a Limiter is a Compressor with a higher ratio, usually 10:1. Basically anything above the threshold is reduced to a negligible amount.
Knee is a little harder to explain (at least for me) without the visual, but it adjusts the point at the threshold, if it's a "hard" curve, or a "soft" curve.
There are other controls such as attack and release time. Attack adjusts the time it takes for the compressor to fully engage, and release adjusts the time it takes the compressor to reset.
Like Jimmy said, play with it, till you see it engage, and listen to what happens.
Threshold is the dB level at which point the Compressor "kicks in."
So say you set your threshold to -20dB. That means that when the level of the signal goes above -20dB, the compressor starts working.
The Ratio is the reduction relationship between the output and input levels. A Ratio of 4:1 means for every 4 dB of input gain above the threshold, the output is 1 dB. Basically, the Output is 4 times as less as the Input.
Gain is the Output gain after compression has happened. This is where you can boost the gain of the over signal, but because of the compression, the really loud sounds will not clip.
As Wikipedia says, a Limiter is a Compressor with a higher ratio, usually 10:1. Basically anything above the threshold is reduced to a negligible amount.
Knee is a little harder to explain (at least for me) without the visual, but it adjusts the point at the threshold, if it's a "hard" curve, or a "soft" curve.
There are other controls such as attack and release time. Attack adjusts the time it takes for the compressor to fully engage, and release adjusts the time it takes the compressor to reset.
Like Jimmy said, play with it, till you see it engage, and listen to what happens.
jimmy2sticks
New member
Thanks RAK.
And dementedchord - I wasn't fucking with anyone. I was helping the guy out.
And dementedchord - I wasn't fucking with anyone. I was helping the guy out.
M
maxpayne
New member
ok so do i have to do anything with the expander/gate knobs?
jimmy2sticks
New member
an exapnader/gate is different from a compressor. while a compressor is keeping a threshold for anything that goes above a certain point, the expander/gate will take away noise when it's quiet. like when a guitar cabinet is humming and hissing when the guitar player isn't playing. you set the threshold so anything under that will be silenced.
R
RAK
Manufacturer - Shure, Inc
maxpayne said:
An Expander/Gate does the opposite of the Compressor/Limiter. It has similiar controls, but instead of reducing output ABOVE a threshold (like a compressor) it reduces output BELOW a threshold. It can be used to reduce noise. Gate is to Expander as Limiter is to Compressor.
Gate's have lost of interesting uses, especially used in conjuncton with a side-chain signal (for another day), but basically a gate blocks all signal below a set threshold, and then when the signal goes above the threshold, the gate opens and allows the signal to pass.
Early noise reduction worked by employing a Compander (combination Compressor/Expander) First the signal was compressed, then expanded.
andyhix
:dank:
download and unzip this file. It's written by one of the smarter guys on this board, and will enlighten you to the wonders of compression. It's a must read imo for a new home recordist.
www.lintrophx.com/southside/compression_uncompressed.zip
www.lintrophx.com/southside/compression_uncompressed.zip
