compressor questions

[guitargirl03]

ok, i am a newbie at most of this, so my question may be a tad unexperienced. I have a board that has line insets on each channel along with the mic input and 1/4 jack. the compressors also have inserts. Do i still have to use an 'insert' cable that has 2 mono to one TRS? or can i just use a TRS and connect the two inserts?
Thanks
guitargirl

 

[Revmuddy]

Answer

Use the TRS cable...the 2 monos go to the compressor and the TRS goes to the insert of the channel you are going to compress. "Tip" to the INPUT on the compressor. "RING" to the OUTPUT of the compressor. If your compressor is stereo...I/E TWO channels you will need two TRS cables. You can also go to the "main inserts" on your board (if it has them) for mastering and it will compress your main signals OUT to your mastering deck.

Like I always say "I'm no genius at this" and theres a lot of real smart and experienced people on this site who no far more than me, BUT.....when I posed the same question...(just yesterday) In a thread titled "compressor hookup" none of them even bothered to reply to my thread, So I called a local recording engineer who happens to be a friend...so I'll pass it on to you....Hope this helps

 

[gordone]

If you have the RNC, you only need one TRS-TRS cable to connect to your board's inserts. Note that the ins in the panel display have the same connections are your insert on the board. I'm not sure if other compressors do this.

http://fmraudio.com/images/rear_panel.gif

 

[guitargirl03]

ok, so are you saying i can connect the line insert on the board to the "sidechain" or insert on the compressor?

 

[gordone]

You want to use the insert on the compressor. The sidechain is used for dessing or ducking. What compressor do you have?

ok, so are you saying i can connect the line insert on the board to the "sidechain" or insert on the compressor?

 

[guitargirl03]

I am not sure what the exact model is, it is an alesis, i am not at the studio right now. So i guess what i am trying to say is can i connect the line insert on the indiv. channel to the insert on the compressor? ya know, just by using a TRS cable?

 

[robin watson]

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU WANT TO PLACE (INSERT) YOUR COMPRESSOR INTO A SINGLE CHANNEL OF YOUR MIXER, IN WHICH CASE:

USE A TRS CABLE: INSERT THE TRS PLUG INTO THE SELECTED MIXER CHANNEL'S INSERT (this will interrupt the signal on that mixer channel). NOW TAKE THE OTHER TWO PLUGS AND INSERT THEM IN THE COMPRESSOR'S INPUT AND OUTPUT. IF IT DOESN'T WORK ONE WAY, SWAP THEM ROUND.

 

[EddieRay]

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU WANT TO PLACE (INSERT) YOUR COMPRESSOR INTO A SINGLE CHANNEL OF YOUR MIXER, IN WHICH CASE:

USE A TRS CABLE: INSERT THE TRS PLUG INTO THE SELECTED MIXER CHANNEL'S INSERT (this will interrupt the signal on that mixer channel). NOW TAKE THE OTHER TWO PLUGS AND INSERT THEM IN THE COMPRESSOR'S INPUT AND OUTPUT. IF IT DOESN'T WORK ONE WAY, SWAP THEM ROUND.

What do you do if you're already using the mixer input to feed the soundcard?

 

[robin watson]

Excuse me, but...

What do you do if you're already using the mixer input to feed the soundcard?

...shouldn't that be '...using the mixer OUTPUT to feed the soundcard' ? Sorry, I don't see the connection between 'insert' and 'soundcard.'

 

[EddieRay]

...shouldn't that be '...using the mixer OUTPUT to feed the soundcard' ? Sorry, I don't see the connection between 'insert' and 'soundcard.'

Oops! I meant "insert" - using the channel insert to send the signal to the soundcard. But nevermind, I worked it out and can do what I need to.

 

[Fletcher]

Oops! I meant "insert" - using the channel insert to send the signal to the soundcard. But nevermind, I worked it out and can do what I need to.

Glad you worked it out... if I were to suggest something it would be to come from the insert out on the desk, to the compressor, out of the compressor and directly into the soundcard thereby bypassing a whole lot of electronics in the console.

Guitargirl03, you may want to really listen to the stuff with and without the alesis compression to determine if the unit is really helping or not. Very often with alesis compressors the best setting you can have for them is "off".

Best of luck with it.