Compressor Review

[krooner]

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has any opinion on Blue Cat's MB-5 Dynamix for vocals
[smooth jazz] . Sounds OK, but at the price, I'd like to make sure.
Thanks.

Kj

 

[Massive Master]

A maul-the-band compressor is a (oh, just a tiny, little) bit "radical" for a vocal track, don't you think...?



Can't even really imagine "Smooth Jazz" and "Multi-band Compressor" in the same paragraph for that matter.

 

[krooner]

Thanks JS,
Would love to know what you'd recommend.

cheers.

Kj

 

[mixsit]

I use em on trouble live vocal tracks like for when the proximity effect (last inch of distance) is kicking in and turning the tone balance in and out of booming 150Hz' mud.
Otherwise.. Well only where there's trouble.. something inconsistent- outa whack.

I like this a lot.. (But it fusses in Sonar
platinumears.com - IQ4gui
Dynamic eq.. My head says it ought to be the same as multi-comp, but it seems different

Sonitus (came with Cake'
UAD
Both work fine.

He did have a good notion there though- 'Smooth, yet out of control?
Curious what your goal is there.

 

[krooner]

Hey, thanks for the input, mixsit,
Think maybe I should have posted this in the newbie section, though I did notice how the MB-5 deals with the proximity effect. Rather a little more mic technique when using the SM58 ?

Cheers.
Kj

 

[mixsit]

...I did notice how the MB-5 deals with the proximity effect. Rather a little more mic technique when using the SM58 ?

Cheers.
Kj

Could be. Is that why you were looking at MB comp?
One aspect of mic technique is distance for volume control, but particularly close up' style mics the change in bass lift vs amount of movement is huge.
Nothing wrong with the proximity effect. Its part of the tone needed for those mics to work as they're meant to at those distances.
But compare the curves for 1/2" vs 6" (what ever distance Shure uses). One is a bass boost, other is cut. That'd be the up and downsides of close' built mics. Now compare that to a 'studio mic that sounds balanced at 6" and moving a few inches either way -is a small change.
So what you might only need is to stay within the distance that sounds about right, then you're back to basic tone and compression at mix.
One good trick would be a pop filter set an inch or two off the mic, and work' that instead of the mic.

 

[krooner]

Thanks, mixsit.
Having taken on board what's been said, yesterday, using the SM58, I recorded and played back 'dry'. By experimenting with different preamp and AD levels, and creating an improved room EQ, which meant I could stay further from the mic, so avoiding that Shure 'even horizon', I did eventually end up with a sound I was happy with.

Thanks again guys.

Kj