Compressor

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MIKEPELLE

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Hello,

I am in the process of recording vocals for a new CD to be released in December. The style of music is heavy like Killswitch Engage etc. . .

I use CuBase SX and have no outboard gear. At this point I have all the drums recorded (recorded on a Korg 8 track and then the WAVs dumped into CuBase - sounds real good) and all the rhythm guitar and bass tracks done.

With vocals should a compressor be used for the signal going in? i have read some different theories. I tried some scratch vox and it just seemed tough to get a proper level for the singer since he ranged from loud to louder.

The VST Dynamics and plug in compressors I do not believe can be used pre-fader. Would I need to buy outboard gear? If so what is a good economical compressor unit to buy (and how exactly do I hook that up with CuBase and my Aardvark Q10 soundcard?) OR CAN i use a plug in pre-fader to give a little compression to the incoming vocal.

As always any ideas or tips are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mike Pelle
 
I think you can put a dynamics plug on the input channel in Cubase SX, but it migh mess with the delay and latency
 
There is no way to compress your signal --- vocal or otherwise --- with the compressors built in to Cubase or any other audio sequencer.

I recommend doing as I do and running the microphone thru an FMR RNC in 'super nice' mode set to a low ratio and a high threshold, This will keep the vocal under control, shave off the distortion causing peaks and make it easier to place in the mix.



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Thanks

Thanks for the responses. I checked out the FMR RNC. looks real cool.

How exactly would I hook this up in my set up? I read the online pdf file but didnt fully understand. I see it requires TRS cables but would I run this from the outputs on the back of my Q10 and if so how do I insert it in the chain when I record on CuBase. I am a little clueless with hooking outboard gear on the DAW.

Please let me know and thanks again.

Mike Pelle
 
Get an adapter that takes a male cannon plug on one end and turns into a balanced tip-ring-sleeve plug on the other end.

Plug your microphone into the input of one side of the RNC, then plug the output for that side into a channel of your Q10.

If your soundcard had insert points you could use those and dispense with the adapter, but for a soundcard without inserts this is the basic formula.


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ssscientist said:
There is no way to compress your signal --- vocal or otherwise --- with the compressors built in to Cubase or any other audio sequencer.

I recommend doing as I do and running the microphone thru an FMR RNC in 'super nice' mode set to a low ratio and a high threshold, This will keep the vocal under control, shave off the distortion causing peaks and make it easier to place in the mix..
Click to expand...

Do you mean in the sense the rnc can prevent digital overs by taming the signal? It seems like a lot of people think that 24bit gives you enough dynamic range to compress in the box. The argument being that with digital compression you're able to change your mind but that it's hard to undo hardware compression.

I've got an RNC and think they're great. Its just that sometimes plug ins will work as well.

I'm thinking of compressors like voxengo marquis, voxengo voxformer, and the new fabfilter pro-c. Especially if you want to experiment with different compression settings after the fact.
 
Mr. Antrobus said:
I'm thinking of compressors like voxengo marquis, voxengo voxformer, and the new fabfilter pro-c. Especially if you want to experiment with different compression settings after the fact.
Click to expand...

That's the important phrase here - "after the fact." If you need to compress you signal before it hits the converters, then no plugin will do that for you. Once the signal has clipped there's no getting that back. Once you have a clean signal captured, then plugins can do their thing.

Even at 24 bits, it may be handy to provide outboard compression for extremely dynamic instruments just as protection, IMHO.
 
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