Compressors, Limiters, and Gates???????

  • Thread starter Thread starter swindle
  • Start date Start date
S

swindle

New member
I am a bit unclear on when and why to use Compressors, Limiters, and Gates.
Here's the test that will hopefully help me understand it all. I will list a few situations and you tell me what is the ideal 'tool' to use.
1.) A recorded track has audible and unwanted record pops from the source of the samples.
2.) In a final mix, everything sounds good except one istrument is too loud.
3.) " " " " """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""too soft.
4.) A track has too much noise and hiss.
Thank you.
 
I'm afarid your problem isn't compression/limting.

You need to solve the problems you mentioned at the recording process.
If the source has unwanted poping deal with the source. Your not going to gain much with comp/limit/gate

As for the mix problems you have to fix that during the mix and not after.
In some cases you can EQ a little to tame some loud stuff but you are going to affect the rest of the track as well.
even if you use a narrow band. A multi band compressor can help a bit but it's not a solution.

The noise on a track CAN be dealt with a gate but only during the parts that there is silence.
You can deal with some hiss with a EQ but it's better not to reach such a senerio.

[This message has been edited by Shailat (edited 05-24-2000).]
 
Thanks all.
?...So if a gate can eliminate some of that noise during the silent parts, what does it do the song parts?
 
To be exact a noise gate will turn down every thing, below the set threshold.

YOU, set the threshold. If you set it wrong it will shut out some of the softer parts on your track.

If you recorded a noisy Elec. guitar, and want the noise gate to clamp down on your humming distortion stompbox,
you'll have to set it so that when you play and the notes die out, that it won't cut some of the decay (unless of course this is what you want)

A noisegate cant comb and reduce hum, hiss, etc from the track.
For that you should try a computer plugin.

[This message has been edited by Shailat (edited 05-24-2000).]
 
How about if I am not using a computer? I am using a Korg D-16 digital 16 track , what would I use then for his/ noise/ hum reduction?
 
Dont know this Korg , but I would eliminate the problem before it gets to the recorder.
 
double cliked by mistake



[This message has been edited by Shailat (edited 05-25-2000).]
 
mistake

[This message has been edited by Shailat (edited 05-25-2000).]
 
Shailat - hi, me again. So, for quiet music, you probably wouldn't use the gate, because you wouldn't want any of the decay cut off, right? You'd want to keep every detail of the quiet parts. Am I right?
 
Corect Dobro.
Most people will not record with a gate and leave it for the mixing process. you dont want the recording to come out beautifull only to have the gate ruin it by cutting off some notes.

Gate is also used as a effect like the old famous snare reverb-gate. Were we cut the snare off.

Another commen use of a gate is to clean the drum tracks from leakage so that we can isolate each part of the drum.

Example - have a gate on the snare so that it will open only when we hit it and close right after it dies away.
Now we can EQ and add reverb to the snare with out effecting the whole drum set.
 
Gotcha. Slowly this Behringer compressor is starting to be less confusing and more useful. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top