dumb DBX question

[RFR]

As the title states, dumb question.

So how does one tell for sure if they recorded something with DBX engaged or not if they were so foolish as to not mark it on the tape?

When I disengage it upon playback, levels are higher, both on the meters and in volume and it is a bit brighter. Of course there is the tape noise.

Engaged, the levels drop both audible and on the meters. Tape noise is down.

Should have labeled the box huh?

 

[sweetbeats]

The only dumb question is the one not asked.

If it was tracked with dbx and you reproduce with dbx off it'll be really bright and the noise floor very audible. I suspect you tracked the material in question with dbx engaged. Conversely if you tracked WITHOUT dbx and reproduce with dbx ON it'll be noticably muffled sounding and there may be "pumping" of the volume with transients...like in rhythm with a drum back-beat for instance.

HTH.

 

[RFR]

Yeah, playing around with it i ended up figuring out that it was recorded with dbx on.

At first I liked the sound with dbx disengaged on playback. Except for the noise floor.

Going to some reference cds, I went no way! No way this was ever tracked with this much high end. (and noise)

Popping on a reel I had purposely recorded without dbx, and in a temporary fit of intelligence, having had the foresight to label it, confirmed my suspicions.

 

[jpmorris]

At first I liked the sound with dbx disengaged on playback. Except for the noise floor.

There was a fad a while back for passing things through a DBX processor as a kind of poor-man's Aural Exciter...