Getting started with Rack Gear - suggestions?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jonobacon
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jonobacon said:
Also - what exactly *is* the compression sound? I know what a compresser does...but I dont understand what it should sound like!!
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You really just have to get one (maybe borrow one) and mess around with it. What compression is can be explained easily in words, but what it sounds like cannot.
 
I have played about with the VST compression plugin in Cubase VST/32 5. It seems to kind of contain the guitar sound (distorted boogie tone), but the different controls (Attack, Threshhold, Delay etc) I don't know what effect each control has on the sound.
 
jonobacon said:
I have played about with the VST compression plugin in Cubase VST/32 5. It seems to kind of contain the guitar sound (distorted boogie tone), but the different controls (Attack, Threshhold, Delay etc) I don't know what effect each control has on the sound.
Click to expand...

To really understand it, you should borrow some kind of hardware unit (or just try one in a store). Set all the knobs to 12:00. Then play some kind of source through it (try looping a solo bass, vocal, drum or guitar track). Then spend about 15 minutes knob-twiddling. You'll get the feel for it in no time. Just don't do it too much or you'll go blind.
 
Ahhh I see, but what happens when lots of sources use the same outboard compressor?

Example: I hook my compressor up to my mixing console - and I want three seperate tracks to make use of the compressor, possibly with different settings - would this mean that I would need three compressors or can a single compressor have multiple signals using it?
 
jonobacon said:
I hook my compressor up to my mixing console - and I want three seperate tracks to make use of the compressor, possibly with different settings - would this mean that I would need three compressors or can a single compressor have multiple signals using it?
Click to expand...

You'll need three compressors, or at least three separate channels (some compressors have "dual-mono" operation wherein they can act like two separate mono compressors at once). The most common way to do it with a DAW is probably to compress a bit with a hardware compressor on the way in when recording (which, in a personal studio context is usually only one or two tracks at a time) and then use software compression when mixing.
 
Maybe it was Japan and not Taiwan... I don't remember...

But again, while the 160, 162, 165, Blue 160, 160X, and 160XT are probably the best examples of that "dbx sound", the 160, 162, 165, and Blue 160 are in a totally different class.

The Drawmer 1960 wouldn't be my first choice either though... But I'd take a Mercenary 1960 or Drawmer 1960 without complaint...
 
I've read the 160xt has the transformer, hence the xT

I think the 160xt also added XLRS ins and outs. The 160x just has screw terminals. The boards are a little different i think too.

Search for dbx 160* and you will find a post from tom cram, a dbx rep about their history and differences.

Brandon
 
Actually, mine does say Japan.

Ok, finally figued it out...

-The 160 has no input or output transformers.
-The 161 is simply an unbalanced version of the 160. There are other differences of course. Some people have been known to put transformers in the 161.
-The 160X and 160XT do not have an input transformer. The later 160Xs and the 160XT had an output transformer option. The 160XT has a space for the transformer option on its PCB.
-The 160A uses a different VCA than the others.

There's other difference of course, but you get the drift.

Man, this thread has taken a drastic turn, and I sure didn't help! I'm sorry....
 
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