i am a beginner

[floz26]

ok, i don't have a huge expensive home studio, i just have a thousand dollar recorder/mixer, a condensor microphone, etc.

i am about to ask the stupidest questions so here it goes

1) what exactly does a compressor do?
2) how will it make my voice sound?
3) anything else i need for vocals?
4) what is a good compressor for under 200 dollars?

any help would be great thanks

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

1) what exactly does a compressor do?
2) how will it make my voice sound?
3) anything else i need for vocals?
4) what is a good compressor for under 200 dollars?

1) It does two things - a) controls/limits the dynamic range of a sound source, and b) depending on the specific compressor, can color/shape the envelope of a track to change it's tonal properties (ie, making a snare drum sound fatter - or is that "phat'er"?!?)

2) The difference between the louder and softer phrases will be lessened.

3) Talent, a good-sounding room, a good mic, and a good mic pre.

4) FMR Audio RNC -- not a "coloring" type compressor, buut does a very transparent job of taming dynamics -which is a compressor's first job.

 

[Scinx]

1) There is a search box
2) You can type key words into it and find many articles
3) You will learn much more from harvesting for yourself than waiting for someone to drop food on your plate
4) You can use a search engine like Google and find out even more.

Good luck in your endeavours. Im not being a wise ass. I am actually trying to help you. Seriously you will find a ton if you look

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

This should get you going:

http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/articles3.htm

I've found compression to be the most difficult thing to get to grips with. It doesn't go swoosh like a flanger and it doesn't make your source sound likes it's in a concert hall/the bodokan/wherever like reverb. To the untrained ear it isn't obvious (or at least it wasn't to me).

However with some perseverance I've also found it's now starting to make more difference to my recordings than any other processor/effect.

Good luck

 

[Paul Robison]

floz26, Here is a very basic definition from our website

A LIMITER is a device which stops the output of a signal path going above a pre-determined level.

A COMPRESSOR is a device which reduces the dynamic range of program material.

A 'perfect' compressor is an amplifier where the input/output ratio is constant: So, when using a compressor with a 2:1 ratio, increasing the input by 2dB gives a corresponding 1dB increase in the output.

Early compressors which used variable mu thermionic tubes or photoelectric devices only approximated true compression over a limited range. They had a soft 'threshold' where compression started and held to a predictable ratio up to a certain level, then they returned to a more linear amplification allowing transients through. This is in stark contrast to modern VCA compressor/limiters where designers thought it 'sensible' to combine the functions of a compressor and a limiter to 'stonewall' any and all signals above a certain level. The musical effect of this is that VCA compressors sound muddy and flat, while old 'Vintage' type compressors sound lively and retain high end sparkle.

What mic are you using? What mic preamp?

Under $200. RNC

Paul Robison

TFPro USA