Interface/Compressor

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gibsonsgharp

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I have been using a mixer directly into the sound card of my computer with an 1/8" adaptor with predictably bad results relative to quality.

My plan is to buy an interface. I have been looking at the Lexicon Lambda. From searching the forum here, this interface has gotten pretty good reviews and seems to fit my (price/purpose = value) needs.

Question: I have a dbx compressor/limiter. What would be the best order in the recording chain to hook this up?

i.e. mic/compressor/interface/computer ? or....

mic/interface/computer / add compression later?

or.... am I completely off base?
 
i'd say it depends about your needs, but if you are asking from me, i would use the "mic/compressor/interface/computer" scheme. that way i dont need to mess around with compressors later again, but i have to know exactly, which settings to use.
 
If the lexicon has inserts then thats what you would use (insert the compersosor in the chain). But Compressing on the way in while tracking is usually rare. This method is commonly used on a kick drum and maybe vocals. I use minimal settings (low ratio).

Where you may want to experiment is putting the compressor on the main buss outputs of the lexicon then out of the comperssor back in but you need a way to monitor after the compressor. This is where a mixer comes in handy.
 
If you need the compression on the way in I guess that will have to be, but it will always there! IMHO I would wait till after you record then add what compression you need to individual tracks.
 
For recording, get an interface with inserts, then you can record the dry signal, while monitoring the compressed signal during tracking. I use hardware ONLY as comfort fx for the musicians during tracking, or live PA use. So I'm not sure how you could use it as a live fx in your mixing chain.
 
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