Mic pre vs compressor

  • Thread starter Thread starter didgman
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didgman

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Newbie here, sorry if this seems very basic.

I have a presonus blue max. What are the benefits of adding a mic pre to the signal path if I already have the compressor? Won't the compressor act as a preamp?

Also what effect does an xlr to 1/4" transformer have going into the compressor (with a battery powered mic) vs using a pre w/phamtom power?
 
A compressor is a compressor, and a mic pre is a mic pre - they are not interchangeable, nor do they handle the same function!

Mic pres take a low-level signal (such as from a MIC!) and bring it up (cleanly) to the gain structure used by the console. A mic pre can also include phantom power needed to provide DC voltage to condenser mics.

A compressor is a unit used to limit the dynamic range of a given signal. Signals sent into the unit must ALREADY be at the unit's working gain structure (generally -10dbV or +4dbU) Sending a mic to the compressor's input will not give you the gain stage needed to bring the mic level up to a usable point.

Bruce
 
Thanks Bruce.

That may explain why I have been getting crappy sound from my setup.

A couple more questions:

I have been going from an AKG c1000s to the compressor, and adjusting input level to where the meter reads a good signal, but the sound coming out is muddy with really poor frequency balance. Is this because the compressor's amp stage is having to boost the signal too much to get the compression function kicked in?

Also, right now I have a guitar tube preamp, and wonder if I could use it effectively for a mic pre. It has pre outs, but no line out. The signal chain would have to go Mic- transformer-pre-compressor-souncard. would I have level problems with this set up?

I will be getting a digital multi track recorder soon which has XLR/ phantom inputs and effects loops. would it be better to go mic-preamp-compressor-recorder, or mic-recorder with compessor in the effects loop?
 
You NEED to put a mic pre before the compressor. Period. ART makes small units that people on this forum have had good results with.

The guitar preamp is a different story - the preamp out on the unit IS your line-out and its gain structure has already been brought up to usable levels. You don't need a mic pre to further increase the gain.

And for compression, I'm a minimalist. Unless needed to tame a wild input signal (such as a vocalist with a wild range or a slap-happy bass player!), I would avoid using a compressor during tracking at all... use it on mixdown as needed. On the other hand, there are no "rules" one way or the other - only rough guidelines...

Bruce
 
thanks again Bruce.

The reason for compression is the instrument. The didgeridoo has some pretty tremendous transients and hefty dynamic range.
 
How in the world have you been getting the phantom power to your C1000s with no mic preamp? Does it take a battery or something?
 
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