tyler657recpro
Member
I have an idea of what these are in compression. I assume its the way the gain reduction is triggered, correct?
So, the question is, which does what?
So, the question is, which does what?
Ethan Winer
Acoustics Expert
Tyler,
> which does what?
Average and RMS are pretty much the same, so the real issue is peak versus average. I think you probably want peak for most things, since it is the peak level that causes distortion when it gets too high.
If you have a simple tone like an electric bass, the waveform is close to a sine wave. So the relationship between the level of the waveform peaks and the average volume remains fairly constant.
With an entire mix the average volume may be fairly soft but with occasional snare drum hits that are much louder. So a compressor that responds to the average volume won't do much to reduce the volume of the snare hits, since they are few and far between and contribute little to the overall average volume. But it's the snare hits that are the loudest part of the tune, and so must be tamed if your reason for compressing is to prevent distortion.
--Ethan
> which does what?
Average and RMS are pretty much the same, so the real issue is peak versus average. I think you probably want peak for most things, since it is the peak level that causes distortion when it gets too high.
If you have a simple tone like an electric bass, the waveform is close to a sine wave. So the relationship between the level of the waveform peaks and the average volume remains fairly constant.
With an entire mix the average volume may be fairly soft but with occasional snare drum hits that are much louder. So a compressor that responds to the average volume won't do much to reduce the volume of the snare hits, since they are few and far between and contribute little to the overall average volume. But it's the snare hits that are the loudest part of the tune, and so must be tamed if your reason for compressing is to prevent distortion.
--Ethan
J
JohnWaynesTeeth
New member
Tyler, this is probably more than you wanted to know:
RMS stands for Root Mean Squared. If you think about it, a sine wave fluctuates between some positive voltage and some negative voltage evenly. Assuming it is centered around 0 volts, if you took the average voltage it would always be zero because the wave is the same above and below the line. (assume it is 1 volt at peak, the wave would start at 0, then 1, then then 0, then -1, then 0, etc. Take the average of that and you get 0.)
But in real life, when the wave is producing a negative voltage it is not sucking energy back out of the room, it is just producing energy in a different direction (that's not quite true but the simplest way I can explain it.)
So to get the average voltage that makes sense in reality, you square everything (the roots) first (making them all positive numbers), then you take the average (or mean) of those, then you take the square root of that. And you end up with the Root Mean Squared, which is a real measure of the average energy that the sine wave carried.
This is why voltages in electronics are talked about in terms of RMS and peak. RMS is basically a measure of the average and peak is the peak of course.
I don't know if that made enough sense to you yet, but when you get to physics pay attention! It's actually pretty interesting.
Good luck.
Pete, the nerdy mechanical engineer.
RMS stands for Root Mean Squared. If you think about it, a sine wave fluctuates between some positive voltage and some negative voltage evenly. Assuming it is centered around 0 volts, if you took the average voltage it would always be zero because the wave is the same above and below the line. (assume it is 1 volt at peak, the wave would start at 0, then 1, then then 0, then -1, then 0, etc. Take the average of that and you get 0.)
But in real life, when the wave is producing a negative voltage it is not sucking energy back out of the room, it is just producing energy in a different direction (that's not quite true but the simplest way I can explain it.)
So to get the average voltage that makes sense in reality, you square everything (the roots) first (making them all positive numbers), then you take the average (or mean) of those, then you take the square root of that. And you end up with the Root Mean Squared, which is a real measure of the average energy that the sine wave carried.
This is why voltages in electronics are talked about in terms of RMS and peak. RMS is basically a measure of the average and peak is the peak of course.
I don't know if that made enough sense to you yet, but when you get to physics pay attention! It's actually pretty interesting.
Good luck.
Pete, the nerdy mechanical engineer.
TexRoadkill
Audio Bum
Just a tip-
If you have 2 compressors working a signal you can set one to peak (like a limiter) and one to RMS for total control of the overall dynamic range.
If you have 2 compressors working a signal you can set one to peak (like a limiter) and one to RMS for total control of the overall dynamic range.
tyler657recpro
Member
If i got an RNC, to use for average, and then used my Alesis for peaking, would that ruin the sound?
Blue Bear Sound
New member
Yes... running a signal thru the Alesis 3630 does, for the most part, ruin the sound.........!
tyler657recpro
Member
even just using it as a limiter? what about for a de-esser?
Blue Bear Sound
New member
If you have an RNC, which is VERY transparent and clean-sounding, you don't want to then muddy it up by sending it thru a device such as the 3630 (which can be called many things, but transparent and clean-sounding is not one of them!)...........
Anyways, why do you think you need to use all that compression in the first place?
Anyways, why do you think you need to use all that compression in the first place?
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ausrock
Well-known member
Doesn't everyone use compression?................I mean I thought it was a prerequisite for getting a great recording.......
tyler657recpro
Member
Is there anything that a 3630 is good for? Or should I just try to cheat someone on e-bay?
Blue Bear Sound
New member
I'd sell it and buy something more usable.........
tyler657recpro
Member
wanna buy one? only fifty bucks! It's a steal I swear! I paid double that. (i actually got it for free) *chuckles to himself*
Blue Bear Sound
New member
I'll take it off your hands...
...and it'll only cost you $100!
Send me certified cheque or money order along with the unit, and I'll make sure it gets disposed of properly!!!
...and it'll only cost you $100!
Send me certified cheque or money order along with the unit, and I'll make sure it gets disposed of properly!!!
tyler657recpro
Member
okie dokie (haha, i'm a dork!)
well maybe ill save it for a cold winter night when there's no firewood. I heard they burn for hours!
well maybe ill save it for a cold winter night when there's no firewood. I heard they burn for hours!
Blue Bear Sound
New member
I don't think so... it's made of metal........ duh!tyler657recpro said:
tyler657recpro
Member
d'oh! stupid salespeople!!! Ok, it's in the mail.
But really, I'm jus gonna sell it on e-bay, there's one goin for 65 bucks right now, and ends in 12 minutes. (haha, maybe I'll buy it!?)
But really, I'm jus gonna sell it on e-bay, there's one goin for 65 bucks right now, and ends in 12 minutes. (haha, maybe I'll buy it!?)