Recording Vocals

[tafrancis]

If I'm using a mic-preamp, can I also add a compressor into the signal chain when I am recording vocals? Will I lose signal integrity or in any other way effect the quality? My goal is to get the best signal I can going in. And while I don't intend to put any effect on the vocal while recording, I like the idea of using some minimal compressionto make sure I don't clip. I would then add more later in the mix as needed.

Your thoughts?

 

[GABritton]

Compression will do more than make your signal not clip. The compressor, depending on the singer's style, can smooth the whole sound out, which might help it "sit" in the mix a little better. The compressor won't affect the quality as long as you don't squash the shit out of them, and you run the correct cables for the compressor.

 

[tafrancis]

Cool, thanks for the help. I was planning on taking using the XLR's out of the pre-amp, into the compressor, and then once again out of the compressor and into the XLR's on the record. Is that what would be considered "the correct cables?"