So im playing with a compressor......and I'm confused

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m98ter

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I'm currently screwing around with a presonus blue max that is on loan from my local music store, and I can't figure out what in the world im doing with it. I'm using it with my Tascam 424MkII, and I can't tell any noticeable difference in the sound. It does seem a little louder, but the annoying peaks are still there. I have it hooked up like so:

Effect 1 send on the tascam is going to the input of the blue max.
Output of blue max is in to the 7th track of the tascam.

From what i've read, this seems like the proper way to hook it up, but everytime i start playing with the effect knobs on vocal tracks, it only seems to make the louder rather than "squashing" them. I should also note, that for the sake of simplicity i'm using the vocal presets. I would think that I should be able to hear some difference even while switching between the three presets if nothing else? I'm going to guess that something may be flipped or plugged in the wrong way between the two. Any help is appreciated.
 
I don't know anything about the gear you're using, but it sounds like you may be monitoring the dry signal instead of the effected signal, or have a wet/dry mix that leans too heavily on the dry. I could be, and probably am, way off here.
 
After a little more reading, it seems as though I've come up with this conclusion:

I can A) Go from the source (vocals, guitar) to the blue max to 424 for compression while recording.

Or B) Mixdown my entire body of work to my standalone CDR, then go from the outs of my cdr (sony cdr with dual cd trays) to the blue max (via my rca to 1/4 adapter) {assuming im still using presets just set it at a stero pre} then from the blue max back to my tascam and then back to my cdr to create the compression over the entire piece of audio.

This seems to be correct, but I'm still a little lost. From what I've read, it sounds like I cant really use the effects loop on the 424 for compression? Sure is confusing....but at least im confused before I own the machine I guess.
 
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for something like compression, i don't think that should be sent to an 'effect' channel when recording vocals. your best bet would be to use it between your vocal mic and the tascam...or record the vox, then send the entire take back through the comp. and what adam p said....make sure that you're not just monitoring the dry signal...if you solo the '7th channel' or whatever you are running it back through, you should definitely notice a diff.
 
I'm not really familiar with how the 424 is set up, but your best bet (as previously mentioned) may be to record directly into the presonus and output into your board input. Problem is, if you decide you want to change something later with the effect, you can't.
If you want compression on the "entire piece of audio", and I'm assuming you mean all four tracks going into your CDR deck, simply connect your L-R outputs from the board to the Presonus inputs, connect Presonus outputs to CDR inputs, monitor from the CDR deck in record-ready mode and adjust to taste, press record.
 
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