266XL Compressor settings

fleaflicker

I am brand new to the effects processing world. I am a dumb musician who has recently 'retired' our sound guy and I need some help with the compressor. I will be using it primarily for vocals and harmonica. Is there a standard setting to start with? (I know this will probably prompt the typical \"depends on what you're trying to do\" response!) My band plays blues based rock. I was thinking of just hitting the 'Auto' and 'Overeasy' buttons and just walking away! (Are these buttons essentially auto pilots?) Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
FF

Gadget

Yes the auto is an auto pilot... the over easy is a TYPE of compression...Perhaps you should start here...

ftp://ftp.dbxpro.com/pub/PDFs/WhitePape ... %20101.pdf
There you will find a lot of good info including some suggested settings...

Here:
http://www.mixmama.com/compressor.html
is a simper more to the point explanation of the features...

Here is a cool one.. \"How to ruin a perfectly good recording with compression or limiting..\"
http://sound.westhost.com/compression.htm

Just remember.. the idea is to NOT EVEN KNOW THERE IS COMPRESSION...but have a smoother, less dynamic product...assuming thats what you want..I think compression saps a lot of the dynamics of a performance...

G

Dra

Harmonica in a blues band? Sacralige! (or however you spell it)
In a metal band , YES, but a BLUES band? Gimmie a break :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:



DRA

Gadget

BAD DRA...go lay by your dish!

Dra

Yes, master. (I left you a present inside your slippersand later I'm gonna pee on your new motorcycle's front tire when you're not looking.) :P :P

DRA

fga

Hi,
I'd like to use my 266xl for wireless mike in our conference room. May I use it between the receiver unit and the mixer's input or should I use it through the insert point of the mixer's channel?
I want to use it mainly because the presenters speak with too big dynamic differences, once they hold the mike 15cm from their mouth and whisper, then they seem to swallow the mike and shout...
Could you suggest a starting point to set the parameters on the 266xl for handling these problems?
Any help would be appreciated, thanks
Fga

Dra

I recommend as an insert. Use with compression only and no gain increase for the low threashhold. Bad feedback problems if you do.

DRA

Gadget

I concur...Insert and minimal... limiting might be even better... What about you Dennis...

(I'm not much for comping much of anything unless it REALLY needs it...) but as Dra says... compressing leads to level hunting and then feedback...MUCH easier if you had the Driverack to make sure the system was properly tuned to begin with! ... but I digress..
G

Dennis

If we were talking about a band, I am all about putting a comp on every vocal (FOH but not monitors). A conference room is an entirely different dynamic and I am very cautious about the amount of compression I apply. I try to avoid it altogether but will apply some if I have to.

Dennis

fga

Thanks. Could you explaine a little, why do you suggest to use the insert? What is the problem with the other solution? (connect the 266xl between the wireless receiver and the mixer.) I thought to use this way, because I have problems to set the input gain on the mixer because of the very huge dynamic differences of the presenters. So I have to set the gain continously. If I connect the compressor before the input, maybe it will flatten out the incoming signal. What do you think?
Fga

Dra

That works as long as your receiver has Line level output, which it should. But the same problem with over-loading the mixer input will be present on the input of the receiver. So..... there is no perfect solution for the problem, except a little coaching (and that rarely works). You can only do so much.


DRA

Gadget

Anyway you look at it, or hook it up it's a recipe for a HUGE feedback nightmare for your application...The compressor is going to go looking for sound in quiet passages and squash sound when it's loud...in a quiet application this manifests itself as a pumping sound.... in the quiet moments between words as the compressor looks for sound the noise floor is amplified, then if it's too long a period the hiss starts to regenerate and the feedback occurs...

It seems you are single of purpose here though so perhaps this article will help...
ftp://ftp.dbxpro.com/pub/PDFs/WhitePape ... %20101.pdf

This is an application where such words as ALWAYS and NEVER are typically used, but definitive settings are difficult to come by...your mileage may vary, but one thing is certain... judicious use is warranted... if you try for too much you'll get burned... in front of EVERYONE....