HW synth people, do you use an external compressor?

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-- HW synth people, do you use an external compressor?

Posted by FuzzyGreen on Nov-14-2005 23:15:

HW synth people, do you use an external compressor?

I'm not satisfied with using plug-ins for my external gear's effects, and was thinking about adding an external compressor in line with my synths before they go to the line in for recording. Do any of you guys do this?

I've been looking into the BBE sonic maximizer + compressor combo thing and it sounds cool.

Posted by groundzero74 on Nov-15-2005 00:19:

Never heard of BBE before your post - always wanted an external compressor also, but never got around to buying one , since this is one of the devices that really has to be good.
If you buy a crappy compressor, everything that goes trough it will sound crappy afterward.
There are soo many quality variations and specific purposes for these things i just gave up and jept using the software ones.

Posted by Storyteller on Nov-15-2005 00:46:

If your recordings ae up to standard a software compressor is good enough.

Consider yourself what kind of compressor you want, there are types which colour your sound, and transparent compressors which are also very suitable for mastering kind of purposes. Try to listen to some compressors if possible. I personally thing software is enough though, and it can provide a certain amount of colouration also.

Posted by Dj Pyster on Nov-15-2005 01:18:

I agree with storyteller on that one, Software compressors are good enough for me, but its all a preference though.

Posted by Axolotyl on Nov-15-2005 02:25:

I flirted with the idea of getting a tube preamp for a while but now I find usually running it through the eq's on a mixer is usually good enough. I also found it took a while to find the right combination of post processing to get my HW sounding right in a mix. Personal preference though and running the signal through a HW compressor couldnt hurt.

Posted by IDarkISwordI on Nov-15-2005 02:46:

Hey. I would recomend not doing this. The Sonic Maximizer is mainyl for mastering purposes. Dont get me wrong, it would add some uniqueness to your sound, but its going to adversely affect the sound of the synth if you arent careful. A compressor after a hardware synth also isnt highly recomended but again, if you want that type of sound, go for it. If you do ahve a compressor, youll have trouble with the onboard effects of the synth. If you need a boost in volume, try an 80 watt amp instead. Theres nothing wrong with having outboard processors but it will definitely change the sound of a synth/song with the processing where it would be.

Cheers,
Zac

Posted by DJ Shibby on Nov-15-2005 11:24:

Re: HW synth people, do you use an external compressor?

quote:
Originally posted by FuzzyGreen
I'm not satisfied with using plug-ins for my external gear's effects, and was thinking about adding an external compressor in line with my synths before they go to the line in for recording. Do any of you guys do this?

I've been looking into the BBE sonic maximizer + compressor combo thing and it sounds cool.

BBE is amazing, and you would be making a very good addition to your studio.

Posted by DeZmA on Nov-15-2005 13:34:

I use one, the behringer composer pro xl.
It's kinda low budget but it does the job rather good.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Mar...gercomposer.asp

Posted by Storyteller on Nov-15-2005 14:30:

I've seen several radio studio's use behringers for their radio signal... so it can't all be that bad indeed

Posted by fr0st on Nov-15-2005 16:57:

quote:
Originally posted by Storyteller
I've seen several radio studio's use behringers for their radio signal... so it can't all be that bad indeed

radios are known for smashing the signal to make it hot as possible not really a good thing.....

Id recomend the FMR RNC as a budget option, and a distressor as a high end option...

Posted by Storyteller on Nov-15-2005 18:09:

quote:
Originally posted by fr0st
radios are known for smashing the signal to make it hot as possible not really a good thing.....

Id recomend the FMR RNC as a budget option, and a distressor as a high end option...

that still really depends on what kind of radio station you're talking about. I'm talking about a small and a fairly big non-commercial radio station here instead of huge commercial station. These stations play a lot of classical music as well as house/trance. In classical music the dynamics are of extreme importance, they won't limit the hell out of it because the music wouldn't have anything left to it. Anyway, behringer compessors are budget, and for compression purposes they're not bad either.

Posted by Freak on Nov-16-2005 01:22:

I have six behringer composers and a few others- so yes I do use compression!!!!
I use around 6 mono channels of compression when mixing on whatever, then run a linked stereo compressor over the entire mix.

They are a good solid workhorse and do the job. The older versions (before they moved manufacturing plants) sound better to my ears. They also double up as gates and have a key/schain snd/rtn on each channel.

You really can pick them up for utter peanuts now. Try the behringer autocom too- that is even cheaper!