Karaoke Forums

I have a DBX 166xl compressor. Can someone tell me a generally good setting for each nobs? Like: Expander/Gate: Threshold Release
Compressor: Threshold Ratio Attack Release Outputgain
Limiter: peakstop

Can you tell me use clock face as a preference. Like : Threshold 10 o'clock Release 7 O'clock

Here's the site for the manual. I have no idea what it says in there. it's soo confusing. ftp://ftp.dbxpro.com/pub/PDFs/Manuals/E ... nualA2.pdf


Oh, What's the difference if you go from Mic to Compressor and then to Mixer and

Mic to mixer and Compressor to mixer? What's the difference? the sound be different? I haven't got the TRS balance split to unbalance to go straight to the mixer yet. I took the Mic to Compressor to Mixer route.

Sorry, i am a noob.

THanks guys,
K

Alright, before you attack the compressor (gee that was kinda punny), sound check your mics and set the levels and EQ before you insert it in the path. PFL or Solo (depending on your console) each mic and watch the meters while you talk or sing into it at different volumes. Your peaks (loudest volumes) should push the meters to just under 0 or at the very worst 0, not above. That's step one.

Now once that's done, here are some general places to start:

Expander/Gate Section:
*Turn the threshold knob to the off (full-left) position
*Doesn't matter where you set the release since you just turned it off

Compressor Section:
* Engage the OverEasy button
* Set the threshold to around -7. We'll come back to that and fine tune it.
* Set your ratio to 4:1 as a good starting point.
* Engage the Auto button (pushed in is engaged I believe)
* Ignore the Attack and Release, they're now meaningless since you engaged Auto
* Set your Output Gain to 0 (straight up)

Limiter Section:
* Set the Peak Stop Control to +10 (you don't really want this to ever kick in)

Make sure the SC Enable, Bypass, and Stereo Couple buttons are dis-engaged.

Now to set your threshold, with the mic checked as discussed before, insert your compressor into the the path (plug in the insert cable). Now talk in the mic and give it some good shouts or sing into it giving it some peaks of your loudest level. Turn the Threshold knob so that the gain reduction LED's only start to light up on your loud peaks, not under normal volume levels. Now you're ready to rock.

The problem with plugging the mic directly into the compressor and then the comp into the console is that now the compressor comes before the pre-amp rather than being inserted into it's path. So now your trim (gain) pot is working on the signal after the compression is applied rather than the signal going to your compressor. You lose all control of the level going to the compressor and the results would be pretty bizarre. Same with the EQ. On most consoles the EQ is in the path before the insert jack as well so the effects it has on the overall level of the channel affect what is sent to the compressor rather than acting post compressor. Long and short of it, get the insert cables ASAP, it's really the only right way to go.

As far as the methods of configuring your compressor that I discussed above, you'll find that others have different approaches. What I've given you above results in the best use of gain structure to keep your signal to noise ratio as low as possible. If you can find a copy of it, the best article ever written on the subject of compression is called "Conquering Peaks". It appeared in the December 1998 edition of Electronic Musician. I've been trying to get their permission for a long time to distribute that article, but to no avail thus far.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Thanks a lot letitrip! i appreciate it a lot.

Also, don't be afraid to just "play with it" as you are learning. A compressor is one of those tools that you can explain to someone until you are blue in the face, and they may not "get it." But if you give that person a compressor and 10 minutes to experiment with it, they will quickly understand what it does.

Keep in mind that one side-effect of too much compression is it can contribute to feedback. If you feel like your mics feed back a lot more easily, adjust or temporarily remove the compressor.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ