Karaoke Forums

Hey all, Was curious to know if anyone was using a compesssor and what's best and is it really neccessary?? Thanks~~~

Yes, using a compressor on all my systems. I now consider it necessary, though the vast majority of karaoke systems out there don't have it.

As for which one, I use the single-knob compression on Yamaha mixing boards and the Behringer MDX1600. Both work fine for me. I know you will do well with the dbx 266XL. Others I don't know enough about.

I am really kind of spoiled now. Put me on a system with no compression and I really notice the difference. If you add cheap mics on top of that, I would prefer not to even go.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

From what I understand - using a compressor makes your vocals a lot more "forgiving"...

The automatic gain adjustment (which is what I understand a comrpessor does) eliminates a lot of what would either cause feedback or low vocals.

If I am wrong, please can someone explain?

You are right, but perhaps overstating the part about eliminating feedback. Essentially compression is an automatic volume control which turns down the loud parts while not touching the quiet parts.

It does allow you to turn gain up for low-volume singers, because the rare moments when they actually sing into it don't then send the sound-system operator racing to the gain slider.

For poor singers, generally the more compression the better. Some very powerful singers who don't know to pull away from the mic (perhaps because they sing with compression routinely) might also get 4:1 or 6:1 ratios.

For most singers, I run 2.5 : 1.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I really must get round to buying a decent mixer with this. Christmas just around the corner

Nick I think that kinda sums things up...hell I am even attempting disco with compression, something I never thought I would do cos its all too high for me and my falsetto is normally sooo freakin reedy...but with the compression on my voice it does make it sound a bit fatter and more substantial and errr I dont have to work so hard so it also means I am inclined to get a little lazier

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Hmmm

Disco with compression, that sounds kinda kinky

L.W.

ohhhh you have NO idea wolfy

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

PLEASE, I want Dancing Queen

It kinda depends on a few variables. Some wireless mic's(higher-end) now have compresion/limiters built in. What kind of venue and other parts of your system also play a role. The greater the dynamic range of your system the more likely you'll need a compression/limiter.

Okay, am i reading this right? Can this wonderful piece of equipment help me inprove the sound of one of our singers who screams into the microphone every song? He's in key, but loud. . . very loud... most venues he wouldn't need a microphone, and he has little diction, so he tends to make customers run to the door for a smoke break.

Also does it work the same way an effects unit would? eg do you plug the mics into it, and then take from the output to the desk?

so to ask such silly details, but where i live in the UK, few would have heard of this and there is no chance to try something out before purchase.

Yes to elaborate on th above - UK setups (and the way karaoke is seen) is very different, a lot less professional and detailed.

Hence my lack of knowledge on compression

A compressor with a limiter built in like the dbx 166XL would help with the screamer types - but will also help with the non screamers as well. The compressor to help smooth out the vocals & the limiter to keep the volume from going over a certain point.

It is not hooked up like a typicqal effect. It should ideally be plugged into the 'insert' jacks on the vocal channels. If your mixer does not have inserts, then going inline - mic-compressor-mixer - will work, just not as effective.

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