Karaoke Forums

Face it, most KJ got compressors because of the screamers... ..some scream all the time, some scream only when they're drunk, and some singers don't even know they scream(they think they just have a powerful voice... )....course we all scream for icecream....
Wish I needed one in the bedroom....no screaming in there.....lotta begging, pleading, and wimpering on my part though....

My 16-channel Yamaha board has built-in compression. I can't say as I have noticed a difference - most of the singers who come to my shows are mic workers - they know what they're doing and respect the gear. Those I'm unfamiliar with, I hang at the board with my fingers on their mic volume. Not too many of those singers these days but I'm anxious to see how well the built-in compression actually works with those kinds of singers.

@ Johnny!!

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

As a singer I hate compression, I know how to sing there is no need for compression.

Even the best singers in the world use compression to some degree live. It's on every recorded vocal on anything you've ever heard again to some degree. Obviously your experience is with improper settings.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Explained well!

SS may be the exception there Lonnie!

Hey lyquiddye, how's about submitting a song to SS... one that is recorded 'live' without any compression or post-mixing?

Anything broadcast over radio or TV is compressed, period. Anything recorded in the last 30 years is compressed, period. I'd venture to say you'd be hard pressed to find any national touring performance that doesn't use compression.

The simple fact is when you consider the mediums of Radio, TV, Tape, CD, and yes even live PA, the human voice far exceeds them all in terms of total dynamic range. So compression is how you get that huge dynamic range to fit in something that's only capable of reproducing a limited degree of dynamic range.

It has nothing to do with "knowing how to sing", in fact some of the best voices out there have the largest dynamic range. That also makes them the hardest to reproduce which is why we have compression.

On this forum there is a common misconception that compression is only for reducing transients (peaks in signal level). While that is a great effect of compression and certainly a desirable goal, it only tells half the story of why we use compression. When a singer's dynamic range (the difference in dB between their quietest audible level and their peak singing level) exceeds that of the PA System (the difference of the system's overall noise floor level and peak output level), you have to find a way to shrink the dynamic range of that singer in order to faitfully reproduce their vocal performance. THAT is what compression is all about. Ensuring that you can reproduce the quietest passages without falling into the noise floor and without the transients (peaks) driving things into overload (clipping). The same concept applies when storing to media especially since tape, CD and vinyl have even smaller dynamic range thatn a typical PA system. Go into broadcast, and the dynamic range is even smaller still (especially in AM Radio).

So you can debate whether or not you like compression on your vocals, whether or not you feel your vocals need it. However, to suggest that compression is somehow only needed to fix less skilled singers is completely false and almost completely opposite to reality.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I am finding that some tracks from various manu's
don't allow for the use of mic. technique.
God knows what some producers are smoking when they record a track.

Getting quite a bit off topic here but this is a battle that is raging in the world of recording right now. The use, and over-use, of compression in the mastering process. More and more producers seem to be using compression to maximize the overall level of the recorded material stamped to CD. I've seen some comparisons of wave forms and the visual evidence is staggering. Of course producers who support this point to maximizing the 16-bit resolution that a CD provides. I'm not so sure of that.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Well, I started a good one (trying to make the magazine cover....)

From my stand point (and my wife's), I(we)prefer NO compression.

Not that I don't like compression, more like most KJs DON'T know how to use it, and it just makes voice all BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Perhaps I should carry a manual around when the wife and I go out showing the KJ how to adjust their compressor properly.

also my reason to hate compressor.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Mate I hate it also.
Trouble is some tracks are bad enough to require it.

If you boil it down, what you prefer is a KJ who knows what he is doing. The incorrect use of compression is just a symptom of this and not the real problem.

BINGO!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

Yet another example of how crappy karaoke hosts prevent good karaoke singers from understanding just how good things could be.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Er NO.
You are not even approaching the problem.
I am trying to do a show working with three great singers.
One is a pro.
Most of the karaoke tracks have been so heavily compressed
that there is no light and shade to allow for mic. technique to work.
I will have to find midi tracks to work with.

Am I missing something?

Simply and to the point but yes that about says what the problem is.

Jerry,

Are you saying that the dynamic range of the music is so compressed that a singer must hold a monotone pitch? Because I really don't understand.

Pretty much Yes.
It's like you come with passion
And dead wall.

Karaoke Manu's to me are killing it.


Ok I had a problem with compression.
I could not work with it.

Manu's you are killing karaoke.

Please allow mic. technique to return.

A compressor is just an additional tool; and a very useful one from a KJ (sound tech) point of view. For karaoke gig it is almost a must, simply because of the varying level of singing skill and experience seen in a typical gig.

can a Kj do without it? can a gig go without it?... yes
which one is higher up the list of 'must-have'; a comp or a vox effect processor.? ..... I say a vocal effect is ( from a singer's point of view)

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

You know, I've said it before and the singers' responses here kind of supports what I've been saying. Compression used appropriately is an invaluable tool. However, used improperly, a compressor can actually do more harm than good.

Jian, in answer to your question if I had to pick one or the other I'd probably pick a multi-efx processor first. I can manage gain structure to get around not having a compressor. However, dead dry vocals (at least when not appropriate) can be horrible.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke