CL1B with Vocals -- starting point?

[radiospace]

Hey,

I've got a Tube-Tech CL1B for the weekend and want to try it out tracking vocals. Anybody who uses it for that on a regular basis, how do you usually set it up? (There's a lot of knobs!). Any tips appreciated...just looking for a good starting point to tweak from.

Thanks.

[drummerboy1533]

It's a POS-I'll take it off your hands for cheap.............OK,I tried. Do a search here for it and look up James LA Lugos' comments.He found some successful settings.

[Rick Sutton]

slowest attack, fastest release, 2/1 ratio and adjust threshold to get 2-3 dB on peaks. Most of the time the needle should just sit there on no reduction.

That's one of many, many ways to start. All dependent on type of vocalist/music/desired results. The more aggressive the music the more aggressive the CL1b can be used.

[radiospace]

Originally Posted by drummerboy1533

It's a POS-I'll take it off your hands for cheap.............OK,I tried.

Ha ha. It didn't take using it long to figure out that's not the case!

[radiospace]

Thanks for the ideas.

[Lynn Fuston]

Owned one for over 10 years. Here's where I start, at least for vocals.


Image hijacked from: Tube-Tech CL 1B Compressor - Free Shipping, Lowest Prices on Compressors and Limiters at WWBW

Gain: 0
Ratio: 10 o'clock
Threshold: Program and level dependent, but I usually start at 0 (9:15 o'c)
Attack: 10 o'c
Release: 11 o'c
A/R Select: manual
Power: On

[James Lugo]

To me the most important thing with CL1B's is don't slam it. 4 - 5db in the hot spots and it'll sound like a record! Great comp!

[Eskimo Brain]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

Power: On

I tell ya, there is really something magical going on with that switch... thumbsup

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by Eskimo Brain

I tell ya, there is really something magical going on with that switch... thumbsup

It's the little things, ya know.

There's one other secret I left off the original settings I posted. But now I feel guilty, so I'll spill the beans. The real magic happens when you grab that left bat handle switch and put it in the UP position. There, I said it. No more secrets.

[e-cue]

Typical starting point for me when tracking

in: "in"
gain: 11 o click
Ratio: Noon
Theres: -10, dependent on how much signal is going into the unit
Meter: compression
Attack: 1 o clock
Release: 11 o click
Att/Releas: fix./man.
SC link: off, or left+right in the plug in version if comping itb

Useless.

If I use a lower ratio, I typically set my attack and release times slower. The sweet spot for me is usually around 5 db of gain reduction. Try floating around there for a while and you'll know when it's appropriate to use more gr, or less. If I want less pocket for my vocal, I may go more in Rick S's direction. I also compress less with the plug in version.

The mainup gain is very smooth, so I often feed the compressor a softer output signal from whatever mic pre I'm using and use the makeup gain for my level to tape/daw. Play with it. It's an easy box to make sound great when you know it. Main thing I'd watch out for is setting my release too fast.

[. . .]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

Owned one for over 10 years. Here's where I start, at least for vocals.


Power: On

Are you sure?

[Musiclab]

my settings are similar to Lynn's except I use the attack release set to fixed. You don't want to hit it too hard on the way in but if you have this for the mix then you can fool with smacking it and messing with the attack and release. It's a really great compressor

[degas]

Originally Posted by e-cue

Typical starting point for me when tracking

in: "in"
gain: 11 o click
Ratio: Noon
Theres: -10, dependent on how much signal is going into the unit
Meter: compression
Attack: 1 o clock
Release: 11 o click
Att/Releas: fix./man.
SC link: off, or left+right in the plug in version if comping itb

When the Att/Rel i set to "Fix/Man", I think that the attack is fixed and the attack setting is overridden.

[drumrec.com]

Here some info.on page 5.

http://www.tube-tech.com/ny/filer/ManCL1B-1.pdf

Here is a link to a thread that I started with a similar question

TubeTech CL1B Settings!?

Great comp b.t.w....Love it

[radiospace]

Thanks for all the ideas, guys. Loving the compressor. I'll post a few thoughts about it later when I've got some more time.

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by degas

When the Att/Rel i set to "Fix/Man", I think that the attack is fixed and the attack setting is overridden.

No the release is auto and the attack is manual

[degas]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

No the release is auto and the attack is manual

Ah, there you go.
I know something was "auto"...

[Musiclab]

actually I'm wrong about that. Peeder sent me a part of the manual, sorry about the misinformation

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by Musiclab

actually I'm wrong about that. Peeder sent me a part of the manual, sorry about the misinformation

Yea, the opposite is true.

I always though that in Fix/Manual, the ATTACK knob was completely bypassed. I was wrong. So much for 10 years of experience. {:-0

From the manual:

There are three settings of the switch:
1. Fixed.

Attack time: 1 msec
Release time: 50 msec

2. Manual.
Attack time: from 0.5 msec to 300 msec
Release time: from 0.05 sec to 10 sec

3. Fix/man.
This setting combines the release times of fixed and manual
mode. The attack time is as in the fixed mode.

The fix/man mode always has a fast attack, but it is possible to obtain a release time
depending on the input signal, e.g. get a fast release when the peak disappears, then
superseded shortly thereafter by the release time selected by the release control.
From the time the peak disappears, until the selected release time takes over, is dependent
upon the setting of the attack control.
That is, the attack control changes function from a pure attack control, to a control of delay
with the same time range.
The more CW the attack control is turned, the longer time before the release control
takes over.
The more CCW the attack control is turned, the shorter time before the release control
takes over.
This function is valid only if the time of the peak is shorter than the setting of the attack
control.
If the peak of the program is longer than the setting of the attack control, or if the attack
control has reached the full CCW position, it will respond as in the manual mode.
The fix/man mode acts as an automatic release function with a constant fast attack time and
fast release time for short peaks and a longer release times for longer peaks.

[Gabriel Sousa]

thanks Lynn Fuston

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by Gabriel Sousa

thanks Lynn Fuston

You're welcome. I'm always eager to learn, even if that means learning I was wrong.

[mDay]

old thread but very interesting as i just picked up a CL1B. anybody have any suggestions on the input level feeding it?

my vocal chain:

Sony C800GPAC-->Great Rivers MP2NV-->CL1B

thanks in advance!

[taturana]

I love that comp... one of my favorite ever... very easy to dial in the sound you want... just fiddle with it a bit... no need for presets...

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by mDay

old thread but very interesting as i just picked up a CL1B. anybody have any suggestions on the input level feeding it?

my vocal chain:

Sony C800GPAC-->Great Rivers MP2NV-->CL1B

thanks in advance!

Since you have a 2NV, just set the preamp up so that it's not going into the red (red LED lighting) and hand that to the CL1. It has a threshold control so you can adjust it to whatever signal is coming in, even if it's really low.

[ITJ]

Originally Posted by Rick Sutton

slowest attack, fastest release, 2/1 ratio and adjust threshold to get 2-3 dB on peaks. Most of the time the needle should just sit there on no reduction.

This is how I start.