My first steps with high end compressors

Carnivale · 12th September 2006

My first steps with high end compressors.

Up till now I was mostly tracking instrumental music and never got to use any compressors. But recently I’m getting more and more vocalists in my studio so I decided to get few compressors and for some reasons I just can’t get a proper sound. I can hear distorted (overloading?) tones every time a singer hits strong passage. It kind of makes sound thinner almost like digital distortion but not as harsh. What am I doing wrong? All my connectors are balanced and compressors are not too bad: Ahex Compellor 323A and I also tried RNC and DBX 160SL with the same unpleasant results. As a preamp I’m using P2 Analog and NEVE Prism. Any ideas would be very much appreciated.
Thanks

Carnivale

PhilE · 12th September 2006

I would have to say I don't know the Aphex but the other 2 wouldn't strike me as a first choice for Vocals- nor would the AMS Neve mic pre- great stuff but not a vocal chain of choice for me- I think you may be hitting a little hard too... this will draw attention to the shortcomings more often than not- try a Distressor and a 'gentler' mic amp like an older Neve.
In the mean time just make everything work less individually and see if you can even up the gain stages of the chain- only a guess but I wouldn't be suprised if it smoothed the whole thing out at least a little.

numrologst · 12th September 2006

did you build the cabling yourself. When i first started building cables, I had some wires shorted and/or reversed and it just so happened that there was nasty distortion every time i hit a compressor. Make sure all the cables are in phase with eachother.

Also for a vocal chain, try the aphex 661. I really dig the "tubessence" on alot of vocals.

gwailoh · 12th September 2006

What's your recording medium? If you're going to digital, are you accidentally overloading your A/D converters with a signal which is peaking too high?

Re-reading your post, one guess might be that your singers are putting out more dynamics than you're used to, so you might want to compress a little more, or put a limiter in front of the converters to catch unexpected peaks. If you can provide a little more info about your chain, others might have more helpful suggestions.

12th September 2006	#1
Carnivale Gear Head Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 41 Thread Starter	My first steps with high end compressors My first steps with high end compressors. Up till now I was mostly tracking instrumental music and never got to use any compressors. But recently I’m getting more and more vocalists in my studio so I decided to get few compressors and for some reasons I just can’t get a proper sound. I can hear distorted (overloading?) tones every time a singer hits strong passage. It kind of makes sound thinner almost like digital distortion but not as harsh. What am I doing wrong? All my connectors are balanced and compressors are not too bad: Ahex Compellor 323A and I also tried RNC and DBX 160SL with the same unpleasant results. As a preamp I’m using P2 Analog and NEVE Prism. Any ideas would be very much appreciated. Thanks Carnivale

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12th September 2006	#2
PhilE Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,260	I would have to say I don't know the Aphex but the other 2 wouldn't strike me as a first choice for Vocals- nor would the AMS Neve mic pre- great stuff but not a vocal chain of choice for me- I think you may be hitting a little hard too... this will draw attention to the shortcomings more often than not- try a Distressor and a 'gentler' mic amp like an older Neve. In the mean time just make everything work less individually and see if you can even up the gain stages of the chain- only a guess but I wouldn't be suprised if it smoothed the whole thing out at least a little.

12th September 2006	#3
numrologst Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,955	did you build the cabling yourself. When i first started building cables, I had some wires shorted and/or reversed and it just so happened that there was nasty distortion every time i hit a compressor. Make sure all the cables are in phase with eachother. Also for a vocal chain, try the aphex 661. I really dig the "tubessence" on alot of vocals.

12th September 2006	#4
gwailoh Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 812	What's your recording medium? If you're going to digital, are you accidentally overloading your A/D converters with a signal which is peaking too high? Re-reading your post, one guess might be that your singers are putting out more dynamics than you're used to, so you might want to compress a little more, or put a limiter in front of the converters to catch unexpected peaks. If you can provide a little more info about your chain, others might have more helpful suggestions.