Pushing a console and other gear into red?

[phill brown]

Originally Posted by univox1

are mix engineers, such as your self, often pushing consoles or (other gear,like the outputs of compressors) to the point of distorting to get natural compression and tone. ive been experimenting with that this week and have been getting some interesting results.

thanks mp

When I started in 1967 gear would distort very easily, especially the consoles. Everything has become a lot cleaner - almost too clean for me,. In the days of tape I would line up to +7db over Ampex Standard Level and then 'push' it. Great for drum sounds. I often have a distorted signal with the clean - adjust to taste....