Compression and noise gating live mixes

[BFSound]

So i read on here lots about parallel compression and stuff like that but it seems mostly for recording. I would like to know people's methods for using noise gates on drums, drum compression( compress and gate each mic or compress a drum sub group?) compressing vocals, bass, etc... In live scenarios. Out gear is limited

We have 4 noise gate/ limiter/ compressor channels available, and 4 patchable dynamic compressors in the board. Set with a default ratio of 4:1.

I need to compress the 3 vocals, drums, bass, and possibly some synth's?

Im thinking use the 4 rack compressor/ noise gates for kick and 2 Ftoms and snare. And onboard compression for vocals and upper toms maybe or bass? Via subgroup compression? would this be the best way to accomplish what i want.


Thanks

[surflounge]

sounds like you better ask your drummer.
last time I used gates on drums was in the '80s (phil collins type sound) and the drummer got quite pissed about losing his drum hits because the ringing cut off.
live vocals on the other hand, I gate the crap out of to stop background leakage. only during stage performace though. not in the studio because the funny in-between-takes chatter is classic.

[Roland]

For live, particularly if you are limited you need to prioritize, I would suggest Vocals first, BD next and bass after that, then look at other things. As for gates, I try to avoid them if at all possible, well tunned kit's tend not to be too much of a problem, but badly tunned toms, BD's and snares can benefit from gating as a last resort.

Roland

[BFSound]

Originally Posted by Roland

For live, particularly if you are limited you need to prioritize, I would suggest Vocals first, BD next and bass after that, then look at other things. As for gates, I try to avoid them if at all possible, well tunned kit's tend not to be too much of a problem, but badly tunned toms, BD's and snares can benefit from gating as a last resort.

Roland

Well put. The System is for jam's and practice. Also our drummer does not like to tune his set often So i like the gate/ compressor combo the dbx166XL provides for what its being used in. Our room has good acoustics so thats why i like the gates on some of the drums. kick, snare and the 2 F Toms. What are the downfall of gates?

[BFSound]

Originally Posted by surflounge

sounds like you better ask your drummer.
last time I used gates on drums was in the '80s (phil collins type sound) and the drummer got quite pissed about losing his drum hits because the ringing cut off.
live vocals on the other hand, I gate the crap out of to stop background leakage. only during stage performace though. not in the studio because the funny in-between-takes chatter is classic.

This is mainly for our Jam system so in a sense i wouldn't want to gate the vocals as there is alot of that chatter going on i enjoy I mainly have nothing but the drums to gate as it wouldn't make sense to gate guitars, bass, or keys? I tried gating lead Vox and didnt like it as his lower volume parts or theatrical stuff gets cut out and i have to adjust the threshold to hear him etc..... I would for sure apply gating to our two backup vocal's!

[Roland]

Originally Posted by BFSound

Well put. The System is for jam's and practice. Also our drummer does not like to tune his set often So i like the gate/ compressor combo the dbx166XL provides for what its being used in. Our room has good acoustics so thats why i like the gates on some of the drums. kick, snare and the 2 F Toms. What are the downfall of gates?

the main downfall on gates are slow triggering, leading to a cutoff of the attack, false triggering leading to random bleed which can sometimes sound odd and soft hits/flams/rolls etc not triggering. With digital desks it's a lot better as the gates trigger faster and it is possible (depending on the console/software) too view your triggering in a more "visual" way, making the setting of gates easier. Still better to avoid IMHO.

Roland

[BFSound]

I have the manual and it doesnt stat exactly how fast the gate can attack and how slow? But i have personally noticed good quick attack on the gate. I dont think it has ever missed s slow roll on the snare etc.. Our drummer is pretty consistent Hits.

[c.gymer]

With limited outboard you need to prioritize. In such situations I send the vocals to groups 1 and 2 instead of the 2 mix, which I pan hard left and hard right. I then compress these groups either with a stereo compressor or two mono comps set up identically.

Next up I would be looking at the bass guitar. Often bass amps have a compressor built in so if you are micing the amp then you can skip this if your in a squeeze, but if your DIing then a comp is a must.

With one channel of compression left your probably going to be looking at either the kick drum or the snare drum, but this is a question you need to answer on a case by case basis.

With the assignable comps you might want to consider sending the toms to a pair of groups and compressing the groups in the same way as the vocals.

I hope that gives you a few ideas.

[BFSound]

Good advice, Here are the exact amount of what im working with.

The 4 on board dynamic compressors with a default ratio of 4:1, they are patchable to a channel insert or to a subgroup 1-4.

Then we have 2 of the DBX 166Xl stereo or mono 2ch compressor/limiter/ noise gate.

I was thinking use 2 of the 166xl channels for the 2 Ftoms, 1 for Kick, 1 for snare

Patch vocals to subgroup 1,2 like you said and parallel compress them for FOH, 1 Ch for bass, 1 for an upper tom or group two upper toms and compress both.

How does that sound.

Thanks

[63hz]

for live il gate kick, rack 1 and 2 and floor tom
compress snare, bass, and a vocal sub group (so not to compress vocals in foldbacks)
I don't use a set method for compressing or gating, just what ever works at the time
Most places I mix at normally have 4 gates, and 4 to 8 comps

[Roland]

Originally Posted by BFSound

Good advice, Here are the exact amount of what im working with.

The 4 on board dynamic compressors with a default ratio of 4:1, they are patchable to a channel insert or to a subgroup 1-4.

Then we have 2 of the DBX 166Xl stereo or mono 2ch compressor/limiter/ noise gate.

I was thinking use 2 of the 166xl channels for the 2 Ftoms, 1 for Kick, 1 for snare

Patch vocals to subgroup 1,2 like you said and parallel compress them for FOH, 1 Ch for bass, 1 for an upper tom or group two upper toms and compress both.

How does that sound.

Thanks

The toms are some of the last things I would look to compress live, it could muddy your mix up beyond belief. As Chris says you can compress vocals across a group, but things like guitars, keyboards, all would likely benefit more than the toms.

Roland

[BFSound]

Thanks for the replies.