Subject:Compressor question

Posted by: feign

Date:8/31/2008 11:30:46 PM

I'm just starting to get into voice recording, both for song vocals and for narration and dialogue. Having finally learned the basics of compression I'm now debating whether I need to invest in a hardware compressor.

At the moment I use an Audio-Technica AT-3035 mic cabled to a breakout box for an M-Audio Delta 66. I tend to use no padding, record raw vocals, then do the compression afterwards, either in Adobe Audition or non-destructively in Acid Pro 6.

Since vocals have such a huge dynamic range and can peak and distort easily when the vocalist gets excited or leans in just an inch too close, I finally realized that I'll be better off using real-time compression when recording.

So the advice I'm asking is:

For best-quality professional-sounding song and dialogue vocals is it preferable to set compression in the software such as Acid Pro when recording, or would I be better off with a hardware compressor?

If the former, is there a better compressor add-on than the one that comes with Acid? I like the "classic soft-knee" pre-set in Audition, but don't know how to emulate this in Acid.

If the latter, does anyone have recommendations for a good, not-too-pricey compressor that would work well for my purposes. I'm only recording vocals, though I may expand into recording acoustic instruments such as violins.

Subject:RE: Compressor question

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:9/1/2008 4:31:03 PM

If your pre-amp peaks from the mic signal, no amount of software compression is going to help. So if you are recording vocalists that keep distorting, you are going to need some form of hardware compression. There are some not very pricey options. My personal solution is the SM-Pro Audio TB101 single channel tube pre-amp, which has compression and EQ as well as several useful features like phantom power, phase reverse etc.

You are unlikely to need compression for volins! I rarely need much compression even on vocals, since most of my music is folk-based. I once recorded a rock band, and I had trouble taming the vocals even with compression.

Have you tried the Sony graphic compressor? You should be able to find a preset that emulates the classic soft-knee, or tweak one of the presets until it is close. I personally use the Waves C1, but it may be a bit expensive for your needs.

Subject:RE: Compressor question

Reply by: feign

Date:9/1/2008 6:18:28 PM

Thanks. I definitely need compression for song and spoken vocals. It drastically improves clarity in the mixes of the soundtracks I'm working on. I guess I need a hardware compressor, since the comedians I use for voice work do a lot of vocal effects which can be quite explosive. I try riding the gain knob on my preamp, but it makes for a mess. So I will look at that TB101.

As for the Sony graphic compressor, I assume you mean either the "graphic dynamics" or the "track compressor" that come with Acid. Those are fine, but limited.

Those Waves plugins look great! I sure could use the ones for retuning vocals, doubling, etc. I've done that kind of work manually in Audition, but it's crude and awkward. Is there a perhaps less expensive alternative to the Waves plugins?