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Post by admin on Nov 24, 2020 11:40:21 GMT
After my performance last weekend, one of the guys came up to me and said that I should think about running my AE system through a compressor. He thought it would greatly improve my sound.
He recommended the FMR RNC 1773 which he thought is the best low cost hardware compressors around.
I've since tried to learn more about this and can't make up my mind whether I should go this route or not.
Has anyone here any experience with using compressors in their signal chain? Any recommendations?
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Post by NightMachines on Nov 24, 2020 11:45:21 GMT
I always performed without a compressor, but I kind of do want one too. It can really help a lot to catch some of those sudden modular synth audio spikes in experimental music and of course it can thicken the sound nicely. The RNC has in fact also been on my wish list forever. I don’t perform that often though and for my releases I use the software compressor in Cubasis 2, so I never wanted to spend the money. The RNLA and especially the OTO BOUM are also on my list of effects I want, but probably will never buy  We should really just get a stereo compressor AE Modular module  |
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Post by robertlanger on Nov 24, 2020 12:22:01 GMT
Compressors are generally a very useful tool for sound shaping; bringing more punch to drums, abuse them for the pumping sidechain effect... Therefore I'm planning a compressor module for AE ;-)
Looking forward to see the discussion here; I think, compressors are one thing that are not so common amongst modular synth users...?
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namke
wonkystuff
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Post by namke on Nov 24, 2020 12:37:47 GMT
Related, but I always run through a limiter when doing things which might ‘get out of hand’ — the sound guy will appreciate it (sometimes I bring my own, sometimes I just tell the sound guy he’d better use one 🤣)
(I did see a PA killed by a particularly hot signal one time — not me I hasten to add 😢)
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Post by lukylutte on Nov 24, 2020 12:58:07 GMT
For ease of use/size/prize and good sounding gritty overdrive EHX platform (stereo compressor/limiter) is perfect!
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Post by 101 on Nov 24, 2020 13:27:02 GMT
Compressors are like a rabbit hole. A bit like modular. You can spend an incredible amount of money on a compressor, stereo and mono. You get what you pay for in terms of sound quality. Some of the online ones are pretty good too just for mixes.
Slowscape does some really nice tricks ducking and keying on his modular.
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Lugia
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Post by Lugia on Nov 25, 2020 6:24:11 GMT
RNC 1773? Good choice! There are very good reasons why "RNC" stands for Really Nice Compressor...those behave nicely, they don't artifact, etc. Just nice, clean level control. FMC also makes a nice limiter, the RNLA 7239...but I know of a really transparent, well-behaved limiter that I like better: the Symetrix 422 Stereo AGC/Leveller. These see a bit of broadcast use, which is where I know them from originally, so I opted to implement one in here and was totally gobsmacked as to how NICE this thing sounds in a studio setting!
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yoreb
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Post by yoreb on Jan 5, 2021 12:23:28 GMT
It depends a lot on the music you do, but the answer is probably no, you don't need one for your live gigs.
For example, if you make techno music, heavy on drums, and you want your live music to sound mixed and "produced" then maybe you should go for it.
But if you make ambient or more experimental stuff, sounds that need room to breathe, then god no.
There is a craze with compression nowadays,and everybody is addicted to its sound. But compression is not a tool to make your sound better, it mostly makes it worse. It's a mixing tool, or a way to tighten your stereo mix. But what it offers is opposite to what a true live represents and will kill the rawness and breathing room that live sound has.Its a bit like wanting to add video effects to a theater play 😂.
It could be that what this guy felt was that the volume balance was sometimes off. Or some sudden sounds were too loud.
It could also be that he is addicted to playback or dj sets.
So, overall:
-maybe you need a limiter
-you would most likely benefit from a saturation source,for example for your drums. It has some of the effects of compression but it's mainly a sound altering tool
-I don't think u need to compress your stereo mix, with the exception I mentioned in the beginning
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Post by Morn Valley on Jan 5, 2021 14:28:12 GMT
I was looking at the EHX Platform or future live performances but after researching it there's seems to be some kind of LPF at around 15kHz. Might be for anti aliasing as I think it might be digital and not analogue but still.
When I looked at the FMR RNC someone mentioned putting a passive R/C filter on the sidechain insert so that it doesn't kill the low end. Suggested values were 10k resistor and a 0.1uF capacitor which should result in the frequency being about 159.2Hz.
A stereo jack with capacitor soldered to the tip and ring tabs in the back of the jack, and the resistor soldered between the ring and sleeve of the jack.
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Post by funbun on Jan 5, 2021 15:39:08 GMT
Compressors are generally a very useful tool for sound shaping; bringing more punch to drums, abuse them for the pumping sidechain effect... Therefore I'm planning a compressor module for AE ;-) Looking forward to see the discussion here; I think, compressors are one thing that are not so common amongst modular synth users...? Wow! We're going to get a compressor?!? I use the limiter on my TASCAM DR60, but I'd love/rather to have a compressor/limiter in the case! The AE is a serious instrument now. I was wondering if I would need to build up a post-chain rack for decking, EQ and such. Just as I bought a DI box, the announcement came for XLR output! Great news! |
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ean
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Post by ean on Jan 5, 2021 16:59:52 GMT
I always use a comp and eq. If a module came out of either  some amazing shaping |
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Post by NightMachines on Jan 7, 2021 22:18:38 GMT
I always use a comp and eq. If a module came out of either some amazing shaping Or a module with both, like a “mastering module” (with stereo support ). |
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ean
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Post by ean on Jan 9, 2021 17:25:38 GMT
I always use a comp and eq. If a module came out of either some amazing shaping Or a module with both, like a “mastering module” (with stereo support ). Some like EQ before and some after, so maybe include a routing option. I think a pre mastering bass boost would also be great.
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Post by MikMo on Jan 9, 2021 22:06:05 GMT
Waaou. A producer i a one unit module, just what i need :-)
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Lugia
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Post by Lugia on Jan 10, 2021 5:15:39 GMT
I should note that I nudged Robert some time back about coming up with a basic Baxandall EQ module...just the thing for "sweetening" your patches!
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some amazing shaping