compressor questions

[NickfromSOS]

Here is my current PA set up:

Band:
5 vocals (2 leads, 3 background)
3 guitars (2 elctric, 1 acoustic)
bass
kick
snare
keys
fiddle player (direct from his amp)

I am using a Mackie CFX16 MKii board into a QSC PLX3002 running the mains (900 watts) and 1 sub (550 watts), plus 3 monitor mixes with power amps and eqs. We are a new country/beach cover band who also does shows as a more traditional bar/cover band. Nothing too crazy, but it can get loud on stage.

I am looking to add a Behringer 4 channel compressor to the set up because my male vocalist has a powerful voice and has lit up the clip lights on the QSC a few times. I'm thinking about putting another channel on the kick drum as well. What would you do with the other 2 compressor channels? Can I use one as a limiter on the overall output?

thanks

[gnjpowell]

Sure, you can use one as a limiter on the overall output.

[NickfromSOS]

Any suggestions for settings on the vocals? kick? main output?

[projectMalamute]

First: Don't buy Behringer. They sound like crap and break a lot.

Second: If you do this get an XLR Y splitter for the lead vocal mic and use two channels on the mixer. One with compression for the FOH, one without compression for the monitors. You really, really don't want to be compressing monitors. As a bonus this setup gives you a dedicated channel EQ for both the monitor path and the FOH.

[TimmyP]

What PM said, except that the Behringer comps and gates are actually usable, though the gates are the better of the two. A dbx 266xl, 166xl (don't use the peak stop), 1046, or 1066 would be better, and you can get any of them used for $150 or less I think.

Lead vocal, absolutely. Keys set as a limiter for when he plays those patches that are way louder than all the rest. Some guitarists have that problem too (or their chords are louder than their solos). If the PA is marginal, one on the kick as a limiter isn't a bad precaution.