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compressor setup

#21
Finger Blister's settings worked really well on my 67 P Bass and my 93 Fretless Jazz. I tweaked the output to get the volume I wanted - but that was it.


Finger Blister said:
SUGGESTED SETTINGS:
Behringer Composer 2200 & 2600
for BASS GUITAR in a Live Rig.

Daisy Chain both halves of the Stereo Compressor
by patching channel one output into channel two input.

Bass -> Preamp -> FX Send ->
MDX Channel 1 Input -> Channel 1 Output -> Channel 2 Input -> Channel 2 Output -> FX Return.

The Following Functions SET the same on BOTH CHANNELS

Set both rear panel level switchs to -10 dbV.
COUPLE: Set to DUAL MONO Not Stereo
SC EXT: OFF
SC MON: OFF
AUTO: OFF *
I/O METER: OUT (measure Output signal: button light is off)
IN/OUT: IN (Compressor is on: button light is on)
INTERACTIVE (Knee): ON
High Pass Filter = MDX 2200: SC FILTER: ON / MDX 2600: LO CONTOUR: ON
Expander/Gates =
MDX 2200: Slow Release. Threshold: 50 and Ratio: 3.5
MDX 2600: Long Release. Gate ON. Trigger @ -30 (at 10:00).

The Following Functions (if employed) should be used on Channel 2 Only

MDX 2600 Only: Tube
Later MDX Models Only: De-esser - play with this for best sound.
Later MDX Models Only: Dynamic Enhancer
If in doubt, or if HISS is present leave it out (off).

Channel 1:

Threshold: -10db, 12:00
Ratio 4:1, 12:00
Attack: 8:00
Release: 10:00
Output: 1:30
Set Peak Limiter (+16-18 db)...

Channel 2:

Threshold: 0db, 2:00
Ratio 6:1, 2:00
Attack: 7:00
Release: 10:00
Output: 1:30
Set Peak Limiter (+16-18 db)...

------The Theory Behind The Madness------

Channel 1's has Classic Bass compressor settings.
The magic is that Channel 1 gives Channel 2 a hotter signal
while maintaining dynamics and thus raises the headroom seen
at Channel 2 (1 gives 2 an additional Gain Stage)
Then Channel 2 re-compresses only the Peaks
that have been processed and boosted by Channel 1
thus Channel 2's Output provides a level, hotter signal.

The noise floor is lowered as high energy peaks are tamed, not limited,
for excreasing headroom without over compressing the dynamic signal.

Pro Tip:
Did you know that Behringers XLR & 1/4" outputs are both hot?
You can tap an XLR out to give a Hot Signal out
while the 1/4" jack still providing signal to Amp.
Handy to know if you need a Compressed Hot D.I. Out
Click to expand...
 
#22
I just picked up a MDX2600 and hooked it up to my Nemmy NA-650 head. I followed all the directions above and I hear absolutely no difference!

I want to tighten up the highs and lows a bit, but I can't get this thing to make any difference.

I even maxed every dial to 5 o'clock thinking that would make it sound plain awful, but even that didn't make a difference.

Is this thing just super subtle, or am I tone deaf?

Anyone??
:hmm:
 
#24
Finger Blister said:
SUGGESTED SETTINGS:
Behringer Composer 2200 & 2600
for BASS GUITAR in a Live Rig.

Daisy Chain both halves of the Stereo Compressor
by patching channel one output into channel two input.

Bass -> Preamp -> FX Send ->
MDX Channel 1 Input -> Channel 1 Output -> Channel 2 Input -> Channel 2 Output -> FX Return.

The Following Functions SET the same on BOTH CHANNELS

Set both rear panel level switchs to -10 dbV.
COUPLE: Set to DUAL MONO Not Stereo
SC EXT: OFF
SC MON: OFF
AUTO: OFF *
I/O METER: OUT (measure Output signal: button light is off)
IN/OUT: IN (Compressor is on: button light is on)
INTERACTIVE (Knee): ON
High Pass Filter = MDX 2200: SC FILTER: ON / MDX 2600: LO CONTOUR: ON
Expander/Gates =
MDX 2200: Slow Release. Threshold: 50 and Ratio: 3.5
MDX 2600: Long Release. Gate ON. Trigger @ -30 (at 10:00).

The Following Functions (if employed) should be used on Channel 2 Only

MDX 2600 Only: Tube
Later MDX Models Only: De-esser - play with this for best sound.
Later MDX Models Only: Dynamic Enhancer
If in doubt, or if HISS is present leave it out (off).

Channel 1:

Threshold: -10db, 12:00
Ratio 4:1, 12:00
Attack: 8:00
Release: 10:00
Output: 1:30
Set Peak Limiter (+16-18 db)...

Channel 2:

Threshold: 0db, 2:00
Ratio 6:1, 2:00
Attack: 7:00
Release: 10:00
Output: 1:30
Set Peak Limiter (+16-18 db)...

------The Theory Behind The Madness------

Channel 1's has Classic Bass compressor settings.
The magic is that Channel 1 gives Channel 2 a hotter signal
while maintaining dynamics and thus raises the headroom seen
at Channel 2 (1 gives 2 an additional Gain Stage)
Then Channel 2 re-compresses only the Peaks
that have been processed and boosted by Channel 1
thus Channel 2's Output provides a level, hotter signal.

The noise floor is lowered as high energy peaks are tamed, not limited,
for excreasing headroom without over compressing the dynamic signal.

Pro Tip:
Did you know that Behringers XLR & 1/4" outputs are both hot?
You can tap an XLR out to give a Hot Signal out
while the 1/4" jack still providing signal to Amp.
Handy to know if you need a Compressed Hot D.I. Out
Click to expand...
Great settings. Instantly improved my sound. I know this is an old thread but.....
 
#25
Necropost, but i just found this and tried it too.. Loved it. Try setting compressor #2 (the steeper limiter one) with a little bit longer attack to let transients through for a more natural but still compressed sound. Now it has me looking for a preamp/di instead of a head.
 
#26
swarfrat said:
Necropost, but i just found this and tried it too.. Loved it. Try setting compressor #2 (the steeper limiter one) with a little bit longer attack to let transients through for a more natural but still compressed sound. Now it has me looking for a preamp/di instead of a head.
Click to expand...

So I've been researching the compressor post and find the MDX2600 seems to get decent reviews and I'm looking at making the purchase. I 'm looking for some simple instruction on how this gets connected to my Hartke amp. What goes where? Any directions would be great. I looked at the manual on line and that didn't help.
 
#27
Tommar98 said:
So I've been researching the compressor post and find the MDX2600 seems to get decent reviews and I'm looking at making the purchase. I 'm looking for some simple instruction on how this gets connected to my Hartke amp. What goes where? Any directions would be great. I looked at the manual on line and that didn't help.
Click to expand...

What amp model?

-Frank
 
#33
Tommar98 said:
Ok. I appreciate the input. I'll take a closer look at the 266xs.
Click to expand...

Okay so I picked up a DBX 1066 Compressor/limiter two channel - very good price. I just want to make sure I have the setup properly. Yes I've tried the manual and my head spins! From my LH1000 amp:

AMP EFFECT out to DBX Channel 1 INPUT;
DBX SEND to Korg Tuner INPUT
KORG Tuner OUTPUT to AMP effect RETURN

I've also seen some threads where Channel 1 output goes into two Channel 2 input and then back to amp return and use the stereo couple on the unit. I have no idea what that would do and whether it would even make any sense. Your feedback would be helpful. I appreciate it.
 
#34
Ugh, I love and respect Frank in all other regards, but I disagree very strongly with his recommendation of the 266 series. For just a little more money you can get a far better dbx machine in the next tier up (166 or higher), or for about the same money you can get an Alesis 3632, which is again much better.

The 1066 was an excellent choice, especially if you got a good deal on it. The chain you've described will work great. In a perfect world I'd prefer to get the tuner out of the signal path (on its own aux output) because some tuners are not well designed for signal transparency. But that's just me being finicky; it will work fine the way you've got it.

The deal with running channel 1 into channel 2 is typically so you can set one channel up with a low ratio and medium-low threshold for gentle smoothing and fattening, and set the other channel up with a high ratio and high threshold for peak limiting.
 
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#35
bongomania said:
Ugh, I love and respect Frank in all other regards, but I disagree very strongly with his recommendation of the 266 series.
Click to expand...

Brother Cyrus, love and respect back at ya, but we can't agree on everything!:D I have only read the user reviews and seen some video demos of the 266. I'd say about 80-90% are good reviews for such an inexpensive unit. Compared to the MDX2600 (which I have experience with) the 266 has to be a better unit.;)

-Frank
 

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