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Dbx mc6 mini comp?
- Thread starter Derek Balonek
- Start date
Bought it for $50. Worth that and more. I think it might knock the multicomp off my board.
Bit of a review:
Apparently this was based on the dbx 160. I've never used one, but I've heard they're pretty good. This one seems to live up to it's bigger sibling. It seems very transparent so far.
The features on this thing are great:
-Threshold control from -45dB to +20dB.
-A ratio control that goes from 1:1 to infinite. Whatever ratio you need, from light and barely noticeable to one volume level no matter what level goes in to full on limiting.
-Wide range of attack, so you can let the initial peak through for punchiness or let it kick in nigh instantaneously to limit.
-The release control also has a wide range. You can have the comp drop off as soon as the level goes down, or let it linger for awhile.
-Gain is not short here either. It goes as high as +22dB and as low in the other direction. Even at the highest gain, it just will not distort. This thing has mad headroom.
-You can switch between hard and soft knee, depending on your needs. It can gently roll your signal down or stop it like a brick wall.
-The metering is on par or better than the MXR M87. 8 gain reduction LEDs and 8 signal LEDs that can be used to meter input or output.
-It does line level as well as instrument level. If you so desired, it would work in your amp's effects loop or in a mixer.
-Stereo in and out. It can also work as a splitter. With stereo in, each channel is metered separately.
However, there are some downsides:
-It's not small. It's almost 6 inches wide by 6 1/2 long. Bigger than a 1590BB.
-It takes it's own power supply. 9.75v at
820mA. This will not run on your standard power brick or onespot. More current draw than the Markbass. Almost as much as some multifx.
-Everything is top-mounted, which looks like a plus until you realize that the in jack is on the left and the out is on the right. So it's reverse from standard.
A few other bits:
-The enclosure is plastic, which may be a downside to some. It doesn't bother me none.
-It doesn't seem to be true-bypass. However, the bypass is pretty good sounding to my ears.
tl;dr: Nice cheap comp with lots of controls, but not small-board friendly. I'll have to play around more to see if it's a keeper. If you see a multicomp in the classifieds soon, well that means it's worth the trouble.
Bit of a review:
Apparently this was based on the dbx 160. I've never used one, but I've heard they're pretty good. This one seems to live up to it's bigger sibling. It seems very transparent so far.
The features on this thing are great:
-Threshold control from -45dB to +20dB.
-A ratio control that goes from 1:1 to infinite. Whatever ratio you need, from light and barely noticeable to one volume level no matter what level goes in to full on limiting.
-Wide range of attack, so you can let the initial peak through for punchiness or let it kick in nigh instantaneously to limit.
-The release control also has a wide range. You can have the comp drop off as soon as the level goes down, or let it linger for awhile.
-Gain is not short here either. It goes as high as +22dB and as low in the other direction. Even at the highest gain, it just will not distort. This thing has mad headroom.
-You can switch between hard and soft knee, depending on your needs. It can gently roll your signal down or stop it like a brick wall.
-The metering is on par or better than the MXR M87. 8 gain reduction LEDs and 8 signal LEDs that can be used to meter input or output.
-It does line level as well as instrument level. If you so desired, it would work in your amp's effects loop or in a mixer.
-Stereo in and out. It can also work as a splitter. With stereo in, each channel is metered separately.
However, there are some downsides:
-It's not small. It's almost 6 inches wide by 6 1/2 long. Bigger than a 1590BB.
-It takes it's own power supply. 9.75v at
820mA. This will not run on your standard power brick or onespot. More current draw than the Markbass. Almost as much as some multifx. -Everything is top-mounted, which looks like a plus until you realize that the in jack is on the left and the out is on the right. So it's reverse from standard.
A few other bits:
-The enclosure is plastic, which may be a downside to some. It doesn't bother me none.
-It doesn't seem to be true-bypass. However, the bypass is pretty good sounding to my ears.
tl;dr: Nice cheap comp with lots of controls, but not small-board friendly. I'll have to play around more to see if it's a keeper. If you see a multicomp in the classifieds soon, well that means it's worth the trouble.
Don't know about this model, but I owned a 160A in the past (awesome compressor) and my current compressor is a 163X.
If this mc6 is designed to act like the 160 then I guess it is good!
If this mc6 is designed to act like the 160 then I guess it is good!
Well, it did indeed come out ahead of the multicomp for me. I've had it set always on with a low threshold, high ratio, almost instant attack. Basically always compressing my signal. It doesn't sound squashed at all to me, and all the notes across the board are nice and even. There's still some dynamic range between soft and hard, but I usually play softer and it's at just the right volume. The power supply issue was even solved easily with the 200 watt "courtesy plug" on my PP2+.
After opening it up for a bit, it looks like it's analog. Amazing they fit all that in a small (relative to rack gear) box. This is the kind if thing that I doubt will ever leave my board.
After opening it up for a bit, it looks like it's analog. Amazing they fit all that in a small (relative to rack gear) box. This is the kind if thing that I doubt will ever leave my board.
I also have one. Got it years ago, I think about 50 dollars on ebay. I do like it. Not sure why they discontinued it as it is somewhat small yet powerful.
I read a review on it and it is basically as follows:
DBX MC6 £100
pros
Flexible, with good range of controls and metering.
Delivers the classic dbx sound.
Affordable.
cons
Fixed stereo or single-channel mono operation only.
Sliders not calibrated.
+4/-10 switching would be useful.
summary
A compact and cost-effective way to buy into the dbx compressor sound without compromising on sound quality.
I read a review on it and it is basically as follows:
DBX MC6 £100
pros
Flexible, with good range of controls and metering.
Delivers the classic dbx sound.
Affordable.
cons
Fixed stereo or single-channel mono operation only.
Sliders not calibrated.
+4/-10 switching would be useful.
summary
A compact and cost-effective way to buy into the dbx compressor sound without compromising on sound quality.
Diggin' out as this was only thread l found about dbx mc6.
I 've got one recently in immaculate condition, however it came with Korg ac 9v 600 mA.
It works, BUT l remind you it supposed to go on 9.75 at 820 mA and my adaptor is 9v at 600 mA
I live in Bosnia and our shops are not loaded exactly with the 9.75 adaptors and l also hesitate to order via internet because all the adaptors l 've found online are for USA and UK electricity.
Any thoughts of knowledge and wisdom?
I 've got one recently in immaculate condition, however it came with Korg ac 9v 600 mA.
It works, BUT l remind you it supposed to go on 9.75 at 820 mA and my adaptor is 9v at 600 mA
I live in Bosnia and our shops are not loaded exactly with the 9.75 adaptors and l also hesitate to order via internet because all the adaptors l 've found online are for USA and UK electricity.
Any thoughts of knowledge and wisdom?
You're almost certainly fine. I'd be more concerned with the mA than I am the voltage, but I doubt that you're drawing the full amount as it is.
If you're concerned about the current draw you should be able to use anything at 9-10v and just look for a power supply with a high mA output.
Thanks, man! Yup, that's what my friends here told me but l wanted to confirm if there is someone here with experience having similar situation. Cheers!
