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inexpensive compressor

#21
TimmyP said:
A 10 band or 15 band EQ in the sidechain of a comp will do a world of good (cut below 1K and boost above 1K - but make sure the EQ does not clip).
Click to expand...
i don't really have a grip on the whole "sidechain" thing;

doing this will what, make the comp not squash lows but squash highs more?
 
#24
just did, and it's chock full o' good stuff!

doing what timmyP suggested (sidechaining an EQ with boost above 1k and cut below it) will make the comp squash highs when they happen but ignore lows, allowing them to come through unmolested.
 
#25
What you are looking for in a compressor is as many controls as possible, study compressor theory and experiement a lot with it. Onboard sidechain filter is a blessing, if you can afford such a device - but not essential in live settings most of the times. I don't like complex setups (like another device to sidechain)- it's time consuming, and we don't always have that time. Learn how to use the simple things best.

I have yet to run across a compressor with full controls I couldn't get at least a decent result with.
Some compressors are easier to set up right, for various reasons, like having less controls with a good all around circuitry design. It leads unexperienced engineers to think that others are considerably worse, and you do have to dial in different compressors differently to get the same result. but it's %90 in your hands really.
 
#26
walterw said:
just did, and it's chock full o' good stuff!

doing what timmyP suggested (sidechaining an EQ with boost above 1k and cut below it) will make the comp squash highs when they happen but ignore lows, allowing them to come through unmolested.
Click to expand...

Not true. It will affect the lows but only when the highs trigger the compressor past the threshold point. What you are describing is a dynamic equalizer (the good ones). Nevertheless, it works better then no side chain at all.
I prefer spending decent time on the board with carefull EQ along with the bass drum then filtering the bass sidechain (especially with digital boards) - unless the player has really wide dynamic range, like super hard slaps and such. I can get away with a normal compressor most of the times for that as well.. Work with the attack knob, and ask the player to alternate styles to see how you can hit the nail. But for each his own.
 

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