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limit then compress, or?

Slade N

Slade N

May 28, 2005
2,068
3,516
portland, or
#1
i currently run our PA completely dry/no processing, just vocals and a bit of kick, Im going to start adding bass DI and add more kick too. i dont want to squash/kill the sound nor over work/damage the speakers, so im looking for some different points of view

for bass and kick do you/would you guys limit then compress or compress then limit?
 
#2
Hook your bass up to a compressor with leds and see how much compresion you need. You may find that you don't need any at all. I've come to find out that some people want the compression not for lessening the dynamics but for the effect. The kick needs it. You use the compressor first. You most likely would never need the limiter, but that would be the last thing. If the limiter does engage, it can sound scratchy or harsh depending on the situation.
 
#3
sizzle said:
i currently run our PA completely dry/no processing, just vocals and a bit of kick, Im going to start adding bass DI and add more kick too. i dont want to squash/kill the sound nor over work/damage the speakers, so im looking for some different points of view

for bass and kick do you/would you guys limit then compress or compress then limit?
Click to expand...

The limiter is always last!!! And the limiters go right before the amps to protect the speakers from to much amp push (not within a ch insert like with compression on drums).
 
#5
sizzle - This is why I asked you to run your bass through a compressor and see what actually happens. Do you really have a spike to worry about? Do you want to lose that dynamic? As an example, I play fingerstyle. I might play a song with normal velocity and it has less bite. I may play even softer when wanting the lead guitarist to be looked at a little more. But then I play I Just Wanna Make Love to You or Good so I hit the string a lot harder to get the sound that I want. A compressor might change that sound. But this dynamic is very controllable. It should be easy to play and not vary more than 3 DB. The dynamic in vocals is huge. I put the lead vocalist on a compressor and my ears thanked me:) It can really be a 12 DB difference.
 

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