Do you have a good compressor/expander studio unit?

[leecovuk]

ok, thanks Frank.

I do appreciate the advice that has been given in this topic.
I know I've been pushing for a very good 'all round' unit for a 'reasonable' price, but hopefully you all understand my frustration since I moved away from my original Drawmer LX20 and started my tour through other compressors.

I never expected to find it so difficult and didn't appreciate that how I use one may actually be asking a lot.
Maybe I had originally and unwittingly struck lucky with the LX20 in terms of its 'generic' capability, although its downside for me is that it has no way to avoid 'swallowing' on low frequency content.

[Khazul]

Originally Posted by leecovuk

... although its downside for me is that it has no way to avoid 'swallowing' on low frequency content.

EQ and a sidechain input should help with that - some compressors also have an internal fixed or variable reduction of sensitivity to low frequencies without needing to use an EQ and sidechain send/return etc.

[strangebru]

[QUOTE=leecovuk;17534]Hello,

I'm on a continuing quest to find a compressor/expander that fulfills _all_ the below requirements along with general typical functionality. My typical usage is a 'radio station-like' environment where I run analogue mixer outputs through a compressor/expander to level/optimise them.

The unit must not 'click' _at all_ or cause any similar artefacts on the audio, at any settings. Must be just as good on speech as music.

It can powerfully raise low levels during compression up to limiting, with the aim that the output can have a levelled/optimised very small dynamic range.

Does not 'swallow' on low frequency content, affecting the overall compression.



So, do you have such a unit? Let's forget price for now. I've been through a few units and am yet to be happy with one.


UK[/QUOTE]


leecovuk,

If you are still watching this thread, I just got the DBX 160a and I am returning it ! Why? Because it "clicks" !
Its possible that I might have your solution. The attack time setting is what can control this problem. The DBX 160a does not even have this adjustment capability. It has pre programmed settings for this feature. It clicks badly when using heavy compression (25:1 ratio; threshold at -25dB; gain set high, 15 dB). The phenomena that causes the clicking is that the attack setting of compression start time is not preprogrammed to a fast setting. Therefore, with the signal squashed to these low levels and the gain turned way up, the initial transient will get through uncompressed, and it will be very loud because of the high gain setting. It will sound like a click. I compared this compressor to another one that I have (which does have attack control) that's on my Korg 16 track digital recorder. With heavy compression and high gain, I first set the attack to a 'slow' value (don't remember value, but think it was all the way up to max, 100 msec?). The clicking was prominent. Then I set attack to 10 (msec?). The clicking dissapeared !! Conclusion: the DBX is out of the question, because of no attack control. Try any decent compressor and adjust the attack to a very quick (low value of time) setting. Hope this helps.

[terminal3]

Originally Posted by strangebru

leecovuk,

If you are still watching this thread, I just got the DBX 160a and I am returning it ! Why? Because it "clicks" !
Its possible that I might have your solution. The attack time setting is what can control this problem. The DBX 160a does not even have this adjustment capability. It has pre programmed settings for this feature. It clicks badly when using heavy compression (25:1 ratio; threshold at -25dB; gain set high, 15 dB). The phenomena that causes the clicking is that the attack setting of compression start time is not preprogrammed to a fast setting. Therefore, with the signal squashed to these low levels and the gain turned way up, the initial transient will get through uncompressed, and it will be very loud because of the high gain setting. It will sound like a click. I compared this compressor to another one that I have (which does have attack control) that's on my Korg 16 track digital recorder. With heavy compression and high gain, I first set the attack to a 'slow' value (don't remember value, but think it was all the way up to max, 100 msec?). The clicking was prominent. Then I set attack to 10 (msec?). The clicking dissapeared !! Conclusion: the DBX is out of the question, because of no attack control. Try any decent compressor and adjust the attack to a very quick (low value of time) setting. Hope this helps.

25:1 though!!

I have a 160a and I don't think I've ever driven it over 10:1, which is pretty much "limiting" at that point anyway.

I would still recommend the 160A - I guess if you frequently NEED to hit ridiculous ratios like that for some reason maybe there's an issue, but for general everyday compression tasks with more reasonable ratios the lack of a settable attack setting has not been an issue for me at all.

YMMV of course!

[FrankGIK]

I'm 100% with T3. 25:1 is not "considered" limiting...it is, in fact in technical terms, definitely limiting. It's not quite a brick wall, but it might as well be. I've got a 160a in my rack and I absolutely LOVE it. I can SLAM vocals or bass with it and all it does is making them thicker.

Frank

[leecovuk]

Hello Strangebru and everyone,

Yes I am still subscribed to this topic and got email notification.
Thanks for your informative post, although sorry to hear the clicking annoyance has hit you too!
My DBX 166XL is just sat redundant gathering dust on top of my Drawmer LX20. I doubt I would have any success if I resumed fiddling with it, to be honest.

I looked for a Really Nice Compressor (RNC) for a while due to some posters' recommendations on its performance for the price, but it appeared everywhere was out of stock and manufacturing may have halted.

So I'm still using my old Drawmer LX20 with its crackly output knobs. It's not ideal seeing as periodically the dust will shift causing loss of signal (!) but I just give the output knobs a little wiggle and all is well again for a while.
I'm happyish to put up with this in view of how much I like the LX20.
I don't know if anyone else reading this has used one; they are fairly basic in terms of controls but great for level evening with no problems at any conpression settings. (You can sometimes hear very minor pumping/clicking but nothing approaching an annoyance)

Ideally yes, I would still replace it due to its condition. Maybe shortly I will again look for a RNC if they are back available. I haven't looked for anything for a while. Better the devil you know / once bitten twice shy / etc etc


Lee
UK

[pjk]

Ive had an RNC for 3 years - it is great for transparent AND effective. Regarding effective (normal mode) some people have commented that it modulates bass - if you go to the fmr site it explains that this is due to the rnc having a very fast release time and this will distort bass - so just knock it back till no distortion. As an inexperienced user with the unit i initially had this problem and it was resolved by knocking it back. Seriously though supernice mode is great - very transparent and normal will just do what you want. Neither mode adds any noticable colour to me. Used with normal amounts of compression you cant go wrong. I dont have a problem with it being unbalanced.

I hope they arent stopping production as im hoping to get another one soon. I would be very surprised if they did as its been so popular. To me, this unit and the new joe meek mc2 are evidence you can get pro results on a budget.

Cheers

Pjk

[leecovuk]

Thanks, pjk, I'm looking into tracking one down.

Lee

[leecovuk]

Hello again,

I've just taken delivery of an RNC, but am in need of some advice regarding plugging it into the mains (in the UK).
I also think I have made a hasty error.

The unit comes with what appeared to me to be a separate mains power cable, although with only 2 plug in power pins at the 'wall socket' end. I snipped off the 'plug' ready to replace it with a UK 3 pin plug, but then I realised/think the supplied mains lead includes a transformer in the big chunky 'plug' part ... ? ie I can't just ignore that ...?

So, assuming I have now broken this cable rather than trying to put it together again, I have 2 questions:

1) What specifically do I look for when buying a new power lead of the type I have just ruined? It says on the chunky 'plug' end: (amongst other details)
GlobTek Inc
AC/AC Adaptor
PRI: 230V - 50Hz 37mA
SEC: 9V -500mA

edit: The manufacturer's site says:
AC Power Wall transformer, 9VAC @ 500mA, 2.1mm jack

(I'm assuming I can't just go into a high street store and hope to find another 'GlobTek AC/AC Adaptor' of these exact specs ... ?)

2) When I get the new cable, what specifically do I also need to then plug it into a UK mains socket?

(Maybe there is in fact a cable which would do both the above in one)

So, thanks for any informed help. I clearly have no idea myself, so please be sure only to help me if you know you are correct in what you're saying!

Thanks a lot,
Lee
UK

Later edit :

Would the following item in the dv247 shop be suitable / ideal / the only option ? :-

http://www.dv247.com/invt/7198/

I see that is stated as also having a UK mains plug arrangement.

I am also checking all this with the manufacturer, but I'd be grateful of any knowledgeable advice here.

[TrevCircleStudios]

This is the key bit:

230V - 50Hz 37mA
SEC: 9V -500mA

So, yes, this:

http://www.dv247.com/invt/7198/

will work! You can then just plug it in (though make sure you set that gizmo to 9v)

[ecc83]

Hold the front page!!!!

The GlobTech unit, if as stated is nine volts AC out.

The dv unit is DC. I seem to recall that the RNC will work on either but I am off now to check.

Plug NOTHING in NOWHERE yet!....Oh! And RTFM!

Dave.

[leecovuk]

Thanks, and hello, Trev and Dave.

From a quick search of the shop here, is that item indeed the only suitable one?

If I was to accidentally set it to something other than 9V, would that ruin the RNC or would it simply not work but be unharmed?

Lee

[ecc83]

No, the RNC is NOT universal, you do need an AC supply( probably use the same technique to get +&- supplies as my company).

Sorry dv's, cannot navigate your system! Rapid Electronics have the 85-2920 at a fiver.

I have to say I am very suprised that a company with such a good rep' do not supply a transformer suited to the destination country!

Dave.

[leecovuk]

Originally Posted by ecc83

I have to say I am very suprised that a company with such a good rep' do not supply a transformer suited to the destination country!

I bought it from a German distributor whose name I think gets censored here when typed.

It was my silly fault in snipping off the 'plug', but I have previously bought electronic items with a 2 pin 'Europlug' on (I think it's called) and I just assumed this was one of those to be snipped off and replaced with a UK mains plug.
But then I read on the internet and realised the 'plug' is also a transformer. oops!

In my defence, even though I openly admit I c*cked up, the item only comes with a brief 'quick start' user guide and no advice on power leads etc.

I guess I live and learn, hey!

Lee

[ecc83]

Ok Lee,

Yes, the manual is a bit sparse! I had to get into the specification to find the power requirements.

You would think how you connect a bit of kit to the lethal stuff on the wall would be upfront, in BOLD!

Anyhow, hope you are cooking soon.

Dave.