Basic Setup & Applications
3.2 Basic Applications
Example setup compressing a voice or vocal track.
Probably the most common use of a compressor is to limit the dynamic range
of a vocalist during a live performance or a recording. It is almost always
necessary to compress a vocal take during a recording session. Most
vocalists have a very wide dynamic range, and if the vocalist does not have
'studio' experience, the dynamic range of the vocal performance can be
enhanced by the microphone techniques demonstrated during a session.
This wide variation in level makes it difficult to properly record a vocal take,
especially in digital multi-track recorders which have definite limitations in
headroom.
Compressing a vocal also makes it easier to place the vocal track in a mix so
that it remains 'in your face' throughout the track.
To set up for a vocal take, insert a channel of your ACP-22 into the same
channel as the microphone on your mixer. If your mixer has an
insert
point,
insert the compressor there. If you don't have an insert point you will have to
place the compressor after your mixer's bus-output or whichever output
you're using by coming out of your mixer to the input of the ACP-22; then
out of the ACP-22 to the input of your recorder. If you're using a stand alone
mic preamp; patch the ACP-22
after
the preamp and then to the recorder.
Turn the
threshold
of the channel's compressor you're using completely
counter-clockwise. If you've gotten the cables right, you should see the
LED's above the
threshold
knob of the channel you're using flashing when
you talk into the microphone. Make sure that the channel on the ACP22 has
the following setup:
Link button is out, Bypass is out, Auto is in, Soft is
out, Gate Threshold knob is fully counter-clock wise, Compressor Ratio
knob is set to 1:1 (fully counter clockwise).
To set the compressor: turn the
ratio
to the
2:1
mark on the legend. With the
vocalist yodeling into the mic, turn the compressor's
threshold
until the gain
reduction meters read about -7dB. Now you will probably need to boost the
compressors' output by turning the
Gain
knob clockwise so that
