Pre-Recorded Compression on Vocals......

Bristol_Jonesey


Once it's on your tracks, you can't get it off.

How would I acheive the above with just the equipment I listed, if possible?

AT


There is no right and wrong way, but a good chain going in is great.  Nothing wrong w/ printing effects - if you like what you hear, print it.  A comp/limiter going in can even out a performance so you have to muck around w/ less in the mix, just as using a HP filter can get rid of sonic junk before it hits the convertor.  Good hardware definately helps.  I was reviewing the new RND Portico II channel strip here at home and a little compression and subtle EQ works great.  Smoothest bass I've recorded and a singer said she'd never sounded so good - even in a major studio.

Two cavets.  You are committing to "tape" so you can't change your mind latter w/o re-recording the track.  Anything extreme I'd wait until the mix since it might not work in context.  That is an experience thing.  The other fact is you'll get much better results using high-end gear - both recording and mixing.  I seldom printed to tape w/ my old dbx 163.  Lowever end pro unit, but hardly worth extra effort except on bass and some other select things.   Once I collected a few better units, I used them more often in recording.  Some transformer roundness can help w/ the rather pristine nature of digital.

It is an artistic decision, really.  If you like it or makes mixing easier, go for it.  If not, nobody is the boss of your own music.  But do try both ways so you can make an informed artistic decision.

@

dude24man


I have that same combo, U87, neve 1272, UA 1176. most vocals I record are smacked with about 7 to 10 db of compresson on the vu meter. sounds like a record on most vocals, very little tweaking after  the fact except for some eqing, however if the vocals are really esssy going in, I mite change the mic,  re20? arty

johnnyV


I'll go with the -If you have a high quality outboard Comp/pre amp this is how it's usually done, but using a VST plug in?? tacky.

I dunno, To me it looked like the advice he had read was about compressing the vocals as they are recorded. Which as said is fine with outboard gear, I was just figuring you might use a VST plug in live to track somehow. I've never done this because of CPU power and RTL being very pour on my system, but I understood it was possible to print VST on the fly live to track

I use the "Really Nice Compressor" running into my ISA One. Honest, that's it's name and brother, it is. Plus it's very affordable...I think about $200. The key, as some have said, is subtlety. Just catch the peaks.