Do any of you use compressors when tracking? I have a DBX 162 SL which I was using for tracking, but I've stopped recently and have been using it on the master bus, but not on the original recordings. In some cases when recording live I do the same... compress before the mains - stereo linked.
 
Just curious.

Thanks Dean,
 I am not at all recording through the Mackie but I am using it to monitor. It didn't occur to me that it would affect the fidelity while mixing but it makes sense.  I'll examine how to get around that. The Apollo monitor out must be the way to hear the full mix so I'll contact UA support to see if they can help. I got a Focusrite Otopre so I can slave it to use all 16 channels of the Nicerizer and have 8 more preamps if necessary. That has D/A converters though I don't think it's in the same league as Apollo. More possibility's, big learning curve. From what I've heard so far it will be worth it.
Paul

Hi gswitz,
Yep, I do all the time, but generally only on vocalists and only on performers whose voices I know pretty well. If it's a voice I'm unfamiliar with I'll just do it after the fact so I don't run the risk of getting too much gain reduction printed to the track.
 
Dean

Compressing while tracking is used a lot.  As Dean sez, it helps to know the voice/instrument/musician.  But even w/ a artist you know it isn't wise to overcompress or EQ or anything.  But you can flatten out a sound a little - help w/ really loud hits and bits.  A little going in means you don't have to work the compresser as hard during mixing.  Just as using eq filters - esp. the grunge in the bottom - can help get a more solid, workable signal to mix with.  The key is not to overdue it, since any damage you do can't be undone.
 
Dean,
 
the Tone Beast is a very cool preamp.  Very flexible, a choice of op amps, output transformers (or none!), as well as the in/out gain staging.  I just used it as a DI on a bass this weekend and it was lots of fun.  I got  a little growl w/ the staging (and you can get a lot of distortion), and a nice thick smooth bass - all from the same instrument and player on different songs.  While no signal element alters the sound in a major way, in combination ...  you can get a lot of different tones out of it.  If you get a chance, check it out.
 
The review should be out in the next Tape Op.
 
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