I have been out of the game for about 7 years.  Starting over.  Can I use processing on the pc to compress or effect the incoming signal.  If so what are the pros and cons to this vs outboard gear?  Right now only using USB mic (CAD37) but will have my interface and tube mic soon.
 
Thanks.

mczx


I have been out of the game for about 7 years.  Starting over.  Can I use processing on the pc to compress or effect the incoming signal.  If so what are the pros and cons to this vs outboard gear?  Right now only using USB mic (CAD37) but will have my interface and tube mic soon.
 
Thanks.

If you want to use compression to prevent "overs" when recording...then your only option is to do this in the analog domain (with outboard gear) in front of your AD converters.  Otherwise, it's already too late.  If you are instead using compression as an effect...I think you still can't get there from here, because the samples you save to disk go there dry even though you have fx on in your fx bin.

As long as you're recording at 24bit there is absolutely no need to record with compression on the way in.

You have enough headroom to guarantee that your recorded signal will be way above the noise floor and well below 0dB (where it would clip & cause digital distortion (the nasty kind)

Adjust your pre-amp/interface so that the input signal doesn't peak any higher than about -9dB

mczx


I have been out of the game for about 7 years.  Starting over.  Can I use processing on the pc to compress or effect the incoming signal.  If so what are the pros and cons to this vs outboard gear?  Right now only using USB mic (CAD37) but will have my interface and tube mic soon.
 
Thanks.

There is no practical way to print the compression using the recording software while recording. You may however monitor through round trip and listen to a compressor while you are singing. It just doesn't get recorded into the track... which is great because you can continue to adjust the compression setting right up until you make a bounce or export and print the compression into the track.


I use analog out board compressors and print the compression straight to the recording.





I think the often heard advice that you should not record compression is based upon the supposition that the recipient of the advice is not capable of making a good decision about compression settings.





If your computer is fast enough and you can monitor through the DAW, then I recommend just putting a software compressor on the track and then monitor the compression and sing in to the compressor. The benefit of doing that is that you still get to change your mind but you don't have to... what you hear can be what you get.

Another option is to use an I/O with dsp monitor mixing. You can monitor with compression using that sort of scheme and enjoy singing in to the compressor. The downside is that you will have to set up another compressor inside your DAW to replicate the results. The upside is that the dsp monitor mixes work really well and have minimum latency.

What I prefer at my place is to have the singer go straight from the preamp to something like my CL-1B, LA-610s, or MC-77s and let them sing in to the compressor so that they can work it and make it do what they want.



Giving the singer an opportunity to listen to a what you hear is what you get monitor mix illicits the very best performance from some singers.


best regards,
mike

I too prefer to use a hardware ( well it's actually digital - o1V) on the way in. I have been recording for long time now and my best results have been using this method. We all have our ways that work best for "us". There has never been a totally right or totally wrong way to do anything. 

But to me applying the compressing first and monitoring it as you sing brings out a better performance. It's like I would never dream of recording a clean guitar part first that will later be distorted, how can you perform the part properly under that situation?We need to play to the effect. 

Your system needs very low round trip latency to record and monitor with real time effects. Other wise you'll hear a delay.  

Sorry to butt in!!,(please excuse me mczx) I have a question for dantarbill: If I record something without outboard compression, and then apply compression in my fx bin after(in my software), will the recorded part have compression in my mix? Thanks, bluesguy.

bluesguy996


Sorry to butt in!!,(please excuse me mczx) I have a question for dantarbill: If I record something without outboard compression, and then apply compression in my fx bin after(in my software), will the recorded part have compression in my mix? Thanks, bluesguy.

Yes, why would there be an FX bin and FX if not for effecting the sound???? Just for the looks? Or am I totally misunderstanding you question? You can either apply it or leave it in the bin (which is the "normal" way). 

Sorry but can't help wondering: You've been a member over two years and never put an effect in the FX bin....!!!!????

bluesguy996


Sorry to butt in!!,(please excuse me mczx) I have a question for dantarbill: If I record something without outboard compression, and then apply compression in my fx bin after(in my software), will the recorded part have compression in my mix? Thanks, bluesguy.

Perhaps some of the semantics are a bit confusing.  (It's not supposed to be.)

First off...understand that SONAR is a non-destructive system.  That is to say that you can add all sorts of FX and do all manner of edits and it won't make any change (i.e. do damage) to the original recorded material.  Even if you chop it up and then do a "bounce to clips"...the bounce will now be a new file in your audio directory and the original will be unfazed.


The OP asked...


>Can I use processing on the pc to compress or effect the incoming signal.

If you have a compressor in the FX bin ("on the pc") and you have it enabled (and you have input monitoring on) you'll hear the effect the compressor makes when you record.  When you play it back...you'll hear the compressor working too...but that's because the signal's going through the compressor again...at playback time.  The audio samples in the recorded file aren't compressed...otherwise you wouldn't be able to turn the effect off once it's recorded.

So...

>...will the recorded part have compression in my mix? 

Yes it will...if you have the fx/compression enabled at playback.  If you turn off (disable) fx...it won't be "effected".