should i use a compressor hardware when recording?

I wouldn't recommend using any compressor while recording. If you do it that way, you cant remove or change the settings afterwards.
It's usually best to record your signal dry, and then you can add compression, reverb, whatever afterwards. That way you can try different things, to see what works best for what you are trying to do.

Randy

If it's the right compressor, it's fine (and you know what you are doing with it). As RSP said - the downside is if you overcompress you really can't fix it once you print it. The upside is, if it's a good compressor used properly you can often impart some 'character' to the source as well as control some of the singers dynamics if they are all over the place. Nothing can substitue for good mic technique, but if your singer doesn't have it - then using a compressor is certainly an option.

I'd say play with it - if you like what you hear then use it. Personally, I wouldn't use anything from Behringer in my signal chain, but that's just me.

I'd guesstimate that 90% of what you hear on the radio, at least vocal wise, is run through mic pre -> tracking compressor -> console/DAW. It's not like using a tracking compressor is voodoo or something - most engineers use it all the time.

I bought a Crane Song Trakker a while back - you can't make that thing sound bad and it emulates a lot of high end gear. It's a joy to use, sounds great, very flexible...I use it all the time.

ORIGINAL: ghettomex214

i dont know where i was reading this. but should i use a compressor hardware when recording. or should i just have my preamp hooked straight to my interface and use VST compressor

my compressor is Behringer Tube Composer

It depends.. in most cases I would say no, you want to give yourself the option of adjusting the compression later with a plugin. However, there are some cases where it can be good. 1. If you have to record 16bit for some reason you might want to compress a little on the way in, but if can use 24bit do that. 2. If the source have very wild dynamics and there is just no other way to avoid going into the red. 3. The hardware compressor is part of the "sound" you want to capture and is considered perfect for the song. Like with guitar effects before the recording input. It's rare that Behringer gear would sound good enough to be worth doing that but with a tube model who knows ? it might just have that special sound no plugin can do.

Buttom line is I would avoid it if you can or at least record BOTH the full dynamic sound and the compressed sound during tracking so you can revert back to the full dynamic one if the compressed one is not good.

is there a difference from sound without using it?

i just tried it out. and yes there is major differences on my vocals. it does not sound muffle nor harsh.

my preamp is focusrite isa one. thank you guys.