(solved) Best way to hook up a compressor?

Randy - here is the cable you're looking for:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/YPR102
 
you can customize your searches on sweetwater with their cable finder:
http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/cables/finder.php
 
as far as whether or not this is the best way to do this it really depends on what he's wanting to do with the compressor.  what will be it's purpose?

Okay so that's probably the reason I couldn't find the cable (too flaky : )
Actually I think it may be just the signal coming out of the board to a laptop (for recording all audio) he wants compressed so maybe I should just put it in between the board and laptop yeah?
Thanks very much guys, good info!
Randy
 
 

I am not sure I fully understand the signal chain here (or the capabilities of the equipment), but is *seems* you are mixing multiple inputs then want a compressor prior to (or even on) the output? Can you simply put the compressor between the mixer and the PA?
 
I am confused how the aux send/return are coming into play here, but do not know that board at all, are you sending multiple outs with it (i.e. multiple speaker paths?). If so, the aux send/return might work to tailor the mixed signal from the output (to speaker signal) - just not sure how that board does this, or if can isolate channels this way. That board looks very capable, so am curious "why" inputs are not just feeding into the board channels.
 
Sorry if I muddied the water for you! Given what seems to be going on, I would put an input on each channel, then compress the output to whatever preamp (hopefully only one!) is driving the speakers.

In churches, sound is often mono.
 
In my experience, the big goal is to make it easy to understand the speakers.
 
Large buildings can make things pretty rough on the Ss and Ts.
 
So, a nice high end cut is a good idea.
 
If you aren't using monitors, it looks like you have an available send. So, send the main out to compressor 1 and another send to the sidechain for compressor 1. Use the EQ to pull out EVERYTHING except sound above 4K. This signal triggers the compressor to work as a D-Esser.
 
Sound the out of compressor 1 into Compressor 2 and apply some compression there.
 
Then you have a single return to your board.

Ya, a lot of Churches will hand out the CD's as people are leaving the building! They also post the service on line as well as live streaming to a internet radio type system. 
Various results can be achieved depending on the sound persons ability. 
It is a huge topic on Gear slutz as many people ask these questions all the time. There are probably more sound systems in churches these days than in night clubs and bars. 
 
When I hear compressed audio I think back to those Sony table top cassette recorders. You first hear a loud CLUNK then hissing room noise, then the person starts to speak and the compressor kicks in after one second and you can't hear anything! 
They now have a modern version of this with the Tascam, Zoom etc handy recorders. But the compressors built into those can trash the sound in the same way so I don't use it. Record at a safe level. 
 
As example if I recorded direct to Wave Lab at a safe level, it would take less than a minute to edit the file and normalize it to .5 db. Give me another minute and I could apply the Loudness Maximizer and boost it another 2-4 db.  With a multi CD burner set up those CD's would be ready in about 6 minutes. 
 
If they use that compressor on a podium mike it won't make it louder. All it can do is catch the odd peak ( set the attack fast)  This is OK if there is no one on the sound board and your looking for automatic attenuation when someone gets rowdy on the mike. But the job of a sound person is to ride the faders and keep an eye on the little red lights. 
I'm afraid adding magic boxes like feedback destroyers or compressors to a podium mike is not the solution to achieving more volume. 
Good quality mikes, proper speaker placement and lots of power. A properly set up compressor just to catch a few peaks is a bit of a luxury at best.   
 
Compressors have to be 100% wet, in other words, the entire signal has to pass through any dynamic processor to work properly. There is side chaining but that is a different topic. 
So EQ 's, Limiters and compressors always are in line with an input or output signal. 
The insert jack patch point is designed to facilitate this properly. Or in a pinch you can patch directly in and out with the correct cables on hand. 
Sending a signal out of an aux t a compressor and back to the board would do nothing other than increasing the level of the signal. Most of the signal would be going direct to the Master un processed. 
Aux send / return is a parallel pathway used to blend effects like reverb and delay with the main mix.