dbx 166a versus Behringer MDX4400 |
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lost eden
Young Croc Joined: 04 April 2011 Location: Dundee Status: Offline Points: 942 |
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Posted: 04 August 2011 at 6:57pm |
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(I posted this in Newbie Discussion first but it go no attention, figured somebody here might know instead). Title says it all really. I'm tweaking the amp/eq rack at my students union (removed an entire EQ that has a dead channel but had been running with everything set at 0dB anyway for years) & we have both of these compressors available but I don't know which is more respected. |
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mk2_ginger_biscuit69
Old Croc Joined: 03 November 2008 Location: Brighton Status: Offline Points: 7801 |
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we have used 166A comps at plymouth student union for years without bother...
however, any compressor used as a limiter tends to suck, it saps the life out the music far too easy, try and get them to invest in a proper limiter unit like an AVC2 or similar. Dont use the behringer..... it sucks. the dbx, gate ect set to infinite/off, then set compressor (with overeasy engaged), run up reasonably hard, then adjust peak limiter to suit. |
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''Remember that the object of a subwoofer is to enhance the output of your main speakers, not overpower it''
''Dubstep - an elongated electronic fart'' |
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service dept Steve
Old Croc Joined: 30 January 2010 Location: S.W.London Status: Offline Points: 2034 |
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Of all the compressors in all the world... DBX 166 is the weapon of choice, Bar none. Getting a bit old now, definitely a goodly thing. Weren't they a stack of cash new, 600 notes or something like that?
I agree with Mk2 GB:- gate off, link on, threshold to 0, ratio to infinity, attack and delay central, hard knee on, peak limiter to 3-6 , Have the rest of the day off. |
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We are not "They", We are "The others"http://www.servicedept.co.uk -
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mk2_ginger_biscuit69
Old Croc Joined: 03 November 2008 Location: Brighton Status: Offline Points: 7801 |
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personally i found the ratio somewhere between infinite and 1:4 better, maintaining some form of kick whilst still limiting!! Obviously infinite is safer, but they shouldnt really be running it into the compressor, thats a sign of too much kit!!
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''Remember that the object of a subwoofer is to enhance the output of your main speakers, not overpower it''
''Dubstep - an elongated electronic fart'' |
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service dept Steve
Old Croc Joined: 30 January 2010 Location: S.W.London Status: Offline Points: 2034 |
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Sorry about that, I spent too many years in contract rental!
The idea is that the limiter is transparent right up to the 0 line at which point it digs in and won't let them turn it up any higher, But having said that, as it is a 2 stage limiter it can sound relatively sweet, if you want a more progressive action from it whilst still achieving much the same result then do select 1:4 ratio or maybe even softer, what ever sounds best. |
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We are not "They", We are "The others"http://www.servicedept.co.uk -
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lost eden
Young Croc Joined: 04 April 2011 Location: Dundee Status: Offline Points: 942 |
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If I set threshold to 0dB & ratio to ∞ surely it won't matter where I set the peak limiter because the compression will never let it go above 0dB?
Is the idea there that if they are playing up to 0dB, the kicks will be a few dB above, so by setting the ratio a bit lower than infinity it won't clobber the kicks entirely but if I get the ratio right it also shouldn't allow too many to get through & smash into the limiter? |
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service dept Steve
Old Croc Joined: 30 January 2010 Location: S.W.London Status: Offline Points: 2034 |
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If I set threshold to 0dB & ratio to ∞ surely it won't matter where I set the peak limiter because the compression will never let it go above 0dB? Part of the reason the 166 sounds as good as it does is that it is a two stage limiter which lets fast transients through, that is what the peak limiter is for, to set the "fast" stage. As the dial is calibrated 0 to +12 the clues are there. |
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We are not "They", We are "The others"http://www.servicedept.co.uk -
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lost eden
Young Croc Joined: 04 April 2011 Location: Dundee Status: Offline Points: 942 |
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Righto, thanks for all the advice. I'm going to have to do some experimenting, but that'll have to wait a few days until the place is no longer flooded... I'm not wading through a foot of floodwater to turn on 600A of 3-phase!
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mk2_ginger_biscuit69
Old Croc Joined: 03 November 2008 Location: Brighton Status: Offline Points: 7801 |
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hahahaha same happened to us a few years back, just so happened the main room was being redone and everything was on the floor, hello massive insurance payout and piles of new kit!!
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''Remember that the object of a subwoofer is to enhance the output of your main speakers, not overpower it''
''Dubstep - an elongated electronic fart'' |
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lost eden
Young Croc Joined: 04 April 2011 Location: Dundee Status: Offline Points: 942 |
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I guess we're 'lucky' we only really used the understage area to store broken kit & useless tat, but I wouldn't be surprised if all that broken kit is reported to the insurance company as fully functional...
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crucial
Young Croc Joined: 26 September 2009 Status: Offline Points: 543 |
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dbx are on the good side of budget compressors, I use them in my studio so would definitely recommend them over behringer. In fact, I would recommend most other brands over behringer equipment....
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Smiter
Registered User Joined: 21 August 2010 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1160 |
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You're thinking of the 160, THE analogue compressor to use live. 166 is quite a lot cheaper, just above the 266 which is like £99 new. I used to have quite a lot of them, never gave me any trouble. Couldn't tell you if they sounded good or not - given what I was using back then!!
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