DBX 266xs

[amos1001]

we are using a DBX 266xs to smooth our the levels and stop overshoot on an internet stream.

before, the djs would overdrive the soundcard (usually only their mic) and splatter. i'm pretty sure the soundcard, being the weakest link, is what is causing the distortion. the console (audioarts air-1) has enough headroom, but still whenever their mic is too hot it would distort.

there is no mic distortion on the AM, so it's not the console itself. but when anything, mic or other, is overdriven on the board the internet stream distorts.

so, we got the 266xs.

how should i set this up for an oldies format? i have the gate turned off and everything on manual.
currently set with attack all the way on fast (8 o'clock position) and release about at 2 o'clock (a little slower than 1/2 way). threshold and range have me stumped, i've played around with them in several positions. looks like i'm running about 6db gain reduction on average content.

also, we got a valley 400 mic compressor. do you have any tips for setting it up? currently using compression, no sillibance control, bass about flat, mid and treble boosted about to 1 or 2 o'clock positions.


-amos

 

[bradgoehl]

Hey Amos, Setting up a compressor is allot about taste and how you want your audio to sound. Its common to run a compressor/limiter unit ahead of streaming to even out the levels for the sound card, I run PreSonus ACP88 units. But we are also encoding 6 streams so the multi feed units saves allot of rack space. The link bellow had a pretty good primmer on compression basics and should give you a better idea of radio, attack, release, ect..
As to mic processing, I've heard good things about the old Valley 400's, you can use allot of the same principles from the compression site.

http://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/the-beginners-guide-to-compression--audio-953