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Mic Processor Question

C

CatfishJimPrewitt

I just got my hands on a Valley People Mic Processor 401

Does having it set on GATE defeat the compression control? It seems to sound better with the switch on in "Gate" mode in the compressor section. Also when in GATE mode the clip light never goes off. When I put it in Comp mode the clip light goes off.

Where should I put the RANGE on the Gate/expander section?
 
Jeff Laurence is the Valley All Knowing One.... Chris Corley also uses the Valley 400. Could shoot him an email.

I'd like to know myself as I just bought an old 400 :0)
 
I also have a 400 & 401... would like to hear from those who have one too.
 
I asked Chris Corley via Facebook. I know that he uses the Valley 400 with a 416 and the Rode Classic II tube.

His reply...


When Gate is engaged, there is only a horrible switched gate on and that's it and you can hear it clicking and pumping. No compression. So don't use the Gate setting.

Setting your input is all important. Set your noisegate/expander range to have the lights lit up to stop right above the 7 and then you've effectively shut out room noise and added some expansion without it choking or sounding too squelched.

Threshold about -20. Put your compression ratio right around the B in dB or more if you want but it starts to really smash... also do not use heavy compression just normal and NO DS!

Also use your EQ with reckless abandon (but within reason) as they are set to boost very tiny frequency notches within the spectrum.

Again- your input being set properly is the key to that box. Oh and a good mic. Cheers!

C2
Click to expand...
 
VODood said:
I asked Chris Corley via Facebook. I know that he uses the Valley 400 with a 416 and the Rode Classic II tube.

His reply...


When Gate is engaged, there is only a horrible switched gate on and that's it and you can hear it clicking and pumping. No compression. So don't use the Gate setting.

Setting your input is all important. Set your noisegate/expander range to have the lights lit up to stop right above the 7 and then you've effectively shut out room noise and added some expansion without it choking or sounding too squelched.

Threshold about -20. Put your compression ratio right around the B in dB or more if you want but it starts to really smash... also do not use heavy compression just normal and NO DS!

Also use your EQ with reckless abandon (but within reason) as they are set to boost very tiny frequency notches within the spectrum.

Again- your input being set properly is the key to that box. Oh and a good mic. Cheers!

C2
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

THANKS!
 
Just got my hands on a Valley 401.. Nice Processor... Sounds better than the Symetrix 528 IMO... But not nearly as much control...
 
The 401 replaced the 400, much like Symetrix replaced the 528 with the 528E. Almost the same as it's predecessor...but not quite. The 528E, IMO, pales to the original 528. Can't speak to the differences in the Valley boxes. I have a 400. Not currently using it. But not selling it either :D

One of these days will see about some 500 series gear.
 
I discovered the perfect voice processor that literally cost me under 100.00.
No it is no joke and when I tell most people about it they laugh and say, "It will never work"

I have used it for 7 years and I have people constantly telling me how warm and excellent sounding it is.
Curious what it is?, well here is a sound file, first tell me if you can guess what it is?

http://raygauthier.com/clients/soundfileraygauthierdotcom.mp3
 
Can't guess, but I DO like its results.
 
It is a regular run of the mill guitar peddle compressor. I am running it on a Re-20, one of the flattest mics around.
It really enhances the sound doesn't it?
 
Which pedal? They're not all created equal. Do you have an XLR to 1/4" phone plug cable for input? How are you connected the output of the pedal? The input and output impedances of the pedals are high, the RE20 is low impedance. Are you connecting the output of the pedal to an instrument input on a preamp?
 
The file is warm in an AM radio sort of way. A lot of pops and mouth noises. (nice voice)
Not a modern sound, but some people like that. Most agencies don't want that radio sound.

For what it does, it does it well.
 
I'm not hearing the pops and mouth noises your hearing, unless your referring to that one little click, still quite clean after eating lunch hahah.

The sound is very modern, perhaps have a listen again on a good system or a quality pair of headphones. :)

I have had some amazing reviews by professionals in the industry that think it is one of the better sounding compressors. I get complements and requests to know the details of what I am using all the time. I am also talking on a re-20, perhaps this is where your hearing your AM sound from. Been in the industry 20 years and I stand by this little gem, I have yet to hear anything do a better job for what I need it for.

Not only does it NOT alter your voice, it gives you that warm FM radio sound and you can scream at the top of your lungs into this thing and you will not distort it. Therefor a show that has allot of laughter is perfect. I have tried several processors/compressors all very expensive and they all have an issue with distortion at some point.

Thanks for your comment, I really didn't expect too many people to like it after what they probably paid for what they using, but I thought I would share it any how.

Have a good day everyone.
.
 
raygauthier said:
Thanks for your comment, I really didn't expect too many people to like it after what they probably paid for what they using, but I thought I would share it any how.
Click to expand...

Which pedal? They're not all created equal. Do you have an XLR to 1/4" phone plug cable for input? How are you connected the output of the pedal? The input and output impedances of the pedals are high, the RE20 is low impedance. Are you connecting the output of the pedal to an instrument input on a preamp?
 
pellmell said:
raygauthier said:
Thanks for your comment, I really didn't expect too many people to like it after what they probably paid for what they using, but I thought I would share it any how.
Click to expand...

Which pedal? They're not all created equal. Do you have an XLR to 1/4" phone plug cable for input? How are you connected the output of the pedal? The input and output impedances of the pedals are high, the RE20 is low impedance. Are you connecting the output of the pedal to an instrument input on a preamp?
Click to expand...

Kross is the pedal and I use 1/4" insert cables to my mixer :).
 
raygauthier said:
The sound is very modern, perhaps have a listen again on a good system or a quality pair of headphones. :)
Click to expand...

I know what surfdude is saying. When he says "not modern," I agree, at least in terms of agencies casting for commercial VO. They want that transparent, non-colored sound. I like the sound of your file, but it's not the typical sound you're gonna hear on agency commercial VO or things like narration. Now, imaging could be a diff story.
 
Hey Ray
Sound pretty good. I wouldn't say the RE20 is "flat'. It certainly enhances the low end, hence why jocks like it. Engineers like it cause it's almost jock proof.

Heck of a compressor. I just on FB that a female VO in L.A. uses PODFARM, which is guitar modeling plug ins, for pre-amp plug. She said it models some Neve, Avalon and other pres. I tried to look into it but couldn't verify what she wrote.

As for the "modern" sound referred by surfdude, I think what he may have meant (forgive me for putting words in your mouth)... is that agencies want raw audio that isn't colored. They don't want that heavy compressed radio sound. Agencies, studios, producers want the cleanest mic path possible. Hence why many like the 416 shotgun (male VO mostly). Very clean, no color.

Agreed, for radio imaging, it could work. Although most producers want raw audio as well and tweak with plugs from there. As for distorting the input, that's working the mic properly, even backing off if need be. The hard sell car spots out there, those aren't done screaming into a mic. It's controlled/compressed "rage". Mitch Philips does many of them. He's using either a Soundelux or a Violet condenser mic.

personally, I can't stand the RE20, not even for on air. RE27 I can deal with as it's brighter, but retains some low end. Big fan of condensers, like the AKG414 for on air.

* sorry marketweiss for saying the same you did.. posted before reading.
 
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