| Title: | * * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * * |
| Notice: | Conference has been write-locked. Use new version. |
| Moderator: | DYPSS1::SCHAFER |
| Created: | Thu Feb 20 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Mon Aug 29 1994 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 2852 |
| Total number of notes: | 33157 |
Well, while on vacation I picked up a used MXR Dual Limiter ($210)
and am quite pleased with it (so far). Near as I can tell, it's best
for recording so that I don't saturate the tape. I note that it's
also best to be conservative as far as its use or the sound loses dynamics.
This has some nice adjustments on it as far as delay on the beginning
and end of the gate, tapered versus infinite limiting, stereo versus
dual limit control, chaining (limiting from an independent source)
and five LED's on each channel to show how much limiting is going
on. It's real quiet and doesn't seem to distort much. MXR was
bought out by ART, so I should be able to get manuals and such from
ART.
Anybody else out there using limiters? Care to share thoughts,
experiences, etc.?
BTW:
I got this from Crazy Music in Columbia, Missouri. The owner is
Ken Shepherd at (314) 443-2559. Besides being easy to deal with
on new and used gear (I almost picked up an SRV-2000 from him for
$400), he tries very hard to meet or beat any deal anybody else
comes up with and deals in just about everything. Among other things,
he deals pretty heavy in Peavey equipment, including Peavey rack-mount
effects processors:
PEP 4530 - 530 programmable effects available with delays from
.1 to 4095 msec, 22 kHz bandwidth, MIDI, etc.
Univerb - stereo reverb, 16-bit, 30 reverb effects, up to 900
msec of reverb, decay up to 20 or 30 seconds, no
MIDI, etc.
ADDVERB - A lot like the MV2
I have a catalog with more stuff like mixers and speakers and such,
if anyone has interest.
Steve
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1509.1 | PAULJ::HARRIMAN | Happy new year! | Tue Jul 05 1988 17:11 | 7 | |
I have a Biamp Quad Limiter. Not terribly noisy, although it's better
on the downstream side of a mixer than the upstream (mike) side.
I like it. Best for mike-eaters, kick/snare mashers. I use it purely
as a limiter, no special fx.
/pjh
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| 1509.2 | about limiters/compressors | AITG::WARNER | Thu Jul 07 1988 10:23 | 36 | |
Probably the best over-all dynamics device for program (mixed) material
is the Aphex Compellor -- I'm selling one for $800 -- see notes
file STUDIO EQUIPMENT FOR SALE.
I'm also selling 2 stereo Valley People Dyna-Mites, which are
sophisticated limiter/expander/gates. They have high-quality VCAs
and can be used to trigger sounds (i.e., sync synth chords to rhythm
guitar picking, etc.). $375 each.
Farther down the cost scale: US Audio Gatex, a four-channel gate
for $400. This isn't a limiter, only gates and expands.
Most units on the marker are compressor-limiters; pure limiting
doesn't do anything until the threshold, then stops all gain increase
(infinity/one ratio). A compressor just reduces the amount of gain
increase, usually variable from 1/1 to infinity/1 (limiting). An
"over easy" compressor smooths out the curve at the threshold level
so that it's not a sharp angle, and sounds less noticeable.
For a mid-price over easy limiter, I like the dbx 166 (stereo unit).
I'm keeping that one.
I'm also selling (at the low end of the cost scale, but still very
useful) 2 Ashly SC-50 compressor-limiters, for $150 each. They can
be patched together for stereo operation.
***Rule of thumb: When limiting, set unit so that only the loudest
parts exceed the threshold; this avoids overly squashed dynamics.
When compressing, use a low ratio if possible (4:1 or less) and
set threshold lower so that most of the material exceeds the threshold;
this reduces dynamics overall. I found that compressors are needed
not only to reduce the loud parts, but to keep the soft parts from
getting lost, especially in lead vocals. Vocalists usually have
their headphones cranked and think they are being SOOO subtle, but
later find they can't hear the soft lines!
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