Guitar compression on vocals?

[Sunaj]

I want to know how would this work?

Do any of you have experience with this seemingly uncommon practice?

I don't know much about guitar compressors at all, but I need the most portable of a setup I can afford due to my living situation.

How would it work? Would I need to put my foot on a pedal to activate the effect or could I leave the pedal out of the equation and have the compressor operate according to what it detects on the input?

Why would you want to use a guitar comp on vocals?

Answer: it's an experiment

Well why ask us if your experimenting? go out and get one and see for yourself

Answer: maybe ill save a little configuration trouble, plus I want your opinion.

Thanks

[ivansc]

Not[ much point using a hardware compression pedal mate.

If you want the characteristics of a guitar stomp compressor on a vocal, just add one to the FX chain. Plenty of free ones to try out.

[Swamp Ape]

I disagree - there's no reason you couldn't try this. Just adding some fx will not get the same result - most comp pedals will add some color or grit of some sort to a dry signal. My advice: just try it. What have you got to lose?

[Sunaj]

Do I need to put my foot on a pedal?

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by Sunaj

Do I need to put my foot on a pedal?

The footswitches on the pedals are on/off-you don't need to hold it down with your foot.Usually pedals have an LED so you can see that it's on,even if you can't hear it.

Which pedal are you planning on using?

[Melton Glass]

There are small compressors available that are made for home recording,too,with balanced ins and outs,more control,etc.

This one comes to mind:http://www.ebay.com/itm/ART-Tube-PAC...item43af0193d5

[ivansc]

Originally Posted by Swamp Ape

I disagree - there's no reason you couldn't try this. Just adding some fx will not get the same result - most comp pedals will add some color or grit of some sort to a dry signal. My advice: just try it. What have you got to lose?

I thought I made it clear I was suggesting that he try VST GUITAR comps, not regular ones....

We all know WHY he wants to use a guitar comp, just my way he doesn't have to buy a bunch to try them out first and he will still get the colour etc.

Cheaper to buy ONE pedal (if he still wants to) after trying out a bunch of free virtual ones.

[Sunaj]

Thanks Melton.

I am aware of the compressors for home recording, I just didnt want to carry a big bulky thing with me. i wanted something I could put in my hand.

My setup consists of

Tascam DP-008
AT 2035 mic

And I wanted a compressor in between to keep things leveled/ little coloration

[Sunaj]

Originally Posted by ivansc

I thought I made it clear I was suggesting that he try VST GUITAR comps, not regular ones....

We all know WHY he wants to use a guitar comp, just my way he doesn't have to buy a bunch to try them out first and he will still get the colour etc.

Cheaper to buy ONE pedal (if he still wants to) after trying out a bunch of free virtual ones.

yes, I want to try some hardware. I never could fathom how the placement of zeros and ones could give anything "color" or add thickness. But to my ears for example, the waves Rcomp sounds different than reacomp so, i dunno

Just thought I'd take the "analog" route for this one

[Sunaj]

what about something like this?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2965759918.html

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by Sunaj

what about something like this?

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2965759918.html

That's a cool pedal!It'll squish your signal nicely.

Stay away from the Boss CS-3.That one is really lo-fi and noisy.

The price is right,too,and you'll be able to get your money back out of it if you decide you don't like it.

[Sunaj]

Thanks.

Turned out he guy sold it but it gets some nice praise

[Melton Glass]

You won't have any trouble finding another one.If you come across a Boss CS-1 or CS-2 for a decent price those are also good.

[DONNY]

cool thread

[shoyoninja]

I personaly think it will not make so much difference, except maybe for filters the pedal may have.

Consider looking into the Correct XT from TC Helicon.

Its a great little piece of equipment that does tons of usefull stuff with quite decent quality, including automatic compression and de-essing, eq shaping and even gate and a feedback supressor.

I got one a few days ago. I just turn everything on aside from pitch correction, turn the knobs to 11h and Im a happy camper. You can even stomp in it to turn on or off the eq section.

I think it will fit what you want like a glove.

[ivansc]

Do try a Danelectro Surf n Turf.
Great pedal. I have that, an old script logo dynacomp I bought in the us in the seventies and a DOD FX80B which may well be the sleeper compressor pedal of all time.

Although I only use them for live nowadays.

I will go see what I have used recently when recording guitar, but there are at least two free character guitar compressors out there that I wish I could put in a box and take to gigs.

[Kearley]

The MXR bass compressor looks really cool. (and I think Eric Johnson uses it live on acoustic guitars) It even has a reduction meter.

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by Kearley

The MXR bass compressor looks really cool. (and I think Eric Johnson uses it live on acoustic guitars) It even has a reduction meter.

Indeed!And ratio,attack and release controls!

[rothchild]

You should probably bear in mind that the impedance of a typical guitar output (and stomp pedal input) is 1kohm and the output of the 2035 is 120ohms.

You might need to run the mic output in to a 'reamp' box (or reversed DI box) to switch it to a suitable impedance for use with stomp pedals. You'll also then probably have to switch it back (through a DI box or HiZ input) to get it back in to a mic pre. Impedance mismatching is gonna screw with your top end.

Otherwise a compressor is a compressor shouldn't make any difference if it's in a pedal or a rack.

Child

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by rothchild

You should probably bear in mind that the impedance of a typical guitar output (and stomp pedal input) is 1kohm and the output of the 2035 is 120ohms.

You might need to run the mic output in to a 'reamp' box (or reversed DI box) to switch it to a suitable impedance for use with stomp pedals. You'll also then probably have to switch it back (through a DI box or HiZ input) to get it back in to a mic pre. Impedance mismatching is gonna screw with your top end.

Otherwise a compressor is a compressor shouldn't make any difference if it's in a pedal or a rack.

Child

Since that mic needs phantom power Sunaj will have to plug his mic into his multitracker and use the line out into the compressor,then compressor out can go into the hiZ instrument input.It'll probably work just fine.

[rothchild]

Originally Posted by Sunaj

Thanks Melton.

My setup consists of

Tascam DP-008
AT 2035 mic

And I wanted a compressor in between to keep things leveled/ little coloration

There's not enough IO on that DP-008 for what MG suggests (a loopback) and you can't plug the mic directly in the pedal / put it in between the mic and the 008 (because as MG points out, the mic needs phantom power).

I have a hardware loop made of guitar pedals for mix processing (using reainsert) but the path is:

Soundcard line out
Palmer DACCAPO Reamp box
Various guitar pedal stomp boxes
Radial JDI DI box
Soundcard line in

Child

[ivansc]

VST pedal.....

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by rothchild

There's not enough IO on that DP-008 for what MG suggests (a loopback) and you can't plug the mic directly in the pedal / put it in between the mic and the 008 (because as MG points out, the mic needs phantom power).

I have a hardware loop made of guitar pedals for mix processing (using reainsert) but the path is:

Soundcard line out
Palmer DACCAPO Reamp box
Various guitar pedal stomp boxes
Radial JDI DI box
Soundcard line in

Child

I read the manual and looked at the block diagram before I suggested it.It has no inserts,but the rca line outs can be used,and channel one has a hiZ input.Oh ye of little faith!

[ivansc]

Still think this is over-thinking the whole idea, but what the heck...

[rothchild]

Originally Posted by Melton Glass

I read the manual and looked at the block diagram before I suggested it.It has no inserts,but the rca line outs can be used,and channel one has a hiZ input.Oh ye of little faith!

Leaving either the other side of the RCA pair or a 3.5mm headphone jack for monitoring?

Possible? Yes. Cludgy? Definitely!

In the spirit of experimentation I'm all for it, but I don't think this is the simple pocket solution that OP thought it was going to be (which I suspect was mic > pedal > portastudio).

Child

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by rothchild

Leaving either the other side of the RCA pair or a 3.5mm headphone jack for monitoring?

Possible? Yes. Cludgy? Definitely!

In the spirit of experimentation I'm all for it, but I don't think this is the simple pocket solution that OP thought it was going to be (which I suspect was mic > pedal > portastudio).

Child

Cludgy?Two cables is cludgy?It's only one more cable than mic > pedal > portastudio.It's still a pocket solution.He's working like we used to back in the four-track days.There's nothing wrong with that!

Experimentation is what it's all about.

[ivansc]

(grin) I have a Tascam 234 I could sell you really reasonably, Mr Glass....

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by ivansc

(grin) I have a Tascam 234 I could sell you really reasonably, Mr Glass....

Do you deliver?

[ivansc]

well I could meet you halfway - I will be in er um well near Detroit sometime in the fall.
(grin) Just imagine the complications getting the Neo through customs....

I remember having all kinds of fun and games bringing my Shobud Steel guitar through Heathrow decades ago - they refused to believe it was a guitar!

[rothchild]

Originally Posted by Melton Glass

Cludgy?Two cables is cludgy?It's only one more cable than mic > pedal > portastudio.It's still a pocket solution.He's working like we used to back in the four-track days.There's nothing wrong with that!

Experimentation is what it's all about.

Fair enough, I think I just have a pathological dislike of the 3.5mm jacks! ;-)

Child

[Sunaj]

Finally got my hands on an MXR dyna comp.

will I need a "reamp box" or can I just do as Melton Suggested? and I assume All I need are TRS cables?

[Melton Glass]

Originally Posted by Sunaj

Finally got my hands on an MXR dyna comp.

will I need a "reamp box" or can I just do as Melton Suggested? and I assume All I need are TRS cables?

Try without the reamp box first.I doubt that you'll need any more boxes.You'll need an RCA to TS(not trs!)cable,and a TS to TS cable.Use the shortest that are convenient-that pedal is unbalanced,so are your line out and instrument in.

Plug the mic into channel B,pan it hard Right(or left,your choice),take the Right RCA out to the input of the pedal,and the pedal's output to the instrument in on channel A.Obviously you will be recording channel A.You should be golden!

[ObiK]

You could also try AmpliTube 3 FREE on vocals, keys and synths. I love using it on Rhodes, Wurlis and vocals for awesome and original effects. Especially the step filter!

[redbottom52]

1.Focusrite Penta (Good because it also has a preamp, and valve emulator) (Top end of budget)
2. Presonus Bluemax (Easy to use) (Cheap)
3. Behringer Composer-Pro MDX2600 (Cheap) (Apparently Transparent)