Thats an awful lot of compression before you hit the recorder. Unless the performance is wildly out of control dynamically I would lose the compression before the conversion. In my opinion compression at that point does more harm than good to guitar sounds unless there is a performance related reason that demands it.

Why don't you track each mic seperately?

Well, first of all take into consideration the strength of the initial compression i'm using is minimal or sparing and then the fact that things sound worse when not also compressing before hitting the converters. As I said, overall i'm happy with that end of my sound anyways and I could easily give back any minimal dynamics lost compressing with a bit more eq on my mixer (if that were a problem). With that said, as for tracking each mic separately, firstly how many tracks/what method would you sugguest and second i'm still not sure expert opinion-wise if running all three mics together (as one line) is such a good idea when either A) Initially leaving a processor. B) Before they hit converters (bused together from mixer) or C) Within multi-track software. thx for the response.

~Jp, "The Box", Minnesota, US

If the tracks are available each mic goes on its own track. If you only have two tracks I would blend the two close mics together on one and leave the distant mic on a seperate track to blend in the amount of room sound you need at mix time.

My question is, what are you going for. If it's an open, clean sound, then the compression is more understandable, but if this is a heavy distorted sound, then you're already getting so much compression from the amp and speakers that any more to tape is almost pointless.

Another thought is that when you say it sounds better compressed going in, is this solo or with the rest of the song. I find that what sounds good solo and what sounds good in the song are rarely the same with guitars, especially heavier guitars. Granted this is all song dependent, but something to take into consideration. Many times I've brought a solo guitar up in the monitors and had the guitarist say "wtf did you ruin the sound for" but when it's in the song, they understand.

As for mics, definitely track to seperate tracks if possible. You may find you need more of the "edge" you're talking about later on and be able to get it by just adding a little more of one mic, rather than EQing. Always try to get the sound right with the mic before going to the EQ. This is one of my biggest pet peeves with the new wave of "fix it in the mix" so-called "engineers". Sometimes it's inevitable, but if you just take the time, you can get it right with the mic(s).

McCheese wrote: My question is, what are you going for. If it's an open, clean sound, then the compression is more understandable, but if this is a heavy distorted sound, then you're already getting so much compression from the amp and speakers that any more to tape is almost pointless.).

Compress a clean sound? Uhh.... sorry to break it to you but for the most part you're almost completely defeating the purpose of using compression doing that. Second, if "getting compression from the amp and speakers" is truely how you think your achieving truely compressed results, then I think you need your head examined. Third.... ehhh Mr. McCheese.... if you've even bothered to read my initial posts i'm not dealing with "tape"!

Another thought is that when you say it sounds better compressed going in, is this solo or with the rest of the song. I find that what sounds good solo and what sounds good in the song are rarely the same with guitars, especially heavier guitars. Granted this is all song dependent, but something to take into consideration. Many times I've brought a solo guitar up in the monitors and had the guitarist say "wtf did you ruin the sound for" but when it's in the song, they understand.

To be perfectly honest, I actually agree with these people who
are asking you 'why did you ruin my sound'. Personally, I find
your theory of 'ruining a sound because it sounds better in the
mix' to be quite ludicris. You should seek professional help, soon.

~ Jp, "The Box", Minnesota, US

WTF are you talking about?

Compress a clean sound? Uhh.... sorry to break it to you but for the most part you're almost completely defeating the purpose of using compression doing that.

Lightly compressing a clean guitar to even out the peaks and tighten up the dynamics is pretty common. Ask around on this one. Maybe you need to reexamine the "purpose of compression".

Second, if "getting compression from the amp and speakers" is truely how you think your achieving truely compressed results, then I think you need your head examined.

No, you need to have your head examined. If you look at a distortion guitar wave form it's pretty much a solid block. Distortion by nature has an amount of compression in it. It's a clipping tube (given it's a tube amp) therefore the tube has reached it's maximum output, and is clipping the waveform. Any further increase in input level to the overdrive tube will only increase the minumum volume, not the already clipped maximum. This would decrease the dynamic range of the sound, which is EXACTLY what a compressor does. Thank you, play again.

Third.... ehhh Mr. McCheese.... if you've even bothered to read my initial posts i'm not dealing with "tape"!

And if you had been doing this for more than two days with your "My mom bought me a studio in a box!" shitty attitude you'd understand that "to tape" is an expression that is used quite commonly, even when tape isn't being used. See, some of us have been doing this long enough to understand why there are razor blades and rubbing alchohol in a studio, and they aren't used for drugs (not all the time anyways). I guess some of us say it in rememberance of the days when there weren't a bunch of "OMG I AM TEH ENGEENEER WITH MY 'PUTER" idiots out there.

To be perfectly honest, I actually agree with these people who
are asking you 'why did you ruin my sound'. Personally, I find
your theory of 'ruining a sound because it sounds better in the
mix' to be quite ludicris. You should seek professional help, soon.

To be perfectly honest, you don't have a fucking clue. When you pull up a heavy rock mix and wonder why it's muddy as hell, just go ahead and leave those guitars just fine. I'm more than happy to suck the low end out of them to make room for the bass and kick. It's called mixing. Some songs require more work than others. The more elements in a song, the more you have to "make room" for each of them. "Ruining" the sound to make if better in the mix isn't "ruining" it, now is it. And for the record "Ludacris" is a no-talent, dime a dozen rap artist. The word you're looking for is Ludicrous. Learning to spell from rappers is like learning photography from the blind.

...and I could easily give back any minimal dynamics lost compressing with a bit more eq on my mixer

You're going to do what with what?

McCheese wrote:
Lightly compressing a clean guitar to even out the peaks and tighten up the dynamics is pretty common. Ask around on this one. Maybe you need to reexamine the "purpose of compression".

Compression doesn't "tighten up dynamics" imbecile, it clips the peaks, period. If anything it softens dynamics by shaving the peaks off and too much will destroy the dynamics, not "tighten" them. I agree with "lightly" but as for a distorted sound, i'm sorry but I don't care how right you think you are, your completely wrong, since the dynamics of an overdriven guitar (hence higher peaks) are at a lower threshold, naturally there needs to be more compression. People who say "don't compress distorted guitars" are idiotic. Thats completely false.

No, you need to have your head examined. If you look at a distortion guitar wave form it's pretty much a solid block.

A solid block?!? Good god man, what an awful sight! I don't know what kind of distortion your referring to but i'd say if your seeing a "solid block" your sound is already completely destroyed!

"Distortion by nature has an amount of compression in it."

This is also false, completely untrue and you don't know what your talking about. Distortion is distortion (fuzzy sounding, duh) and compression is compression (the clipping of peaking levels). Get a clue, they are two totally separate entities.

"It's a clipping tube (given it's a tube amp) therefore the tube has reached it's maximum output, and is clipping the waveform. Any further increase in input level to the overdrive tube will only increase the minumum volume, not the already clipped maximum. This would decrease the dynamic range of the sound, which is EXACTLY what a compressor does. Thank you, play again."

Sure, i'll play again, heres another fucking quarter: Thanks
for the mindless rhetorical rambling rundown of "what a
compressor does" (I didn't ask you for it to begin with!).

And if you had been doing this for more than two days with your "My mom bought me a studio in a box!" shitty attitude you'd understand that "to tape" is an expression that is used quite commonly, even when tape isn't being used.

Used quite commonly by whom? People who say "tape" when they don't actually mean "tape"? Thats twisted. You need psychological help buddy. I created this post strictly laying out my details very well but what I got in return from you is a psycho version of "tape really isn't tape" and "distortion is really compression". Nutcase!

See, some of us have been doing this long enough to understand why there are razor blades and rubbing alchohol in a studio, and they aren't used for drugs (not all the time anyways).

Yeah right, you and whos army.... you use razor blades and alcohol for what? Shame.....

I'm more than happy to suck the low end out of them to make room for the bass and kick.

I think we already know "sucking" is one of your best features, theres really no need for any more details about your aftificial fake processes.

It's called mixing. Some songs require more work than others. The more elements in a song, the more you have to "make room" for each of them. "Ruining" the sound to make if better in the mix isn't "ruining it, now is it.

As far as i've ever known, again, i've never had to "suck" anything out of a mix to acheive results. "Ruining" another musician's sound to achieve YOUR results in YOUR ego'd out mix is nothing but a self-centered statement from an overpaid washed up 'engineer' who likes to twist phrases into his own confused meanings. You aren't fooling anyone but yourself, Mr. McCheese.

McCheese wrote:

...and I could easily give back any minimal dynamics lost compressing with a bit more eq on my mixer

You're going to do what with what?

I do what needs to be done, not what YOU *think*. Don't mistake it and get your ego all in a knot again, its not about what you want, its about what I want.

I'm sure you had a great time learning to be an 'engineer' from the back of Guitar One magazine, but it's pretty apparent you don't even know what the words you use mean, let alone have a clue about how things work. Enjoy your time here, I'm done with you.

Good riddance! Please don't come back to my topic, you are unwelcome here.

Trolls are hilarious! 8-)

But seriously, you are pretty far out there JP.

Actually, I don't find Mr. "McCheese's" trollish antics to be funny one bit. Whether or not he or whoever thinks hes correct or not is unknown but just to clarify, I don't follow false interpretations or opinions of people (groups or otherwise) who always think they're correct when in reality they're not. I came here looking for simple answers on tracking with a few mics, not a debate on the properties of compression! Trolls seem to be common in forums lately, theres always some idiot screwing it up. Remember, THIS IS MY TOPIC, NOT MR. McCHEESE'S. I AM NOT OPEN FOR DEBATE.

HAHAHAHAHAHA. What a moron. That was the best one yet.

And it's Sir McCheese.

Jp22 wrote: [quote=McCheese]
Lightly compressing a clean guitar to even out the peaks and tighten up the dynamics is pretty common. Ask around on this one. Maybe you need to reexamine the "purpose of compression".

Compression doesn't "tighten up dynamics" imbecile, it clips the peaks, period. If anything it softens dynamics by shaving the peaks off and too much will destroy the dynamics, not "tighten" them. I agree with "lightly" but as for a distorted sound, i'm sorry but I don't care how right you think you are, your completely wrong, since the dynamics of an overdriven guitar (hence higher peaks) are at a lower threshold, naturally there needs to be more compression. People who say "don't compress distorted guitars" are idiotic. Thats completely false.

No, you need to have your head examined. If you look at a distortion guitar wave form it's pretty much a solid block.

A solid block?!? Good god man, what an awful sight! I don't know what kind of distortion your referring to but i'd say if your seeing a "solid block" your sound is already completely destroyed!

"Distortion by nature has an amount of compression in it."

This is also false, completely untrue and you don't know what your talking about. Distortion is distortion (fuzzy sounding, duh) and compression is compression (the clipping of peaking levels). Get a clue, they are two totally separate entities.

"It's a clipping tube (given it's a tube amp) therefore the tube has reached it's maximum output, and is clipping the waveform. Any further increase in input level to the overdrive tube will only increase the minumum volume, not the already clipped maximum. This would decrease the dynamic range of the sound, which is EXACTLY what a compressor does. Thank you, play again."

Sure, i'll play again, heres another fucking quarter: Thanks
for the mindless rhetorical rambling rundown of "what a
compressor does" (I didn't ask you for it to begin with!).

And if you had been doing this for more than two days with your "My mom bought me a studio in a box!" shitty attitude you'd understand that "to tape" is an expression that is used quite commonly, even when tape isn't being used.

Used quite commonly by whom? People who say "tape" when they don't actually mean "tape"? Thats twisted. You need psychological help buddy. I created this post strictly laying out my details very well but what I got in return from you is a psycho version of "tape really isn't tape" and "distortion is really compression". Nutcase!

See, some of us have been doing this long enough to understand why there are razor blades and rubbing alchohol in a studio, and they aren't used for drugs (not all the time anyways).

Yeah right, you and whos army.... you use razor blades and alcohol for what? Shame.....

I'm more than happy to suck the low end out of them to make room for the bass and kick.

I think we already know "sucking" is one of your best features, theres really no need for any more details about your aftificial fake processes.

It's called mixing. Some songs require more work than others. The more elements in a song, the more you have to "make room" for each of them. "Ruining" the sound to make if better in the mix isn't "ruining it, now is it.

As far as i've ever known, again, i've never had to "suck" anything out of a mix to acheive results. "Ruining" another musician's sound to achieve YOUR results in YOUR ego'd out mix is nothing but a self-centered statement from an overpaid washed up 'engineer' who likes to twist phrases into his own confused meanings. You aren't fooling anyone but yourself, Mr. McCheese.

Now I understand why you are having problems. You are are wrong on virtually every point you have made.

1)Compression used properly doesn't clip anything and is very commonly used on clean guitar parts.
2)A distorted amp does in fact have a compression aspect to it.
3)A lot of of people use the phrase "to tape" when referring to recording. They just don't record in your bedroom
4)Razors and alcohol are used for splicing analog tape together.

Now stop tarnishing the title of 'Engineer' by claiming to be one.

Jp22 wrote: Actually, I don't find Mr. "McCheese's" trollish antics to be funny one bit. Whether or not he or whoever thinks hes correct or not is unknown but just to clarify, I don't follow false interpretations or opinions of people (groups or otherwise) who always think they're correct when in reality they're not. I came here looking for simple answers on tracking with a few mics, not a debate on the properties of compression! Trolls seem to be common in forums lately, theres always some idiot screwing it up. Remember, THIS IS MY TOPIC, NOT MR. McCHEESE'S. I AM NOT OPEN FOR DEBATE.

The troll comment was directed at you genius :roll:

Are you saying you actually believe the fake twisted crap these idiots are rolling out? Those are all fake rumors! How people "Compress only clean guitar but not distorted guitar". What a load of shit! I've seen this statement floating around for sometime and its a total crock. Its quite the contrary. Tell me you don't believe if a guitar sounds good and its clean that you need more compression. Completely false. A clean guitar would have lower peaks and need less, not more, just as a louder more distorted guitar would have higher peaks, hence needing more compression. Tell me i'm wrong! Nonsense! I WAS TOLD THIS BY ONE OF THE SYNTRILLIUM ENGINEERS (Adobe Audition, Cool Edit Pro). Now tell me i'm wrong!!

Jp22 wrote: Are you saying you actually believe the fake twisted crap these idiots are rolling out? Those are all fake rumors! How people "Compresses only clean guitar but not distorted guitar". What a load of shit! I've seen this statement floating around for sometime and its a total crock. Its quite the contrary. Tell me you don't believe if a guitar sounds good and its clean that you need more compression. Completely false. A clean guitar would have lower peaks and need less, not more, just as a louder mroe distorted guitar would have higher peaks, hence needing more compression. Tell me i'm wrong! Nonsense!

If we are all so full of shit please quote any source to support this BS you are spewing. Surely someone must agree with you.......

I'm done here. Why would a self proclaimed "expert" like yourself even need to have posted the question you did? If your so damn knowledgable you should have your answer already. You really need to shut it and listen. Whether you believe it or not you have no idea what you are talking about although I have no doubt you believe you do.

I think it's not so much that you're wrong, but that you're wrong AND you're a complete idiot. You're throwing words like "Dynamics" around when you clearly don't understand what they mean.

And for the record, I never said I would never apply compression to a distorted guitar, just that it seemed unneccesarry to track it to tape (I know that "to tape" going to confuse your little brain, but tough shit).

And the SYNTRILLIUM ENGINEERS that are so friggin cool to you, are 1) software engineers, and 2) authors of the programs you mentioned, which coincidentally come with some of the shittiest dynamics plugins I've ever had the displeasure of using. Honestly they could sound great, but I couldn't get past the worlds worst interface.

Jp22 wrote: Are you saying you actually believe the fake twisted crap these idiots are rolling out? Those are all fake rumors! How people "Compress only clean guitar but not distorted guitar". What a load of shit! I've seen this statement floating around for sometime and its a total crock. Its quite the contrary. Tell me you don't believe if a guitar sounds good and its clean that you need more compression. Completely false. A clean guitar would have lower peaks and need less, not more, just as a louder more distorted guitar would have higher peaks, hence needing more compression. Tell me i'm wrong! Nonsense! I WAS TOLD THIS BY ONE OF THE SYNTRILLIUM ENGINEERS (Adobe Audition, Cool Edit Pro). Now tell me i'm wrong!!

Fine. You're wrong. You are talking apples and oranges. They were likely referring to distortion generated by overloading the input to your sound card. Compression would tame the signal thus not distorting the input of the card. If the signal coming into the card was clean (ie not overloading the soundcard inputs) there would be no need for compression.

TheArchitect wrote:
If we are all so full of shit please quote any source to support this BS you are spewing. Surely someone must agree with you.......

Sure, ok. TOLD TO ME BY ONE OF THE SYNTRILLIUM ENGINEERS (Adobe Audition, Cool Edit Pro) -- Good enough?:

"A clean guitar would have lower peaks and need less, not more, just as a louder more distorted guitar would have higher peaks, hence needing more compression."

You really need to shut it and listen. Whether you believe it or not you have no idea what you are talking about although I have no doubt you believe you do.

So, you too are doubting the Syntrillium/Adobe engineers then?

By golly, The Architect nailed it, didn't he.

The real problem here is that you don't understand the context of anything. They (the Adobe people whose children you desire to father) are referring to using compression to keep the input from clipping, which would create bad distortion. I'm talking about distortion from an overdriven amp, or good distortion.

Now you're learning to engineer off a troubleshooting FAQ. That's awesome.

McCheese wrote:
And the SYNTRILLIUM ENGINEERS that are so friggin cool to you, are 1) software engineers, and 2) authors of the programs you mentioned, which coincidentally come with some of the shittiest dynamics plugins I've ever had the displeasure of using. Honestly they could sound great, but I couldn't get past the worlds worst interface.

Actually, i'd say Syntrillium/Adobe software was and still is the world's most USER FREINDLY software with a very simple interface. If you want to call that "worse" then I guess your just an unfriendly individual who thrives on irrelevant complication.

TheArchitect wrote:
Fine. You're wrong. You are talking apples and oranges.
They were likely referring to distortion generated by overloading the input to your sound card. Compression would tame the signal thus not distorting the input of the card. If the signal coming into the card was clean (ie not overloading the soundcard inputs) there would be no need for compression.

No, YOU are talking apples and oranges. Seems you are starting to whistle another tune now. See, I knew I was correct. Idiots.

McCheese wrote: By golly, The Architect nailed it, didn't he.
The real problem here is that you don't understand the context of anything. They (the Adobe people whose children you desire to father) are referring to using compression to keep the input from clipping, which would create bad distortion. I'm talking about distortion from an overdriven amp, or good distortion.
Now you're learning to engineer off a troubleshooting FAQ. That's awesome.

Seems your whistling another tune also, fool. Your petty insults are of no consequence. They only show your inability to reason with others properly. You need to learn how to cooperate, loser.

No, you're still the idiot here. Without question.

You might want a bigger shovel for that hole you're digging.

Nobody is changing their story, you're just confused as to what you're talking about. Maybe you should go back to finger paints and the Kermit the Frog Xylophone.

You still wouldn't need compression on a distorted guitar if your little brain could learn to set a level correctly.

McCheese wrote: No, you're still the idiot here. Without question. You might want a bigger shovel for that hole you're digging.

Excuse me? The "hole i'm digging"? To where?

Nobody is changing their story, you're just confused as to what you're talking about.

No, your confused. Scroll up.

You still wouldn't need compression on a distorted guitar if your little brain could learn to set a level correctly.

Nonsense. There are many other factors. Thats only one. And I am continuing to ignore your petty insults...

As for the "Changing the stories bit"

Syntrillium is saying that compression can be used to keep an input from clipping.

Your inferior thought process is not translating that correctly. I bet it comes out as something like "COMPRESSION GOOD, DYNAMICS BAD" before you get distracted by something shiny.

You're a disgrace to humanity, and should be shot before you reproduce.
I think it is in your best interest to find another hobby/career, like moving objects from one spot to another. Something with a shallow learning curve and minimal mental processing. I'd suggest bagging at a grocery store, but the whole "Don't put the squishy things under the heavy things" might be a bit much.

Anyways, thanks for giving me some laughs this afternoon, it's been hilarious.

TheArchitect wrote:
Now I understand why you are having problems. You are are wrong on virtually every point you have made.

No, i'm afraid YOU are wrong on my points your're *trying* to correct.

1)Compression used properly doesn't clip anything and is very commonly used on clean guitar parts.
2)A distorted amp does in fact have a compression aspect to it.
3)A lot of of people use the phrase "to tape" when referring to recording. They just don't record in your bedroom
4)Razors and alcohol are used for splicing analog tape together.

"1)" Correction: Compression doesn't clip anything? WRONG. It can either clip peaks of levels that are too high, soften them or create a "wall".... and if used improperly it can completely destroy dynamics.

"2)" Correction: Saying any old guitar amp on a whim has compression built in is ridiculous. Total lunacy, unless maybe if the amp was cranked to "11", then it *might* be possible.

"3)" Correction: I ain't "alot of people".

"4)" Correction: No shit, but we aren't talking about tape are we.

Jp22 wrote: "1)" Correction: Compression doesn't clip anything? WRONG. It can either clip peaks of levels that are too high, soften them or create a "wall".... and if used improperly it can completely destroy dynamics.

Limiters shave off peaks, compressors reduce gain.

Jp22 wrote: "2)" Correction: Saying any old guitar amp on a whim has compression built in is ridiculous. Total lunacy, unless maybe if the amp was cranked to "11", then it *might* be possible.

Distortion on a tube amp is overloading the tube, thus bringing up the floor to a higher level while keeping the peaks at the same level, resulting in a natural compression. Solid state distortion circuts try to achieve this effect by essentially re-amplifing the already amplified signal in the preamplification stage. This is why tube amps produce odd order harmonics with distortion and solid state amps produce even order harmonics with distortion.

Jp22 wrote: "3)" Correction: I ain't "alot of people".

No, you're walters when he's drunk.

Jp22 wrote: "4)" Correction: No shit, but we aren't talking about tape are we.

"Tape" refers to any medium to which you are recording something. I, for one, prefer working on 2 inch rather than computer. But hey, that's just me. You're the reason why the term "recording engineer" holds no credentials now. Its people like you who think they know it all because the box says "your own studio" or something a long those lines that are ruining the industry. Its not about how much gear you have, what kind of gear you have, how many plugins, who makes those plugins (well, some of them, especially those by the company you said, suck balls and should not even be called a plugin but rather a plugup), its not even how much you know, its just how you apply it. I don't care what you read in magazines or online or in the manuals or from the salesmen at tech support, I want to know credentials. For all I can tell is you're a know it all that thinks that if its in the manual, in a magazine, said by tech support, shows up on a google search, or is told to you at some seminar, then it is the truth. You have no clue on what you're talking about. McCheese knows a hell of a lot more than you appear to know.

McCheese wrote:
Syntrillium is saying that compression can be used to keep an input from clipping.

WRONG AGAIN. This is NOT what they said and you are twisting it and taking it out of context again. Some people never learn.

Your inferior thought process is not translating that correctly. I bet it comes out as something like "COMPRESSION GOOD, DYNAMICS BAD" before you get distracted by something shiny.

Actually, in reality, your insults are continuing to get you further to nowhere. You're just making yourself look more and more like a fool.

You're a disgrace to humanity, and should be shot before you reproduce.

Violence isn't going to help you be correct when your wrong, its a shame someone would think they had to resort to something physical to try to proove twisted points that make no sense. Next time try to get it right the first time and you wont be wrong the rest of your life. Think about how others might feel about it more
instead of yourself. When musicians say they don't like what your handing them don't say "hey don't worry buddy, it'll sound better in the mix, trust me, i'm ruining it for your benefit", otherwise you'll get no more business and people will start to hate you for giving them something you wanted but what they didnn't want. It only shows your own self-centeredness.

I think it is in your best interest to find another hobby/career, like moving objects from one spot to another. Something with a shallow learning curve and minimal mental processing. I'd suggest bagging at a grocery store,

Actually , soon assholes like you will be bagging Mr., cuz you wont have anymore clients (if your an engineer) due to your ego being too large for your own good. No one wants to deal with your self- centered "i'll ruin it for you, trust me, i'll sound good" attitude. Musicians would rather have their own sound, NOT YOURS.

Oh yeah, and mixing.... I hate garlic and I hate chicken, but when I put them together I'm in love. Music is made up of a wide frequency spectrum. Each instrument needs its own space. Believe it or not, on 99% of records out there where the kick sound really strong and in your face, if it were solo'd it'd sound like a basketball. The bass needs some room to operate too.

The best part of all this is that he came in and asked a question, but he already has all the answers! D00D U R TEH PRO!!!!

McCheese wrote: The best part of all this is that he came in and asked a question, but he already has all the answers! D00D U R TEH PRO!!!!

I've noticed that he's just like walters. He asks a questions, and when people give him answers, he argues saying his answers are right.

They probably come from the same Aunt/Mom and Uncle/Dad

BrianAltenhofel wrote:
Limiters shave off peaks, compressors reduce gain.

My compressor has a limiter and a gain reducer on it.

Distortion on a tube amp is overloading the tube, thus bringing up the floor to a higher level while keeping the peaks at the same level, resulting in a natural compression.

I don't own a tube amp! HAHA!

No, you're walters when he's drunk.

I have no clue who that is but for the record i'm not a drinker and I do not do drugs.

You're the reason why the term "recording engineer" holds no credentials now. Its people like you who think they know it all because the box says "your own studio" or something a long those lines that are ruining the industry. Its not about how much gear you have, what kind of gear you have, how many plugins, who makes those plugins (well, some of them, especially those by the company you said, suck balls and should not even be called a plugin but rather a plugup), its not even how much you know, its just how you apply it. I don't care what you read in magazines or online or in the manuals or from the salesmen at tech support, I want to know credentials. For all I can tell is you're a know it all that thinks that if its in the manual, in a magazine, said by tech support, shows up on a google search, or is told to you at some seminar, then it is the truth. You have no clue on what you're talking about. McCheese knows a hell of a lot more than you appear to know.

I never made any claim to be an engineer, those words were posted by Mr. "McCheese", the person you say know a hell of alot more than I know. I can proove this since I created this topic! If you go back to the first and second posts I made in this topic you'll see that I was actually asking for advice from an "expert" engineer!As for credentials, you certainly haven't shown any so far, besides, most so-called "engineers" aren't worthy of a hill of beans if all they can do is insult to try to get their point across, which is all McCheese has done thoughout my entire topic. If you call that worthy of being a knowledgable engineer then you too are a fool as everyone else who has responded so far and have shown me NOTHING. Now, actually learn somthing about whats even going on here, go back and read my first two posts.

And you did as walters did and cut off quotes. You should be a politician. Your quote from me talking about distortion and tube amps was cut off early, leaving out the context that shows the relationship between distortion and compression.

So you have a compressor/limiter combo? What kind? Just wondering if it's above the Alesis/Behringer level.

Oh yeah, and there's no water to your statement of "I created this topic". That means jack here.

And... you started the insulting, by asking a question and then coming up with your own "correct" answers because the salesmen at Syntrillium told you so.

Also, you want my creds? Read the forum roll call and look for my post. My background is there, but I need to add 4 more records, including a possibility of working with two major label bands in the near future (I've been called, asked my price since my name was dropped by the bands as someone they enjoy working with, and am waiting to hear back with a definite answer).

Jp22 wrote: I could easily give back any minimal dynamics lost compressing with a bit more eq on my mixer

That says it all. That was the first sign you didn't know what you were talking about.

BrianAltenhofel wrote: [quote=Jp22]I could easily give back any minimal dynamics lost compressing with a bit more eq on my mixer

That says it all. That was the first sign you didn't know what you were talking about.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that caught that.

I clicked on the topic hoping to help someone, but after I got to that, I knew we had someone who would be as ignorant (or more ignorant) than walters.

Hey McCheese, do you have this topic in its own windows and hitting the refresh button every few minutes like me?