Compressor

im gonna buy a second hand rack compressor.. is there anything i should look out for that i dont want/do want? its my first rack one, i have used programme ones but i im sure putting one in the chain ill get far better results.. give me the low down if ya got nothing else going on.. cheers yo.

i read this http://www.tweakheadz.com/compressors.htm but it confused me even more on what to go for.. i need it for beats and vocals before hitting record. any ideas?

Well, what is it that you'd like to know specifically about using compressors? In the most simplest of terms, they're great for taming or keeping a set balance or threshold for whatever you're trying to compress or limit.

I have a dbx DDP digital joint I've used for years, but at the moment I like using the s/w versions 'cause they seem to do just as good of a job if not better.

Alesis 3630 are the workhorse industry standard vibe. and give a good result on both vocals and drums. I use one on just about every session I do when I'm at work here http://secretlevel.org.nz/index.php/recording-studio. Also the DBX 266xl or better yet the 166 are also really good little compressors and both the 3630 and 266 are pretty good price wise. the 166 will start to get up there at something like $300 US maybe? the others should be round the $150 mark (these are all retail not second hand though) heaps less second hand. depending on how crazy you want to go the "distressor" is probably a better way to go. they are mono so you would need two to do a stereo job and are quite expensive but you will never need another hardware compressor for drums or vocals ever again. (i'm saving up for a couple at the moment).
thats my two cents anyway.


peace

word. ill hit up the alesis or dbx theres a couple round for a good price..
also Freeman bro.. im in nz were can i get windscreens (stocking like nets for infront of condersor mics aka popfilters) from? i spent ages trying to find one the other day.
christchurch is still closed.. any kiwi websites got em? cheers for the heads up.

Behringer Composer XL

theres a bunch of places that will do them. Jansen is your best (and cheapest bet) heres a couple of links to their site
http://www.jansen.co.nz/product.php?b=&sku=APOPN
http://www.jansen.co.nz/product.php?b=&sku=APOP55
http://www.jansen.co.nz/product.php?b=&sku=APOP50
other than that rockshops do the Rode version and I'm pretty sure if you have a credit card they can do the old over the phone jobby for you. Pro sound do them as do Protel. just flick a few emails around.
Also (just quietly) good to see another Kiwi kicking it round here. I know Disasteradio frequents the 1000 forums.
and hopefully you aren't in the major damage centre of chch?
peace

yo man wanna peep somthing for me and tell me if it will be good... i need one with a goose neck so i went on rockshop.co.nz and found a cheapish rode one for $79.00 its the one thats not round, more of a baseball feild type shape hah. i would post the direct link but the site is in php and it keeps the same url the whole time.
youll find it easy though.. just search rode and it pops up.. anyway its rather big and not round.. but the cheapsit one with a gooseneck.. any good ?

yeah that looks like the deal. Rode stuff has been good to me in the studio. Haven't used their pop filters though, but their build quality is pretty consistent across all their other shit. Go for it.