[thetiler]

166XL Compressor - Advanced Fingerstyle Guitar and Strumming w/
acoustic guitar

I seemed to be having problems with getting a clean recording when I
strum (some harder strumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

I am using Logic 8. I like to go in and record on one track, using
two 451b AKG mics. I am using an expensive Santa Cruz acoustic guitar
om/pw (expensive for me at least

I am get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

I've turned down my "Really Nice Preamp" for the two stereo mics I
have. So I don't think it is doing it there either. I also use a
Presonus Firebox for the interface.

Any help would sure be appreciated.

I have read a bit on the forums, but have not found any info on the
fingerpicking-strumming and achieving a nice balance recording wise.
I sure would be tickled to receive some sound advice on this. I have
been recorded for a long time. But don't do alot of hard strumming
- fingerpicking.

Kind of Bella Fleck meets the strumming on Stairway to Heaven meets
(not that dramatic).

Again, please email me as soon as you can cause I am addicted to
recorded and will try desperately to figure it out, but I know I can
save loads of labor with a real pro that can let me see the light sort
of speak.


Thanks again!!!!

[thetiler]

On Sep 27, 10:48*pm, thetiler wrote:
166XL Compressor - Advanced Fingerstyle Guitar and Strumming w/
acoustic guitar

I seemed to be having problems with getting a clean recording when I
strum (some harder strumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

I am using Logic 8. *I like to go in and record on one track, using
two 451b AKG mics. I am using an expensive Santa Cruz acoustic guitar
om/pw (expensive for me at least

I get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping, so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

I've turned down my "Really Nice Preamp" for the two stereo mics I
have. *So I don't think it is doing it there either. I also use a
Presonus Firebox for the interface.

Any help would sure be appreciated.

I have read a bit on the forums, but have not found any info on the
fingerpicking-strumming and achieving a nice balance recording wise.
I sure would be tickled to receive some sound advice on this. I have
been recording for a long time. * Don't do alot of *hard strumming
- fingerpicking. So I am lost to get a nice sound on the combination of sounds.

Kind of Bella Fleck meets the strumming on Stairway to Heaven meets
(not that dramatic).

Again, please email me as soon as you can cause I am addicted to
recording and will try desperately to figure it out, but I know I can
save loads of labor with a real pro that can let me see the light sort
of speak.

Thanks again!!!!

(I tried to edit my spelling on the original post but couldn't find
the edit button. But found it on the reply. Sorry for spelling errors!

[hank alrich]

thetiler wrote:

166XL Compressor - Advanced Fingerstyle Guitar and Strumming w/
acoustic guitar

I seemed to be having problems with getting a clean recording when I
strum (some harder strumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

I am using Logic 8. I like to go in and record on one track, using
two 451b AKG mics. I am using an expensive Santa Cruz acoustic guitar
om/pw (expensive for me at least

How are you positioning the mics in relation to the guitar?

I am get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

What is your interface to get audio into the computer?

I've turned down my "Really Nice Preamp" for the two stereo mics I
have. So I don't think it is doing it there either. I also use a
Presonus Firebox for the interface.

Any help would sure be appreciated.

Remove the compressor from the signal chain. Set the RNP such that
levels in Logic peak around -18dBFS.

Do you still hear clipping?

--
ha
Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam

[thetiler]

On Sep 27, 11:10*pm, (hank alrich) wrote:
thetiler wrote:
166XL Compressor - Advanced FingerstyleGuitarandStrummingw/
acousticguitar

I seemed to be having problems with getting a cleanrecordingwhen I
strum (some harderstrumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

I am using Logic 8. *I like to go in and record on one track, using
two 451b AKG mics. I am using an expensive Santa Cruzacousticguitar
om/pw (expensive for me at least

How are you positioning the mics in relation to theguitar?

I am get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

What is your interface to get audio into the computer?

I've turned down my "Really Nice Preamp" for the two stereo mics I
have. *So I don't think it is doing it there either. I also use a
Presonus Firebox for the interface.

Any help would sure be appreciated.

Remove the compressor from the signal chain. Set the RNP such that
levels in Logic peak around -18dBFS.

Do you still hear clipping?

--
ha
Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam

What I want to do is to use the compressor and learn how to get the
most out of it. I've heard that the compressor is good for
transitions like that. Between strumming and finger-picking. I really
don't want to take out the wiring that i've done in setting up the
compressor. I
The interface I use to get the audio in the computer is the Prosonus
Firebox. It is two channels.

Thanks for responding

[hank alrich]

thetiler wrote:

On Sep 27, 11:10 pm, (hank alrich) wrote:
thetiler wrote:
166XL Compressor - Advanced FingerstyleGuitarandStrummingw/
acousticguitar

I seemed to be having problems with getting a cleanrecordingwhen I
strum (some harderstrumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

I am using Logic 8. I like to go in and record on one track, using
two 451b AKG mics. I am using an expensive Santa Cruzacousticguitar
om/pw (expensive for me at least

How are you positioning the mics in relation to theguitar?

I am get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

What is your interface to get audio into the computer?

I've turned down my "Really Nice Preamp" for the two stereo mics I
have. So I don't think it is doing it there either. I also use a
Presonus Firebox for the interface.

Any help would sure be appreciated.

Remove the compressor from the signal chain. Set the RNP such that
levels in Logic peak around -18dBFS.

Do you still hear clipping?

What I want to do is to use the compressor and learn how to get the
most out of it. I've heard that the compressor is good for
transitions like that.

Whatever you've heard, I can tell you that until you take the comp out
of the chain you won't know if the comp is the source of the problem.

That's why I suggested bypassing it, physically, and staging gain such
that clipping should not be happening.

This stuff isn't about what we've "heard" on the 'net or read in a book:
it's about what we hear while we're working.

Between strumming and finger-picking. I really
don't want to take out the wiring that i've done in setting up the
compressor. I
The interface I use to get the audio in the computer is the Prosonus
Firebox. It is two channels.

Thanks for responding


--
ha
Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam

[Laurence Payne[_2_]]

On Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:48:31 -0700 (PDT), thetiler
wrote:

I seemed to be having problems with getting a clean recording when I
strum (some harder strumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

I am using Logic 8. I like to go in and record on one track, using
two 451b AKG mics. I am using an expensive Santa Cruz acoustic guitar
om/pw (expensive for me at least

I am get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

So take the compressor away. Get a clean recording. Then, if you
really want to use it while recording (a somewhat unnecessary concept
into a digital system with more dynamic range than any other component
in your recording chain) hook it up again starting with every control
off. If you still clip, sort out your gain structure at both ends of
the compressor - out and in. Then start applying moderate amounts of
compression and keep listening and looking at the recorded waveform.

[Mike Rivers]

On Sep 28, 1:48 am, thetiler wrote:

I seemed to be having problems with getting a clean recording when I
strum (some harder strumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

So you're going from loud to soft along with a complete change in
playing styles? This is not a job for a compressor. It may seem like
it from the common misconception of what a compressor does (reduces
dynamic range to smooth out the audio level) but it simply doesn't
work for this sort of application. It can help to even out the hard
strumming and even out the softer fingerpicking, but not both with the
same settings. That's where you're getting into trouble.

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

The best way to learn this is to work the knobs while you're listening
to the audio running through it. You can't do that an play the guitar
at the same time. As others have advised, get the compressor out of
the recording chain. Record clean tracks, taking care that neither
your preamp nor Personus Firething is clipping. Then rewire things so
that you can send the Presonus audio output into the compressor, and
the compressor output to the monitor speakers. That way, you can play
the track while adjusting the compressor and get a feeling for what it
can and can't do.

I am get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

It could be the compressor clipping, the preamp clipping, or the
Presonus interface clipping. The meters will guide you in setting
levels. When you say the meters in Logic aren't showing clipping, that
could be misleading. First off, if you're looking at the meters during
playback, no level above full scale gets recorded so even if your
recording is horribly clipped, the meters won't show it in playback.

The RNMP has loads of headroom, but that's because it's capable of a
pretty high output level before it clips, probably more level than the
compressor can take, and probably more than the Presonus can take as
well. You need to work your way through the chain to make sure that no
output is overdriving the input to which it connects.

I have read a bit on the forums, but have not found any info on the
fingerpicking-strumming and achieving a nice balance recording wise.

This is best done with your fingers, not a compressor. If you find
that you can get the sound you're looking for in each style by using
some compression, you may want to record the parts separately, or
record without compression and then route the playback through the
compressor and re-record to new tracks using the appropriate settings
for each part. Or set aside the dbx compressor until you have a more
appropriate use for it and use a compressor plug-in on the tracks in
Logic, with different settings for each part.

You seem to be in the trap that most beginners fall into - that buying
a piece of gear that you read about on the Internet will replace the
recording engineer, producer, or player's skill and taste. It won't.

[Scott Dorsey]

thetiler wrote:
166XL Compressor - Advanced Fingerstyle Guitar and Strumming w/
acoustic guitar

I seemed to be having problems with getting a clean recording when I
strum (some harder strumming). Then immediately some elaborate finger-
picking.

What does "clean" mean to you?

I don't know how to utilize the 166XL Compressor I bought to it's
maximum potential.

That's okay, you don't need it yet. I suggest getting some recordings, playing
them back through the compressor, and listening to the output so you can get
feel for what the compressor does, though.

I am using Logic 8. I like to go in and record on one track, using
two 451b AKG mics. I am using an expensive Santa Cruz acoustic guitar
om/pw (expensive for me at least

I would not characterise the 451 as particularly clean-sounding myself, but
that is a judgement call.

I am get some clipping, but in the meters in logic it isn't showing
clipping so I really think it is doing it in the 166XL compressor.

So take the compressor out.

I've turned down my "Really Nice Preamp" for the two stereo mics I
have. So I don't think it is doing it there either. I also use a
Presonus Firebox for the interface.

Okay, so you have the output of the preamp going into the compressor going into
the interface? If the compressor is clipping, turning the preamp down more
will prevent that.

Are you sure it's not the interface that is clipping? If there is a gain control
on the interface, turn it up and turn the output of the compressor down.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."