Signal Processing Chain
This is an, “I need help!” post that runs pretty technical. I’m setting up audio gear for a new music project and I know the order in which I chain my components together matters. I just don’t know which order and what connections are best (click the pics to enlarge).
I have a Mackie Onyx 1220 because Leo Laporte told me to. Leo always gives good advice. I also have a dbx 1066 Compressor Limiter Gate. The dbx 1066 might not be a link in this chain. A TC-Helicon VoiceWorks Plus is on its way from Sweetwater, and I want to record to a Marantz PMD570.
Is there an audio guy in the house who can tell me how to chain everything together and whether or not I need to skip the dbx 1066?
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Assuming your analog all the way…
Vocal Master track:
Mics -> VoiceWorks -> dbx1066 -> Onyx -> recorder
Ideally you’ll set the VoiceWorks and dbx and not touch them, although I’m not too familiar with the VW box it looks like a vocal processor/correction device so set it for the vocalist and leave it.
After the voice is pre-processed then add some compression. Then mix, then record. If you’re adding music at the same time as the voice then do this…
Music —————\
\
Mic -> VoiceWorks -> Mixer -> dbx -> recorder
Compress everything to keep the music+voice balanced.
Paul
Above, that should be music into the mixer. The danger of Fixed Width to edit and Proportional in post.
@FWGMILLS – The problem with you smart guys is that you’re so left-brain. I think I get it but there is money in providing advice to those of us who are right brained.
FWGMILLS got here first; but regarding helping others out. Left brainers have skills, right brainers ideas: sharing between should be natural because it is a win-win. You charge nothing, so neither should we.
It’s going to be fun figuring out if I I really understand, especially giving the VoiceWorks learning curve I keep reading about.
I’d be more than happy to test it once your new gear comes in…for a price.
No actually, I’ve been watching GBTV for years now and the advice and product information I’ve gleaned from that more than pays for some advice on your signal chain challenges. Besides I like to think all that time I spent working at the radio station didn’t go to waste.