I Wish I Had Known This 15 Years Ago

I periodically review both good podcasts and random pieces of interesting audio equipment. This posting is about both, or neither, depending on your point of view.

The podcast is GearMediaTech, one of the many podcast enterprises run by Leo Laporte of TWIT.tv. This particular podcast deals with audio equipment that might be of interest to podcasters who might want to learn more about audio or to improve the sound quality of their podcasts. But, like I said, this posting is not really about the podcast.

The particular podcast I am referring to is a discussion about the dbx166 limiter/compressor. I spent many years as a live sound technician and, without a doubt, the limiter/compressor wins the award for combining the most important functionality and the most confusing learning curve of any component used on pro audio. Knowing how to use a compressor/limiter properly can dramatically improve the quality of a live or recorded mix, but these things have enough knobs on them make your head swim. They use really confusing terminology like “threshold” and “expander” and incorrect use can really wreck a mix.

Proper use of a compressor/limiter is a lot like gaffers tape for audio. It holds the signal (as opposed to the cable) exactly where you need it to stay and then comes off clean (no distortion or audio coloration) when it is no longer needed.

Over the years I have owned lots of these units and would never want to do a loud or complicated show without them. But, this posting is not really about the dbx166.

What I am really writing about is good inherent design, and I was stunned to learn that a piece of gear that I have owned for years might have been a lot easier to learn to use than I realized. Scott Bourne, who partners with Leo Leporte on this podcast, points out in introducing the dbx166XL that you can get the classic dbx compressor sound by simply setting all the controls in the 12 o’clock position. Who knew? While this may oversimplify the use of this component, knowing now that you can have a good starting point for compressing your audio by simply setting all the knobs in the straight up postion is a great piece of info. Wish I had known about this in 1988!

GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries, MagLite flashlights, Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Electratrac and Coast Wire extension cords, OnStage Stand mic stands, and other tape products.