In article ,
Eeyore wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

Many ppl have managed without compressors just fine.

Depends on how you define 'fine'.

The OP suggests it will be for recording public meetings with multi-mics.
So by nature no real chance to pre-set levels at a rehearsal - especially
if there are questions from the audience. Of course if recording to good
digital you could simply record leaving plenty headroom. But then
you'll likely end up with a dynamic range far too great for home listening.

I record speech (as well as other things) for a living and even on drama
where you do get a rehearsal I'd end up with clipping on occasion without
the use of a compressor. In my case, an SQN mixer - which has probably the
finest one available for this sort of thing.

Of course like all these aids you need to know what it does and how to use
it.

--
*Why are they called apartments, when they're all stuck together? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

In article ,
Eeyore wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

Many ppl have managed without compressors just fine.

Depends on how you define 'fine'.

My defintion of fine is "avoided disturbing modulation of background
noise".

The OP suggests it will be for recording public meetings with multi-mics.
So by nature no real chance to pre-set levels at a rehearsal - especially
if there are questions from the audience. Of course if recording to good
digital you could simply record leaving plenty headroom. But then
you'll likely end up with a dynamic range far too great for home listening.

And what issues may there be that either freeware or modestly priced
software, say sam-ultralite, aka magix home studio or sam lite, aka sam
9SE or something to that effect can not solve?

I record speech (as well as other things) for a living and even on drama
where you do get a rehearsal I'd end up with clipping on occasion without
the use of a compressor.

You *do* manage to avoid clipping the mic input pre, right?

In my case, an SQN mixer - which has probably the
finest one available for this sort of thing.

IMO the questionee needs a "12 channel" Behringer mixer sans digital
effcts and the required number of external phono-pres. He can even get
one tossed in with one of the software packages that comes to mind,
Magix Audio Restoration suite (or something to that effect), multiple
distribution versions, one of those comes with phono-pre amp. There's a
neat lil' sound editor included, as I recall this with compression
capability. There is also Adobe Audition for those that want to use more
money and of course also SAM9.

Of course like all these aids you need to know what it does and how to use
it.

True, the simpler the better, not just for the novice user, for any
user.

Dave Plowman London SW


Kind regards

Peter Larsen

In article ,
Peter Larsen wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

In article ,
Eeyore wrote:
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:

For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.

Many ppl have managed without compressors just fine.

Depends on how you define 'fine'.

My defintion of fine is "avoided disturbing modulation of background
noise".

So you just preset levels and let things happen? Because every time you
move a fader the background will change too. Personally I'd rather have
well balanced voices with a sensisible dynamic range. Intelligibility is
likely to be the order of the day with this sort of recording. Oh - and a
good compressor used sensibly won't produce objectionable pumping.

The OP suggests it will be for recording public meetings with
multi-mics. So by nature no real chance to pre-set levels at a
rehearsal - especially if there are questions from the audience. Of
course if recording to good digital you could simply record leaving
plenty headroom. But then you'll likely end up with a dynamic range
far too great for home listening.

And what issues may there be that either freeware or modestly priced
software, say sam-ultralite, aka magix home studio or sam lite, aka sam
9SE or something to that effect can not solve?

If he's going to multitrack then of course it can be sorted later. But
there's no need to go to these lengths.

I record speech (as well as other things) for a living and even on
drama where you do get a rehearsal I'd end up with clipping on
occasion without the use of a compressor.

You *do* manage to avoid clipping the mic input pre, right?

Of course. Mic amp clipping isn't a problem with decent gear- if you know
how to use it.

In my case, an SQN mixer - which has probably the
finest one available for this sort of thing.

IMO the questionee needs a "12 channel" Behringer mixer sans digital
effcts and the required number of external phono-pres. He can even get
one tossed in with one of the software packages that comes to mind,
Magix Audio Restoration suite (or something to that effect), multiple
distribution versions, one of those comes with phono-pre amp. There's a
neat lil' sound editor included, as I recall this with compression
capability. There is also Adobe Audition for those that want to use more
money and of course also SAM9.

Of course like all these aids you need to know what it does and how to
use it.

True, the simpler the better, not just for the novice user, for any
user.

--
*Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sep 1, 1:24 am, "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
In article ,
Eeyore wrote:

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
For recording speech you want a mixer with a half decent
compressor/limiter.
Many ppl have managed without compressors just fine.

Depends on how you define 'fine'.

The OP suggests it will be for recording public meetings with multi-mics.
So by nature no real chance to pre-set levels at a rehearsal - especially
if there are questions from the audience. Of course if recording to good
digital you could simply record leaving plenty headroom. But then
you'll likely end up with a dynamic range far too great for home listening.

I record speech (as well as other things) for a living and even on drama
where you do get a rehearsal I'd end up with clipping on occasion without
the use of a compressor. In my case, an SQN mixer - which has probably the
finest one available for this sort of thing.

Of course like all these aids you need to know what it does and how to use
it.

--
Sounds like I have a real learning curve ahead.