Hi everyone. I'm working a show right now running a Yamaha 01V96 digital board with onboard (digital) compression. I'm working on dialing in the gain lineups for the wireless mics we are using (Sennheisers EW100 G2 with ME2 elements, which are not my favorite elements). However, when I apply the compression to one of the actors' mics, I get feedback and I don't fully understand why.
First, the compression settings:
Ratio - 4:1
Attach - 50 ms
Release - 100+ ms
Knee - 2-3
Gain - 0 dB
Threshold - various levels.
The process I go thru in setting up the gain lineup for a mic is I have then actor come on stage, sing full voice so I can set the head amp level to just below clipping. I then ask them to give me their softest point in the show whereby I set the fader level on the board. At this point I may have them stand quietly while I listen on the headphones and set the noise gate/expander. Next, I have them give me their loudest volume and I turn down the THRESHOLD level until I get the level I want.
What's happening with this digital board is, as I lower the threshold and engage the compressor, i.e. the gain reduction meters show gain reduction starting to kick in, I suddenly get a lot of feedback. I turn off the compressor, and it goes away.
I know I can raise the softer levels of the signal where feedback might be lurking, BUT ONLY IF I ADD GAIN TO THE LINEUP, which I am not doing with the compressor (GAIN = 0 dB).
I also know if the attack time is too fast I can cause distortion/harmonics, which could trigger feedback.
The only thing I can think of is to increase the ATTACK TIME to avoid generating distortion? Or maybe use the GAIN control to add some attenuation to the post-compressed signal??
Any suggestions in my setup and/or procedure? Anyone else have troubles with digital compressors?
Subby
First, the compression settings:
Ratio - 4:1
Attach - 50 ms
Release - 100+ ms
Knee - 2-3
Gain - 0 dB
Threshold - various levels.
The process I go thru in setting up the gain lineup for a mic is I have then actor come on stage, sing full voice so I can set the head amp level to just below clipping. I then ask them to give me their softest point in the show whereby I set the fader level on the board. At this point I may have them stand quietly while I listen on the headphones and set the noise gate/expander. Next, I have them give me their loudest volume and I turn down the THRESHOLD level until I get the level I want.
What's happening with this digital board is, as I lower the threshold and engage the compressor, i.e. the gain reduction meters show gain reduction starting to kick in, I suddenly get a lot of feedback. I turn off the compressor, and it goes away.
I know I can raise the softer levels of the signal where feedback might be lurking, BUT ONLY IF I ADD GAIN TO THE LINEUP, which I am not doing with the compressor (GAIN = 0 dB).
I also know if the attack time is too fast I can cause distortion/harmonics, which could trigger feedback.
The only thing I can think of is to increase the ATTACK TIME to avoid generating distortion? Or maybe use the GAIN control to add some attenuation to the post-compressed signal??
Any suggestions in my setup and/or procedure? Anyone else have troubles with digital compressors?
Subby