Behringer COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600 Manual - Page 10

10 MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600/PRO-XL MDX2600/AUTOCOM PRO-XL MDX1600 User Manual Once you have checked the EQ setting, switch off SC MON and adjust the THRESHOLD, so that the compressor responds to the interference signals only. Control element SC EXT switch SC MON switch INTERACT KNEE switch LO CONTOUR switch THRESHOLD control RATIO control AUTO switch ATTACK control RELEASE control OUTPUT control Position IN OUT OFF OUT +20 dB 4:1 OUT 0.3 msec 150 msec 0 dB Tab. 3.1: Eliminating interference with an inserted equalizer (basic settings) 4. Wiring Dynamics processors are usually inserted into the insert paths of a mixing console, because their signals are not added to the mix (unlike reverb or phaser effects, which are fed into the signal path via the aux busses). Return Send Mixer Channel Insert Out In 3.2 Emphasizing instruments Conversely, you can also use your COMPOSER PRO-XL or AUTOCOM PRO‑XL to highlight solo instruments or vocal tracks acoustically in a less than perfect recording. Please note that in this application only the amplitudes of the selected frequencies should be reduced in level. Compression produces a subjective volume reduction of the entire program material. Only those frequencies selected on the equalizer will cause NO compression and thus they seem to be emphasized acoustically. This inverse type of compression helps you make instruments stand out even in low-level passages. 3.3 Time-delayed compression If you feed the audio signal directly into the SC RETURN input and at the same time route it to the audio input via a delay unit, the dynamics processor will work "anticipatorily". With a bit of tweaking you can achieve "zero" attack effects for specific frequencies. Longer delays produce an effect that is similar to an audio tape being played back in reverse. 3.4 "Voice Over" compression ("Ducking") You can use the COMPOSER PRO-XL and AUTOCOM PRO-XL to lower music to a low background level as soon as a speaker speaks into the microphone. In this type of application the compressor section functions like an automatic fader controlled by the speaker's microphone, which is also connected to the SC RETURN input via a preamplifier. Music and microphone signal are then mixed with the help of a console. This application is called "voice over" compression or "ducking", and is used frequently in discotheques or radio stations. 3.5 Triggering additional sounds from a rhythm track This technique is used to give a rhythm track more "punch" by synchronizing the rhythm instruments after recording. Only the expander/gate section is required, the compressor and/or peak limiter remain disabled. Insert the bass guitar track into the audio path of the COMPOSER PRO-XL (or AUTOCOM PRO-XL), and route the bass drum to the SC RETURN input. Activate the SC EXT function to trigger the bass guitar with the kick drum, i.e. the kick drum exceeds the expander threshold, allowing the bass guitar signal to pass until the level has dropped below threshold again. COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600 Fig. 4.1: Inserting a dynamics processor into the insert path You can also insert the COMPOSER PRO-XL, MULTICOM PRO-XL or AUTOCOM PRO-XL into a sub-group insert (miking of drums!) or to process the mix output of the console (Main Out and/or Main Inserts). Here, too, the processor should be inserted into an insert path, so that you can fade out the overall signal by closing the main faders on the console. COMPOSER PRO-XL MDX2600 Return Return Send Send LR Mixer DAT Recorder Main Out Main Insert L R Fig. 4.2: Compressing a main mix signal with the MDX2600 ◊ When you process a stereo mix signal, we recommend that you link the channels in couple mode, because there is no faster and easier way to find the right settings. However, remember to set the output levels separately! If you wish to use the dynamics processor as part of a P.A. system integrating an active frequency crossover (e.g. BEHRINGER SUPER-X PRO CX2310), you can connect it between the mixing console output and the crossover input, or between the crossover and the power amps. In the latter configuration you can process individual frequency ranges specifically (multi-band compression) to prevent a few high-energy frequencies triggering the compressor to process the entire frequency range. The illustration below shows how to set up this configuration with the BEHRINGER MULTICOM PRO-XL MDX4600.