Karaoke Forums

Hi, I am working on my second setup, which is different from my first. My first is simple and remains at the bar. This is what I have on my second one that I require input and help. I am using mackie dfx12 mixer, qsc 1450 amp, furman power conditioner, wireless and corded shure mics, a custom built rack computer with 3.06 processor.1 gig of ram, 128 radeon vid card, soundblaster live card, 160 gig and 320 gig hdd, 2 jbl125 speakers, and now a bbe maxcom. Where should i place the bbe? and what settings? Thank you....

Place the BBE last in line before the amps....I'm not familar with that particular BBE, so I can't suggest starting settings.....If it's got twisty knobs, just start low and tweek up till it sounds the way you like.

OOOOPS! STop...I had to edit this once I looked up your exact piece of equipment...It's a compressor, a gate, and half a BBE, not a BBE sonic maximizer like I first assumed....See next post from me in this thread.

Friend, I hope you weren't trying to kill two birds with one stone when you bought the BBE MaxCom.

The compressor must go on the vocals between the mics and the mixer-best done by using insert cables...do not use it on the output of your mixer to where you are compressing the whole mix, just on the vocals on the input to the mixer.

I see the Maxcom also has a Low Contour feature and a gate....Switch the gate knob off and leave it off if used for vocal compression.

The Low Contour is mostly worthless to you on vocals when used as a compressor, but is great when used on the music, so if you were hoping to use the compressor on vocals and the low contour on bass in the music at the same time, you can't do it cause for vocal compression you really want the comp inserted on the mixer input, whereas the music can only be effected if you insert it on the player inputs to the mixer or on the main output of the mixer.....The unit has a lot of nice features, is best used when recording live band instruments or vocals to get use of all features.

If you are seeking vocal compression(which you should), and BBE enhancement of your music, then you need a reqular BBE sonic max, and a separate compressor. One would go on the mic inputs, and the other on the mixer outputs.

Hi, I was hoping to have the sound quality better. Eventually I will get specific vocal processing equipment. I wanted it for the limiter and sonic maximizer functions or am I lost? Hopefully I will learn more now and make it work well in my system. Thank you

That's what I figured you wanted...Can you take/send it back for refund?

Why? I am confused.

Well, it seems one of us is confused.


Ok, it really is best suited for vocals processing....you say you will eventually want vocals processing....You have that now.

But you also say you want the BBE process on your overall sound first....The MaxCom is not the full BBE effect like you would get with a BBE Sonic Maximizer, it only FX's the bass end....A full BBE does wonders for both the top and bass end.

You can keep it just for the compressors cause 200 bucks for two decent compressor is cheap providing they are decent compressors.....Really, as just compressors, they have all the features you need plus some you don't.

So providing you want to do the vocal effects before you buy for the BBE effects, then keep it and just buy a regular BBE next. But if you wanted BBE effects first, then swap it for a regular BBE and buy compressors next....It will not do both at the same time for karaoke.

You can place it on your mixer main outs and try it, but you will be compressing the whole mix and then only FX'in the bass.....It really is a bad choice if you expected to use both features properly and fully.

Ok, now i am comprehending, I hope. So I get 2 1/4 inch patch cables and use it in the inserts on the mixer? What is a good beginning setting? Thanks

No sir,

For each mic you want to compress you will need an 'insert' cable. It looks like a 'Y' cable, but it ain't....The single/joint end had a 1/4"TRS plug, the other two ends each have a TS plugs, but each TS plug is wired opposite the other on the internal conductors....Best to buy one, but you can make one if you pay close attention to how it's wired.

http://www.music123.com/Monster-Cable-S ... Uu2Wwvte1w

The TRS plug get's plugged into the insert jack on the mixer mic strip......The other two plugs jack into the compressor. One goes in the input, the other goes in the output....So then signal flows from the mic into the mixer then out thru the compressor and back into the mixer via the single TRS jack....

You will need two insert cables if you use both channels-one for each mic.

Ok, to use the compressor once it is hooked up, first turn off the gate/threshold knob...Then start with these settings:

Adjust the threshold to -10 for vocals, then the ratio to about 2-3, then set the attack and release knobs to about mid point.....Set the output gain by the meter leds like you would any gain adjustment.....Turn the Low Contour ot zero.

Those are good places to start....

Go to the wiki for a good explainion of all the controls:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_level_compression

Thank you!!!!! I am learning. So i do not want to sidechain into the mixer. I want to use the special cable for each channel (2 cables) in and out like you are stating?

Sidechaining is often called 'ducking'.......You can use most compressors for ducking if connected sidechain.....Ducking is when you, er.... let's say you wanna leave the music playing but want it to automaticly cut out while you speak in the mic....and then pop back up as soon as you stop speaking...That's ducking.

The gate is used to keep the mic from picking up any noise below a floor that you can set by using the gate/threshold knob. You never use a gate on a vocal mic, just intruments like drums, gongs and cymbals....Mics on drum kits usually use gates on each mic so they only pick up each drum or cymbal and not the rest of the noise on stage.....By gating mics, you maintain necessary headroom in your whole mix, cause open mics can really suck up headroom and make your mix dull and droany sounding, plus they offer a path for subsonic feedback and regular feedback.

You will use neither gating or ducking in karaoke....DJ's sometimes use ducking to make announcements over the PA without interrupting the flow of the music....Those beatmatchers never want a pause in the beat the whole night.

The owner's manual will show yuo how to use ducking and gating.