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I've flirted with danger the last time this weekend , when an intoxicated party goer decided to "scream" into the microphone instead of sing and sent my "unprotected" system to a screaming silence.    So I'm going to be ordering something
I know this topic was brought  up before but I couldn't find it so...I ask again
What do I need to protect against this type of screamer?   I've seen $99 compressors from Alesis ( I know this comes reccomended)  I've seen $200 units from DBX and a few compressors/limiters /enhancers  etc from Behringer and also BBE which inlcudes a sonic maximizer (which I already have).  

I need a SIMPLE ....SET IT AND GO type unit with an automatic function as I don't want to have to read 500 page manual to get it to sound perfect....

Appreciate any suggestions....

Sonic (made by Shure) has a decent inexpensive 2 channel for less than $100.00 at most places. I have one in my attic. I tried it, and liked it, But I really just didnt want it in the system. Behringer has one that is a small 1 channel called the SHark for 50-60 bucks. It is hard to operate, but it also works well. and has feedback filters on it.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

I pulled all of my Alesis 3630's - won't use them again.  I actually got 2 older Symetrix 501 compressor with a peak stop limiter off of Ebay along with 2 dbx 166 with brick wall limiters & I tell you what, the difference in the sound is like night & day.  I can actually get the singer up louder before feedback & they sound cleaner as well.  So I can say (well i've always said) don't skimp.  Take a look at the dbx 166XL, the newer version of the one I have & sounds great as well.  The limiter will flat put a roof on the singers volume so if they start screaming over a particular point, you won't know it in your speakers.

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I do use a nanocompressor to run the background music thru and duck with the announce mic.. But I got 2 3630's sittin here doin nothing...

After trying to get the 3630 adjusted for different singers and such, Lonman talked me into the Dbx. The 266xl is the one I use now even when only halfway adjusted right the results are nothin short of fanatastic.. I hardly ever tweak one except for level out. (It sure helps the preamps in the dfx12 which can run at moderate gain now) Used to sing with the announce mic but dont like to do that anymore. I have had the singers right in front of the speaker with their back to it and I was cringing and reaching for the gain... No feedback... Would hate to be without one now and sure dont like singing without one.

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Now these units just go on the VOCALS?   (2 channels )

What about the less expensive 266xl?   This is more in my range about $100 less than the 166xl? - If the 166xl is worth it I'll go for the extra$$$

What happened to the Alesis units I remember them being one of the better reccomendations?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

You can get these for $200

Yes these would go just on vocals.  You can use them on the overall system as well, but if you do this, a screamer will make the compressor work but it will also be compressing the music as well keeping the screamer seemingly higher than the music, which is what you DON'T want.  I would only compress the final mix if everything else that you wanted compresses - is.

The 266XL is a very nice compressor minus the separate limiter which the 166 has, which is worth every extra penny IMO.
The Alesis is good if you want something cheap - still better than the Behringers which I rate at the low end of the quality scale, but after using a quality component in my system (i've used them in live situations but not on karaoke) replacing the Alesis units i've had for years, I would never recommend a cheap compressor again.  The Symetrix units i got, ran for about $300 each when new (you can find them on ebay for about $100 each when they are there), & these are single channel units much like the dbx 160 series (which are probably one of THE best compressors still).

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What about the DBX 1046?

It's $500 and covers 4 channels in a single U of rack space.  That's only $125 per channel.

BTW, this is the unit I'm planning on picking up in the near future.  Just have to make a trip up to Fairbanks....

The 1046 is an excellent compressor.  I have used it for live vocals & it is perfect.  Same quality as the 160 series.  If you use more than 2 mics & space is limited, I would definately consider it as an option.

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Thanks for the link and the info -seems like a shopping spree  this weekend

I'll Sell you a slightly used DBX 362 compressor for $125 + shipping I have 2 been in my rack for a while now I never use them.

dbx doesn't make (never had) a 362 compresor.  BBE makes a 362 Sonic Maximizer, could you be thinking that by mistake?  If so that is not a compressor, the 362 is a frequency aligner.

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I own a DBX 266XL and I can say it's one great product, but keep in mind that what ever brand you'll be buying, if it's not well calibrate than the brand don't matter!

One negative note about this DBX or the Lexicon MPX110 which I also own, the transformer is very noisy, when I get in my room and everything is turned off, you can hear a hum and it's coming from these two Harman Co products!  Obviously, these major brands had to cut down in price because of Behringer so this probably explains why, made in China!!