How to us a compressor with Presonus/firebox

[flamin-gitaur]

Hi all-

I am planning hooking up a hardware compressor (alesis 3630) in line with my vocal mic using a presonus firebox. I haven't tried this before and wanted to find out if it was the proper way to do it. This is what I plan on doing.....Plug my AT2020 condensor mic into input 1 of the firebox using phantom power....going line output 3 to input on compressor....ouput of compressor to line input 3 on rear of firebox....In Tracktion 2 settings tap, I select line 3 input. Should that work? And also do I need to use TRS cables connect between the firebox and the compressor to maintain the balanced connection? Thanx for any input.

[rpc9943]

yow i have no idea. i use a presonus firepod not the box... i cant imagine what youd do on that little thing
RonC

[flamin-gitaur]

Well since I have no need to record more than one or two instruments at the same time the box does fine. I think the only difference is that the pod has more in/outs...but basically the same thing.

[rpc9943]

right so why not just wire your input into the compressor and then the compressor directly into the preamp in?

RonC

[flamin-gitaur]

I though the preamp had to be before the compressor in order for it to be effective

[Madness]

I though the preamp had to be before the compressor in order for it to be effective

I also belive this to be the case in order to bring the signal up to line level.

I think routing in and out the sound card is a bit silly, You will probably introduce some latency, and if your trakin' vocals to a song you might get some out of time stuff happening!!

The real reason(for me) is that the audio will be converted three times, In, Out, then IN again. Why not just record the vocals straight into Traktion and use a VST compressor, That Alesis isn't very good comp and you will get better results with free VSTs.

If your looking and amping the signal up for recording purposes (ie, do it properly) Then I suggest you get a dedicated Vocal Mic Pre & Comp type box.

[flamin-gitaur]

Thanx for the tip. I was just trying to see if I could level out the input signal a little bit, but I suppose if I pay close attention to my mic set up and vocal technique I could get by without compressing the input.