Recommend a microphone compressor

[jrc4558]

Hi everybody!
I am trying to build a compressor which could be used for recording of the vocals live. We usually record off the floor with my band at every rehearsal, just to listen to the stuff later on and to do the homework. The vocals however usually sound very dry. The microphones are usual SM58/AKGs, and the mixing board is a cheesy behringer, so I can't quite achieve a well-defined sound there... So I thought I would build something that will allow me to compress the vocals a bit, just so that they sound clearer and sharper. My question is this. Does there exist a project like that?
Thanks all!

[Mark Hammer]

What.

What?

Yes, what.

No, I'm asking YOU.  What compressor?

Right, what.

Are you listening?  I'm asking you what compressor and you're obviously hearing me so why are you saying "what"?

Because that's what it's called.   http://dt.prohosting.com/hacks/what.html

Okay.  Now who's on first?

[jrc4558]

Mark.
Is there a PCB for that What?
What's a PCB anyway?

[hairyandy]

Try this page:

http://www.gyraf.dk/gy_pd/gyraf_diy.html

If you scroll down you'll find a link to Jakob's SSL bus compressor project----it's the same thing as the Alan Smart comp basically.  While it's maybe a little overkill for doing vocals through a Behringer board, it is one of the best sounding comps out there and it would sound great to run your whole mix through once you're finished recording.  You can find a lot of help and some sources of PCBs at this forum:

http://www.groupdiy.com

There is a help thread that I initiated a couple years back that is still going strong and should give you all the info you'll need.

Here's a link to a thread for ordering PCBs for the various Gyraf projects including the SSL bus comp.  The guy's name is Gustav and he rocks.  The PCBs are excellent (I ordered some) and his shipping is quick.  And you can pay with Paypal!

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10776

Good luck,

[Mark Hammer]

 

I was just about to post the same link when the red message popped up that someone else hasd posted

Good detective work!

[hairyandy]

Thanks Mark!  I've been intrigued by this project for a couple years now but I haven't gotten around to sourcing all the parts yet.  I do have some old DBX 202 VCAs which is really the hardest thing to find.     Gustav's PCBs are excellent and are really cheap for their complexity (2 really well done boards for 13 euros).

If I could just quit making these damn distorto guitar boxes maybe I could actually find time to start populating those PCBs!  I'm gonna blame it all on you guys...

[Aharon]

The WHAT compresor sounds great and it's a relatively easy project,I etched my own board.
The SSL is another story,a much more complex undertaking,a couple of the chips are rare,there's a meter to buy and there's some issues with other stuff.
I etched the PCB and have all the parts ready for when I stop fidling with tube amps long enough.

The WHAT is optimized for vocals I believe.Aharon

[jrc4558]

Aharon, do you still have a picture of that board you've etched for What? I am a very slow and dumb PCB layout maker...
I mean, I can't make one even for a tubescreamer...

[Aharon]

No,I don't have that picture anymore but maybe I can help.....what do you need?.
Aharon

[jrc4558]

Well, not to be overly modest, I need a pcb layout for What compressor. 

[Aharon]

Well, not to be overly modest, I need a pcb layout for What compressor. 

Here it is:

http://1176neve.tripod.com/id5.html

Enjoy
Aharon

[Dave_B]

Here's an interesting one that is essentially a tricked-out What compressor.  It's called the Weak Joe, and the author supplies the artwork.
http://www.geocities.com/m_natsume/what_compressor.html

[Aharon]

 the WHAT is optimized for vocals which could be a plus.

Aharon

[R.G.]

Do the which... er... I mean What.

[Dave_B]

According to D.T., the What has a maximum compression of 1.5:1.  Would you all consider that enough?  I guess it depends on the sound you want and who's being recorded, but most of the sounds I gravitate toward are squished more than that.  The Beatles Revolver-period recordings for example. 

[Joe Kramer]

Hey Constantin,

I'd recommend the the Craig Anderton compressor from EPFM.  It' s got only a small handful of parts, two foolproof controls, and best of all it's got the "optical" sound.  I've been using a nearly stock version of the circuit, built with better-than-average parts, to record with for years.  Sounds pretty good.

Joe

[StephenGiles]

According to D.T., the What has a maximum compression of 1.5:1.  Would you all consider that enough?  I guess it depends on the sound you want and who's being recorded, but most of the sounds I gravitate toward are squished more than that.  The Beatles Revolver-period recordings for example. 

One resistor change will fix the maximum compression - make R5 47k.
Stephen

[Prive]

Much more than simple but very very VERY!!! usable for vocals, lots of body and pressure.

LA-Light

Just using the search function......

Saludos, Marcelo.