Reverb, compression and active splitter recommendations

[benw]

Im in charge of buying new kit for the school, and also in charge of either running/ organising people to run all live sound. So, what are recommendations for cheap, reliable, tough and relatively easy to use (im not an idiot + i know how to use a compressor/reverb) compressor and reverb? Compressors i have looked at Alesis 3630, and have heard about Behringer alternatives, but would rather not go down that path. Haven't found any cheapish reverbs that seem suitable for live use yet...Anyone?

As for active splitters, i was looking for something relatively cheap that offers at least 4 inputs, and splits each into two outputs. I've googled it, looked at manufactures websites and google product searched it, and no luck. Any suggestions?

Cheers,
Ben

[clicktrack]

For the compression part of the question, I'll ask one question in response...

What are compressors to do? Are they protection comps for the main outs? Are they general purpose for musical presentations?

Depending on what application you want these to do will help the recommendation. For example, in a set-and-forget installation, you could go from something very basic like Rane & RDL. For something more musical, you can go well across the spectrum to your mid-level DBX's etc. There are so many manufacturers and different price points that some idea of your real usage will help.

As for splitters, Whirlwind & Radial are the kings of the pile. Although pricey, they are the best bang for your buck in terms of quality & reliability. If budget is more of a concern, then check out the Pro-Co line. BRTB (www.brtbcanada.com) is another alternative.

[benw]

with regards to the compressor, i was more thinking of general purpose for musical presentations, thought it would be quite useful for use on the usual vocalists we get in: a dynamic range larger i would have thought humanly possible, and not in a good way.

I've seen the DBX 266 around, any thoughts on that? With regards to your Rane/RDL suggestions, any specific models?

BRBTB is going to be a problem as I live in England. I'll have a look at the other suggestions.

Cheers,
Ben

[Tim Halligan]

I live in England.

Right...I don't see how that's hugely relevant, unless your school is on a "Buy British" jihad...

So:

Compressors...England...BSS (Brooke Siren Systems).

Splitters...England...BSS (Brooke Siren systems).


Cheers,
Tim

[clicktrack]

Yeah, I agree wholeheartedly with Tim...BSS is a solid choice on both accounts.

[pounce]

i like bss gear. the bonus is that it might be cheaper for you there than it is for me here.

[clicktrack]

Now that you've been thrown a bunch of gear selections, I'm going to step back a step and ask you another question:

You specified in your title "Active Splitter Recommendations". Thinking about it after-the-fact, I was wondering....what made you specify active splitters versus passive splitters?

Just curious...

[Tim Halligan]

Now that you've been thrown a bunch of gear selections, I'm going to step back a step and ask you another question:

You specified in your title "Active Splitter Recommendations". Thinking about it after-the-fact, I was wondering....what made you specify active splitters versus passive splitters?

Just curious...

I was wondering why you only want 4 channels...

Enquiring minds...


Cheers,
Tim

[pounce]

yeah, we are getting more helpful than a gear list. which is good.

sure, a dbx or bss comp is a good way to go. don't look at the alesis again. there is no point in picking up shitty gear that doesn't work well and sounds terrible. if you only have the two channels, then strap it on the two buss and come up with a setting that keeps things under control and then back away from it.

there are a few decent cheapish reverbs. the yamaha rev500 was good. the cheap tc electronics one was also good. stuff like that would be a good start.

click already told you the "big" names in splitters. normally isolated splitters is the way to go when feeding remote trucks or monitor desks. so what are you doing with this splitting anyway? 4 does seem like an odd number. is this something you should be doing with auxs or matrixs instead?

[benw]

with regards to the splits, its for mobile recording. although in my case that is a bit of a misnoma. as i do the front of house sound, monitor sound, and record all from one position. But yes, the splits are intended for one output to be sent to one desk which i use for monitor and front of house mixes and for the other to go into an audio interface and then a laptop. I'm pretty sure that splitters and not auxs or matrixs are what i want.


And as for the 4 number, i have been told by the school that i can buy 4, and then if they work well and the recordings improve significantly from the recordings i have been doing (straight from the two buss) then i will be given budget to buy more...

Finally, with the active split, as i cannot be sure of distances and these may be very long, i thought it would be better, but my budget is beginning to make transformer splits more appealing... What d'ya reckon?

I think the DBX comp is looking like the best candidate for now, and ill investigate the 'verb suggestions. Thanks a lot for all your help, gear suggestions and questions!

[clicktrack]

What are you considering a long distance?

Passive transformer-isolated splits can handle *some* distances without *significant* degradation.

Take a look at The Splitter (http://womb.mixerman.net/showpost.php?p=42204&postcount=3) chapter in my long-unfinished "Caught In the Middle" posts...it discusses splits from a top-level view. I'm just getting the opinion that for the cost of the active system, you may be able to get better bang-for-your-buck with a passive-tranny system.

[pounce]

i'm curious about the mixer you are using (in the context of figuring this all out). for instance, is it a four buss mixer and therefore you are splitting out each of the busses or something? at least that might make sense to me.

one of the things i'm thinking about here is how to work with you to ensure you get all the recording you need. it -MAY- well be the case that four outs doesn't sound different enough from a straight board tape, but 8 outs each from a separate subgroup might be delightful. and easy to deal with. lots of 8 channel recorders and 8 input computer interfaces, also meaning you wouldn't have to record long distances from the board. you could record to a firewire hard drive for instance and then be able to transfer that recording drive to whatever studio you'd like to mix in. i've done that. take 8 or more outputs, record to a firewire drive, then mix it up in the studio space with proper monitors. worked great.

when i've fed folks simple stereo mixes i've used the matrix outs on my board, so that's why i mentioned them.

[Mr. dB]

I've never seen the words "active splitter" and "relatively cheap" in the same sentence before.

[lebouche]

"Buy British" jihad...




:lol: :lol: :lol:

[bunnerabb]

Those old Lexicon MPX series verbs sound great, have split outputs for each reverb chip, tons of effects and you can save your patches.

Really cheap, too.

E-bay.