mic processing

For the bucks,the 286A is superb.The Urei LA4 is a classic .i’ve used a bunch of different mic processors including the Aircorp 500 ph,Symetrix 528 and 628,.My favorite now is the Vorsis M1.Aphex 230 is ok,but has a weak power supply that really runs hot and has been a issue.Like audio processing,everyone has favs for mic processing as you can see.If you tune that 286A right,you will love it.I know a station running it with an AT2020 mic(99.00).Awesome sounding mic chain and cheap…

Ah yes, I forgot about the other newcomer, the Vorsis M1.

Also, I just discovered this brand new (not sure if it’s even out yet) offering from Sound4, the wonderful French company started by the guy that created the IDT DVP 🙂
http://www.sound4.biz/products/sound4%2 … minary.htm
It looks like it’s basically cream your pants awesome, if you have a Livewire setup. And it also looks like they have regular digital and analog versions planned too. This is one that I’m excited to eventually hear.

[quote author=”Guillou”]I’m very curious JesseG, but can you tell us your DBX286A settings ?
Thanks[/quote]
It’s not relevant because every speaker (person talking) and microphone makes enough of a difference that the settings won’t be the same for even remotely the same voice texture, especially the difference in between speakers. That’s not to say that the DBX 286A can’t make any speaker sound better with the same "one size fits all" settings… but the real power comes with tailoring each voice processor for each speaker.

I can tell you though, that I prefer a higher drive, and a lower density. That way you get more averaging of the volume, but the lower density setting makes the OverEasy circuit keep all of the shorter term dynamics much more open and natural sounding. I like more HF Detail enhance than LF, but not so much that you start to accentuate mouth sounds. And I like a fairly open downward expander, a ratio between 1.5 and 2 and a threshold that’s as tight as you can get away with considering the speaker’s ability (or inability) to work the mic properly. But it also depends on the room the speaker is in too. If it’s not sounding too noisy listening to the on air sound on headphones, you can back off the expander a bit to allow a more natural sound between the words. Just not so low that any noise "stuttering" happens during breath sounds, or problems like that. False gate releases. 😉

[quote author=”sergio”]i was asking which of the breakaway products was more suitable.[/quote]
Comparatively, and honestly?… None of the Breakaway products really are as suitable as what was mentioned so far besides the Urei LA4 which is just a limiter.

Perhaps it’s about time for that to change, once the new generation of Breakaway products start becoming public. But we’ll save more on that for later. 😉

Just the same, our wrong answers have made a great topic so far, so I stickied it. 😆

Hey JesseG,

Just curious.. should i trow away the Yellowtec VIP-1 (Analog) ??

I did not have the chance to check out the digital one..

Cheers !

Hi,

I agree that this is a great topic relating to hardware but I was also after a bit of info on the processing of a mic within Breakaway itself. E.g. Why does a Microphone preset exist? What is set specifically differently within that preset for it to be used for live mic use? Why does it use 4 bands rather than 6/7 as per many of the other presets?

I know these are fairly basic questions but my requirements for mic use do not warrant outlay on a hardware processor. I would love to try one though…Are there any Breakaway type products or VST plugins that even come close?

Thanks,

Torsten.

I’m using a Symetrix 528e (analog) for my Sure SM7b and for my 2 Rode Broadcasters a TC Goldchannel (digital) the last one is discontinued, but is a great channel-strip.

Superb!!