Fish fillets

[Taz]

Ok this question goes to anyone who has used Cubase sx3 (although I presume other versions are similar.)
I am a complete novice when it comes to recording sound. I have bought a second hand copy of Cubase SX3 and I think I've set it up correctly. I have a Sure 607 mic going through a Behringer MX602 desk. (This is all real budget stuff you know 😉 ) This then goes into my sound card via the line in.
So there I was, Mike Oldfild in the making :laugh: Cubase recording, mike switched on, play a rendition of something pretty bad and watch the squiggly lines appear! Yahoo, I've done it! . Press play...AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH what was that awful noise! I didn't remember stepping on the cat whilst playing my sax so well! Ahem! :S
So I have now discovered a thing called compression! cor blimey misses! Now I sound quite good (better than before anyway :laugh: )
So after all this mind numbing waffle, I have a question. Does the compression go between the mic and recording or between the recording and the finished audio? Does that make any sense?

A) Mic-compression-recording-playback

or

B) Mic-recording-compression-playback

If it goes between the mic and the recording as in fig. A) then how do I set it up. I can only set it up as fig B)
I hope someone can help I've had a great Idea for an album... A bell tolling in the distance......what do you mean it's been done before!!! :laugh:

 

[Pete Thomas]

Some info here

You can compress between the mic and recording. To do this you need an analog compressor (ie a metal box with winky lights) after the mic preamp and before the analog to digital converter.

It is used to be useful to do this before 24 bit digital recording was available, as it meant you could get a better signal to noise ratio before conversion. Not necessary with 24bit due to much better dynamic range digitally.

Compressing the signal before recording is irreversible.

Much better IMO to add compression as you are mixing, ie the track is kept without processing, and the plugin on the track just affects what you hear in the final mix -you can change it at any time.

 

[Taz]

Thanks Pete. I looked at your site....der should have looked before posting. I suppose logic pro and cubase have their similarities. Just your tips on recording will be of great use to me. I'll have to have a more detailed look at your site.
Cheers