how many of you use compressers ?

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by CerealKiller

Ok this is where I get confused "limiter" "compresser" a limiter sounds like one that would keep the screamers from overdriving my amp, right now I keep my fingers on the sliders. A compresser sounds like it would squeeze the vocals into certian frequencys, my mixer has a shape knob to control the freqs. I've been to many shows where compressers were used and it never sounded like my voice was comming thru in its true nature, do you think they just didn't know how to run things or was the compressor pulling back parts of my voice?

A limiter will stop the signal from getting over a certain level. Great for speaker protection.
A compressor will help level out those signals that go from soft to loud to soft to loud - where you can actually turn the fader up a little more to bring out the soft, but when they get loud, it will react like turning the fader down - without needing to ride the fader all the time. You can be out walking around & the compressor will do it's thing.
What's a 'shape' knob?
I don't think those shows that you heard your voice had anything to do with the compressor, more sounds like they had the effects set wrong. But if it was due to the compressor they obviously had the unit set much to hard for vocals.

[CerealKiller]

the shape knob boost and cuts frequencies. Seems redundant at first cause of the high mid low knobs but it does make a diffrence, Mackie CFX12 MKII. Kinda wish I had the VLZ, cause though Preamps sound bad if turned up more than halfway

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by CerealKiller

the shape knob boost and cuts frequencies. Seems redundant at first cause of the high mid low knobs but it does make a diffrence, Mackie CFX12 MKII. Kinda wish I had the VLZ, cause though Preamps sound bad if turned up more than halfway

Where is the 'shape' knob on the CFX12? I've had one for years, never saw that?

[CerealKiller]

Is it the MKII version? Its in the manual, vocal channels have High Mid Shape and Low. Also I don't like the small submix buttons or at least they don't like smoky bars. the two channels I use for music just have Hi Hi-Mid Low-Mid and Low

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by CerealKiller

Is it the MKII version? Its in the manual, vocal channels have High Mid Shape and Low. Also I don't like the small submix buttons or at least they don't like smoky bars. the two channels I use for music just have Hi Hi-Mid Low-Mid and Low

Oh the swept mid - adjustable to certain frequencies between 100hz-8khz. I never saw it referenced as a shape knob in the manual which is why I was wondering. I see it references 'shape' via the 9 band graphic stating it is used to shape the frequencies of the main mix.
No it's the original that I have but the only difference between the two were cosmetic changes.