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Re: Question for signal processing gurus

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:14 pm
by himhimself
Thanks Corona Operator. Really appreciate the real world trial. I'll definitely check out the xair.

Re: Question for signal processing gurus

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 4:18 pm
by Grant Bunter
Ok, you have an analogue mixer (or two), cool.

Set up a compressor to duck the music channels (if you're not sure how, google it, there's lots of info on the net about ducking) but add EQ as well to the input side of the compressor, tailored to vocals frequencies only.

You should be able to get that to work.

The great thing about being still analogue in a digital world is analogue is now cheap as chips. for what used to cost a fortune...

Re: Question for signal processing gurus

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 5:28 pm
by ACUA
My x18 air digital mixer has an auto mix function where you can set priority from channel to channel where you want it like it auto keeps vocals on top of other channels somehow, but I have not messed with it yet.

my wife is trying to teach Zumba strong classes amd we are going to try to employ this function so she can have the music cranked up but have it attenuate when she speaks into the mike not sure it actually will work yet or not have not messed with it yet. As for a way in a drive rack can’t say you can and I don’t know how with an anolog mixer a complex plugin may have the answers but that way out of my realm

Re: Question for signal processing gurus

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 5:30 pm
by CoronaOperator
himhimself wrote: Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:14 pm Thanks Corona Operator. Really appreciate the real world trial. I'll definitely check out the xair.
I'd say more proof of concept than real world trial. I think I might break out REW and do some sine sweeps to really line up the 2 channels and make sure nothing funny is going on, then try it out at a show to see how it sounds in a room full of people with the subs going. I do DJ shows where the promoter usually randomly grabs the mic to thank the openers, crowd and welcome the headlining act so I'm just as interested in this as you are. I have a DJ show Feb 22nd so hopefully I can try it out then, my mixer doesn't sidechain so I'll have to just do it manually which kind of defeats the purpose but will be interesting for those with the capability.

Re: Question for signal processing gurus

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:24 pm
by BrentEvans
Grant Bunter wrote: Mon Feb 11, 2019 4:18 pm Ok, you have an analogue mixer (or two), cool.

Set up a compressor to duck the music channels (if you're not sure how, google it, there's lots of info on the net about ducking) but add EQ as well to the input side of the compressor, tailored to vocals frequencies only.

You should be able to get that to work.

The great thing about being still analogue in a digital world is analogue is now cheap as chips. for what used to cost a fortune...
That will still duck the whole signal. The only way to accomplish this with a standard compressor is to double the music channels and separate the ducked band with EQ. The problem will be that EQ introduces phase shift so it will be tricky to make it sound right. The better solution is to employ a side chain triggered multi band compressor. Unfortunately, these are quite expensive in the analog world.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... rxEALw_wcB

There's probably a way to make it happen with an inexpensive digital console. Routing would be the problem. If everything is mono, it’s pretty simple to do with a stereo effect. If you’re bringing tracks in stereo, could be a little tricky. If you’re willing to purchase something to make it work, I’ll be happy to try my idea on the XAir platform for you and send you a setup file. If that works, the $300 xR12 would probably be the least expensive way to make it happen. You’d essentially be using it as an effects box from your analog console, or at least you could. It’s quite a capable box.


Fair disclosure, I am a Behringer dealer, but that has nothing to do with the idea. You could do the same on any digital console with a Multiband compressor plugin. The XR12 just happens to be the least expensive option, and one that I can test by way of the X18 that Iown. I can also do the test on an Allen and heath GLD.

Re: Question for signal processing gurus

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:34 pm
by CoronaOperator
BrentEvans wrote: Tue Feb 12, 2019 12:24 pm The problem will be that EQ introduces phase shift so it will be tricky to make it sound right.
My first idea was to use 3 channels and use the high/low pass capability in the eq section to separate the bands into high/mid/low.

My thoughts were that if the high/low pass eq filters were linkwitz riley (and that is a big IF as I couldn't find any info on them) then they would sum nicely.