VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

robert jadah · Guest

OK, so being:
A) a guy, and
B) on a nice roll lately

I couldn't resist an e-bay deal on a DBX286A pre-amp. I mean, it has lots of flashing lights and knobs to twirl (see A, above), and I deserve some toys, too. (See B, above.)

Anyway, since it's already installed, it would be silly to ask the collected wisdom here if I need it. So I'd rather get some opinions on what the optimal settings are for a deepish rumbler such as I. So far, I love the way the Mic-DBX-MBox-Computer chain delivers a clean track, but prefer the old Mic-MBox-Computer-AudioSuite tonality.

(The flashing lights and thirteen more buttons are really neat, though.)

dscott · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject: dbx286a

Hi There!
I got my 286a back in 2000 because I needed a preamp w/phantom and didn't want to shell out for a mixer at the time.

It has been a work horse and I use it often to go directly to my mac PowerBook G4's line in.

Mostly I bypass the compressor, Low or High frequency enhancement, de-esser and gate.

I usually try to track flat and do eq and effects in software.

When using the compressor watch out for added noise as you increase the drive adjustment.

Cheers!

Dave

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Hi Robert,
The 286A is a lot of fun, I used to own one...gee, if you love lights and knobs you should have bought my JoeMeek One Q I just sold on ebay (which is actually a really nice unit with a sweet transformer). Which mics are you using or plan to use?

Here's how I'd set it for you:
Gain: +38 to +45
Phantom Power: well, yeah, if you're using a condenser!
High Pass: depends on the client and your noise floor, but I usually use this if it's for 80kHz or lower.
Process Bypass: Heck no! Otherwise this box is useless j/k Smile

Compressor: don't use it for clients, but for your own demos, keep the density and drive at the same number and pretty conservative, so that the gain reduction doesn't go beyond -3 to -6db.
De-Esser, around 8kHz for you, and keep it conservative
Enhancer? Keep it super conservative. If you notice it, dial it back!
Expander/Gate? I'm more anti-gate than the Watergate prosecutors. I'd rather hear screeching phasers on a vo than a gate. So, if you have to use this, again, dial it back once you notice it. Almost any gate is noticeable on a good speaker or headphone. I've never been fooled by one. Leave the weeding-out of excessive noise to the uber-studios. On your demos you'll be tossing in plenty of sfx and music to mask it. Clients really ought to get un-processed audio. I only give slightly processed audio to the few clients whom I know won't be doing anything significant in terms of processing.

My final bit of advice is to put a Moosehead sticker on it: the sound will instantly be golden Smile

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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

I use the 286A and like it. Very conservative settings.
Drive 3
Density 3
De-esser don't use
LF detail 3
HF detail 2.5
Expander don't use

Those settings give the mic a tad more body and sheen.
Barely perceptable.
Your mic may very.
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Jowillie · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:11 am Post subject:

Play with it and let us hear.
ftp://ftp.dbxpro.com/pub/PDFs/Manuals/English/dbx286AManualA2.pdf
Willie
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robert jadah · Guest

Thanks for the input on the DBX output, all.
And I'll gratefully take you up on that suggestion, JW.

Here it is: various ramblings with my Audio Technica 3035 through both the MBox and the DBX.

http://www.hemmingfordbaseball.com/VO_BB_GearSteer_jadah.mp3

Lend me thine ears, please.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Bill's "dbx143" settings get the thumbs up from here.
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Craig · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject: Mic

Which mic are you using Robert?

Sounds very nice btw.

Craig

Craig · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject: duh

sorry, just re-read it as your 3035....boy, yours sounds much nicer'n mine!

Here, here on the last settings as well...full, warm and a lot of presence.

How far away are you working the AT3035 Robert?

Craig

Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Robert:

I liked the first segment, very full and warm on dry voice. But, the last part where you used the settings I posted sound good and will cut through music and broadcast processing better.

I'm lucky in that my company produces TV and Radio spots that air in my market, among others, so I'm able to hear the audio and how it stacks up on air next to very expensive National spots. Full and warm doesn't usually work as well as clean and crisp by the time it hits the air.

Anybody in the Albany, New York market? Those Taft Furniture spots that run a thousand times a week on TV and radio are mine.
Don't blame me, I've got to eat!
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