compression

[soundnovice]

Being a drummer and not a soundman is there a basic compression setting (recommendation) that would be a good starting point for using a compressor on a live mix. I have the TC Electronics Triple C compressor, only one, and want to use it for the live mix of my band. Thanks for any advice!

[blacko3788]

Are you going to just use it one one instrument such as the drums or are you going to use it on the main mix?

[soundnovice]

I plan on using it on the main mix.

[blacko3788]

Compressors keep levels more constant by automatically detecting level changes above a set level and riding the gain.
Use compressors on individual instruments, NOT MIX . It will be less audible.
Attack time settings determine the "punchiness" of the instrument. Peaks get through before the compressor actually clamps down. Faster attack.( Which you'd want with bass drum and bass) will make for a smoother sound.

Limiters (I think this is what you want to do with your compressor). are faster than compressors and are there to LIMIT the amount of signal passing . These are usually there to protect equipment such as radio transmitters or speakers from overloading. Compression is hard to set right on a main mix live because if you hear it working you've compressed too much. On the other hand if you don't set it to compress enough you just wasted a bunch of money! But if you have a two channel compressor, compress one bus which has your kick, bass, and snare. and one with the vocals on the other channel. This doesn't always work for everyone but this is the way I'd do it