Question: Is it not better to build a mic (or other) pre-amp with integrated compression rather than having a compression added later?
I am thinking that the peak detector can lower the pre-amp's amplification, thereby avoiding unnecessary amplification which would result in increased noise and distortion.
On the other hand if you add the compression far down the line line, then for example you are amplifying the signal (say by 20) and then, say, you simply amplify it by -2 (at the compression), resulting in an overall 10, but you have already paid the price for this extra x2 that you did not really need to start with.
I am thinking that the peak detector can lower the pre-amp's amplification, thereby avoiding unnecessary amplification which would result in increased noise and distortion.
On the other hand if you add the compression far down the line line, then for example you are amplifying the signal (say by 20) and then, say, you simply amplify it by -2 (at the compression), resulting in an overall 10, but you have already paid the price for this extra x2 that you did not really need to start with.
Not a bad idea.
But of course some will like it, some will prefer the higher flexibility of "add whatever you like".
In fact, for ages most cheesy cassette recorders (and today still many video cameras or "office/reporter" type voice recorders) used a built-in (in fact, you couldn't even turn it off)
compressor often called "ALC" : Automatic Level Control.
But of course some will like it, some will prefer the higher flexibility of "add whatever you like".
In fact, for ages most cheesy cassette recorders (and today still many video cameras or "office/reporter" type voice recorders) used a built-in (in fact, you couldn't even turn it off)
compressor often called "ALC" : Automatic Level Control.- Status
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