I am using Zara in front of an audio processor. Should the AGC be disabled?
When I used software based processing and used Zara agc I noticed a kind of pumping sound, as the music was louder the agc would cut it back and I guess the processing tried to compensate for it. Other might have a better answer.
Yes turn Zara's agc off, its rubbish.
Johny is right, I know he is, but I can't remember why. I only know that when I started using Zara I decided not to use the AGC, but cannot remember why.
However, if it were me, and for all we know you might someday be me, I would like to turn the AGC on and use your processor just to see, that is to hear, what it does.
If permanent harm comes to your equipment it'll be on you.
If permanent harm comes to your equipment it'll be on you.
I have been warned.
We are all tweakers here, so we've gotta try it, right?
I turned on the Zara AGC when I set up my system several weeks ago, and when using it with my "real" processing, it was a disaster. The AGC worked against my audio chain and punched BIG holes into the audio.
Wich Zara you use John, 1.4 or 1.6?? The AGC from Zara 1.4 does a better job then in 1.6.
Rob Veld
I use the 1.6.2 version. The problem was there was always a loud bit to the start of the tracks before the agc kicked it. I use a Behringer Ultramizer pro as my outboard processing after my mixer. if you set your outboard processing right it will all so give agc on you mic, so when you are talking it will turn the music down when you talk. To do this have your mic a little louder than the music so the processing limits your voice it turns the music down at the same time. Remember to only use just the right amount of processing or your music will start pumping.
I also use Zara Radio and for hardware I have the Behringer VMX1000 5 channel mixing board, and I have several audio processing units, the Ultramizer Pro DSP1424P is one of them.
I am curious how your ultramizer pro is set up.
I am not looking to hi-jack another's topic with my question, so if it's felt for the best I create another topic that would be fine.
I own three audio processors, a autocom pro-XL MDX1600, a Ultra-dyne Pro DSP-9024 6 band processor and the Ultramizer pro dsp-1424P.
Right now the only processor between my on-line feed and transmitter input is the DSP-9024. The other two units are out of chain because I'm still having issues setting up the DSP-9024 and I found the DSP-1424P to be a bit confusing to set up. I did not feel any of the pre-sets sounded good and they appeared to alter each channel differently, meaning the left stereo channel was set differently than the right channel to a very large degree.
I do have the manuals for all three processors, but of course, they were not written for a new comer to understand them fully.
My station plays a mix of just about everything, but older 1960's rock n' roll or live rock n' roll is very hard for me to get sounding clear without a touch of distortion in the mid frequencies and a lack of highs is also very noticable, it gives the effect as if the vocalist was recorded while standing in a cave. Sometimes the vocalist sounds like they were at the back of the studio several hundred feet from the microphone in some of the songs.
I still have not determined of my mixer lost it's higher frequecies as I notice very little difference when the high frequecy 10 KHz EQ knob is rotated to +12 dB. But I can't be sure as all 5 channels have their own seperate EQ adjustments and I notice a lack of highs when I'm play vinyl records as well.
Sorry if my rambling has you confused, I am basically curious how you have your Untramizer Pro set up, what settings, what numbers do you have yours set to?
If you wish to correspond that info via email, you can email me at [email protected]
Bruce.
MrBruce are your 1960s rock recordings on disc from a turntable? If so, maybe one of the stereo channels is out of phase with the other channel, which would make the vocalist sound far away.
Check it out and let me know.
WDCX sorry if I am hi-jaking your topic.
Carl, I play my vinyl records off of two Lineartech BD-1600 Phase II turntables with disc master DM-AL cartridges and stylus, each wired to channel 1 and 2 of the VMX1000 mixer's RCA jacks and each is grounded to the mixer.
Sorry to sound dumb, but how can I tell if they are out of phase? What would cause that?
Bruce.
I'd think yes, Zara's AGC should be disabled, if your outboard processors process to the level you need.
I don't know Zara's processing, but from the description it sounds like it's a simple, wideband AGC, to have something to keep levels in check and use low resources.
In a full processor, the time constants, how it attacks and releases would be complimented by the following compressor-limiter stage time constants. The stage after Zara could be a fast attack compressor, with the release set to hold long enough to wait for Zara's attack, almost like a second ALC.
Something also to watch for is if Zara's AGC, before it attacks, is allowing clipping on the system audio, in the sound card.
Thanks all. I turned off the AGC and it sounds much better.
Out of respect for WDCX, I have created a topic of my own regarding my question aimed at Johny C.
This is the link to that topic.
Bruce.
Mr Bruce is a nice man.