+Katina Kyle The best way to connect them is as follows: Connect Shure SM7B to DBX286s (via XLR Input On Back) using XLR Male to XLR Femle Balanced Mic Cable (amzn.to/1mEgNIm) Connect DBX286s (Via TRS Output On Back) to Focusrite 2i4 (via TRS Input on Front) using 1/4" TRS To 1/4" TRS patch cable (amzn.to/2ve8njH) NOTE: In my video I connect the DBX286s to the Focusrite 2i4 using a 1/4-Inch TRS Male to XLR Male Cable (amzn.to/1qC17rd). It sounds fine (as you can hear in the video) but as has been pointed out, connecting the devices this way has me going through two preamps. By connecting the dbx286s to the focusrite via 1/4 TRS I am able to bypass the Focusrites Preamp.
I'm trying to do that exact setup right now, going, with XLR going into the DBX286 and a 1/4 cable going from the DBX into the Focusrite.. but somehow the signal isn't getting through. The Focusrite has power and is connected to the computer, and I can see the mic signal is being registered by the DBX.. but nothing is happening
I followed your video as well as the steps you mention here on connecting the hardware to each other. I can only get it to pick up the mic when the gain is set almost all the way up. When it does, you can only hear the left ear and it doesn't sound great.
As a "non-professional" self taught audio engineer who's been studying audio and music engineering for almost 3/half years, I can say I highly recommend this method for at home studio recording. It's great for music making and even streaming. The DBX 286s is great because it does what modern VST's would do.. Except it has 0 latency and the quality is better. Hardware always tops digital software in my opinion. This is good if you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on rack gear. This type of gear also has models with multiple microphone preamps!
"Hardware always tops digital software" Do you have experience with UAD plugins? If yes, how do they stack up to the original hardware? Are they worth the money? Thank you!
I like the effectiveness of the gate, but I can still very slightly hear the room noise while you're speaking (when the gate opens). If post processing and a DAW is available, a more effective solution is to leave the noise in and use a software solution (such as Waves Z-Noise or Izotope De-noise VST plugins). Leaving noise in would help the algorithms identify it and remove it from the rest of the signal. Of course, going that route would require you to also bypass the other cool features it comes with. Overall it seems like a great unit, a good all-in-one solution for many use cases. I'm surprised how little noise that pre-amp adds when cranked all the way up.
Thank you very much for this great and informative video! Been awhile since I have played with mics and audio equipment and I have been wanting a new setup for streaming. After researching, I decided to purchase your exact build and the rest of my order came in today. I only had just a few minutes to put it together for a test run and I can say I am very impressed! I did manage to confuse myself when recording as playback was only coming from my left headphone. I finally realized that the Focusrite xlr input is the right and left channel, hurray for mono recording! I look forward to tweaking settings and recording in the future. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!
Dude, love your videos. Im always looking to up my game on UA-cam and have been eye balling this type of setup, and ya sold me on it finally. Just ordered everything through your affiliate links~
I started watching your reviews starting with the Shure microphone review. So far I'm enjoying your reviews and the items you've reviewed and have subscribed. Thanks Mark!
This is great video and explains everything I need to know. Already have a Focusrite, gonna pick up a Shure SM7B plus the DBX. I am aiming for professional voiceovers and livestreaming, so this setup should greatly help my stream sound quality and cut down on audio post. Thanks very much!
I prefer to still use the cloud lifter with the DBX into my Focusrite Clarett 8pre because I noticed cranking the gain on the DBX without the cloudlifter still provided way too much noise than lowering the gain and using the cloudlifter. The DBX is great and overall pretty quiet, but this was just my preference.
Amazing review ... I've been trying left and right to get noise out of my recordings for years to no avail. Doing it in post production is hectic and often times ruins the performance after all is said and done. There are many other pre amps that do this for 4 or 5 times the cost. You sold me on this !!Being able to correct noise pre recording makes recording fun again , and I know I'm only recording the parts of the performance I actually want. Takes hours of mixing out of the equation to where I can just work with clear pristine audio. If you're a home studio based musician having trouble with noise this is a must have.
Perhaps I'm incorrect, but it seems to me that the background noise is completely unfiltered WHILE you are speaking except frequencies below 80Hz (due to the 80Hz high-pass filter), although it's less noticeable because your voice overpowers it. If one is recording, for example, a mic'd acoustic guitar, the DBX286s would do absolutely nothing to reduce the background noise. With that said, I do agree that it makes a very welcome difference to voice-over recordings. To truly reduce background noise while speaking, the only solutions are: (1) Remove the background noise itself, (2) Move closer to the mic (i.e., bring down the overall pre-amp gain), (3) Move the background noise further from mic, (4) Record the background noise separately and subtract it from the mix.
+Nicholas H You are correct. Note: I don't have the 80 Hz high pass filter enabled on my dbx286s, though there is nothing stopping me from enabling it.
You are right! That is due to the Noise Gate. The noise gate will instantly kill the signal, once under the threshold level. To destroy the background noise overall, you would have to do what is known as denoising.
You have very nicely explained the most confusing part of this channel strip, which is the compressor part with its unusual labeling (Drive and Density instead of Threshold and Release, and simple numbers instead of db or time value). Every other review of this piece I watched had lots of technical jargon, and the manual doesn't help here either. So, big thanks!
Perfect explanation man, you confirmed that the dbx is exactly what i'm looking for. I have just one question for you: with a preamp like this, do you think is still needed a good quality audio interface?
Great demo, thanks. One question: Is there a reason you are using XLR cable (I think) and the "Inst" setting for your input to the Focusrite interface? Elsewhere I am reading that the DBX 286s outputs Line level audio, and also that you should use 1/4-inch TRS plugs at both ends to go from the DBX to the Focusrite. I have ordered a DBX 286s, largely because of your video, so I'm trying to choose the best cables and connections. What have you found about this, in your set-up? Does it not matter here because you have turned the Focusrite's gain to 0, and are not using its pre-amp?
Hi Sir, Can you please tell me or make a video that how to setup multi mic recording system with audio interface, preamp and compressor. I need to record 3 mic and 3 instruments simultaneously. How to set up the "in and outs" with focusrite interface and which focusrite interface will be sufficient for the purpose. Currently i have focusrite 2i4 (i will definitely upgrade as per the recommendations).
I've just started learning about recording gear, and this was a terrific, informative review. Thanks for creating and sharing it! I think I'll buy the DBX286S through your affiliate link.
Very informative video! The comparison between the audio quality without, and with the use of the preamp was very surprising. I thought the build in preamps that are built into most audio interfaces would suffice, but this video proved me wrong. I can't wait to purchase DBX286.
+HiM Thanks. The audio processing that the dbx provides allowed me to achieve the sound quality I was looking for. Hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine!
Thank you for your video! Will the dbx286s work well with a CAD e100S mic? I'm not sure if you mostly recommend the sm7b for the dbx286s. Also, I mainly do voiceovers and the only thing I use is a focusrite 2i2 and it works well but sometimes I have to fix things in post like high peaks in my voice that I need to reduce, do you think the gates of the dbx286s will be too aggressive that will cut words/sounds?
+Carpower360Spanish Yes, the dbx286s should work fine. As far as processing is concerned, the beauty is, you can tweak things as much or as little as you like.
I was thinking about replacing my focusrite 2i2 for the Audient i14 in order to get an overall better and more robust sound. Do you think I should get the dbx286s instead?
+Carpower360Spanish I don't have experience with the Audient i14 so I really can't comment on how it compares to the dbx286s. All I can say is I like my setup and the sound it produces. My advice is to go with the setup that produces the quality of sound you are looking to achieve.
Great video..The excellent dbx286 was designed by Bob Orban.. Orban is the one of the world's top audio processor engineers.. He has designed the Orban processors used by most of the radio stations in the world.. Don't be fooled by the low price of the dbx286.. This processor is a serious piece of gear...
this is pretty much what i have been doing with software using a vst host and a chain of plugins but im getting sick of trying to fiddle with that all of the time especially since im trying to switch from windows to linux. this is the exact kind of thing i am looking for i think.
Hi, really rnjoyed ur video tnks very much. Pls i have a focusrite 2i2 buying this dbx will it remove the background noise? Please reply tnks GOD BLESS YOU.
Great video thank you. I thought the Shure SM7B requires 48V phantom power? Or is that only if you’re using a cloud lifter without enough dB power Also, is there any way to avoid having to fill in the right track in Premiere? I fear forgetting that step a few times lol
The Shure SM7B does not require Phantom Power. As you mentioned, the Cloudlifter does, thus your confusion. With regard to a work-around to avoid having to fill the right channel with the left in Premiere... I have not figured one out. It's not difficult to do, however; and I always proof my work before I publish so I personally never found a need to find another solution. You can do this at the mixer level if that helps. I show you how to do this at the 11 minute and 18 second mark of the following video: ua-cam.com/video/DPj7uh50MuU/v-deo.html
Amazing tutorial. Thanks so much. I have a ZOOM H6 as my audio interface and have been experience less than great quality sound with my PR40 and BCD-1. I’ve had the DBX 286s and have not tried this combo yet. My question- should I get another audio interface like yours or will the DBX make up for any shortcomings of the H6?
+Stevie Richards Thanks. I would see what you can get with your existing hardware first. If you can't get the audio quality you are looking for you can always add the focusrite audio interface.
I would still split the line level between both devices (DBX and 2i4) so neither are running hot keeping sure no ground floor is present in any of the preamps
So with compressors that have the de esser etc. And also a mic preamp in it I can use the compressor and eq stuff without using the preamp? Because I have a preamp already I just want the compression and eq from these kinda pieces.
I believe you've misunderstood the function of the de-esser frequency knob. The de-esser only targets and attenuates a narrow frequency band near where you set the frequency knob. Crank the threshold knob all the way and then sweep the frequency knob back and forth while making the "S" sound in your mic. You should find a frequency between 4k and 10k that will specifically target your personal "S" sound. That's where you set the frequency knob. Setting it at 2.5k does not seem right at all.
I was half-wrong. Unlike software de-essers, the de-esser on the DBX 286s does attenuate all frequencies above the set frequency, as you said in the video. But 2.5k is still way too low. My "ess" is attenuated strongly if the knob is set anywhere below about 7k. Setting it much lower than that starts to cut into the clarity of the voice.
Hi! Great video, thank you! My question is, I'm gonna get Shure sm 7b and DBX286S, and I have Focusrite 2i2, does this still work as good as your combination? Just like you, I don't want to process my voice afterwards, too, because I have tinnitus and some other ear problems, so if this will work, it will be life changing for me! Thank you for your reply :)
Thank you for this video. I found out the the dbx 266xs does the same for noise reduction as well. With the proper adjustment. Its great for noise reduction as well. Very help ful video..
Wow that DBX really cleans up the background noise! I currently use a Shure SM7B and a Focusrite 6i6 with a cloudlifter. I noticed a huge difference by adding just that but once you showed the DBX it makes me wish I got that over the cloudlifter haha. I guess I will have to check it out on Sweetwater now :) Thanks!
+Glassic Gamer I hear you. I went through the same process. Bought the Cloudlifter but after I found the dbx286s the Cloudlifter is now collecting dust in my closet.
Thank you so much for this video it has inspired me to upgrade my studio! I was wondering if I were to buy the following how would I go about hooking it up? -Condenser Mic -DBX Noise Gate -USB Audio Interface
HD Geek Review I purchased this based on your review, I was using a triton fethead (similiar to cloudlifter) with my EVRE320 but really was looking for more of a noise gate and your review of the dbx is consistent with what Ive been hearing, so thanks, make some more vids, you got a great channel ;)
The best investment that one can make is to make a real upgrade to the audio interface rather, Audient,Apollo etc will give you enough gain for Shure sm7b and cloudlifter still can be added to the mix esp if you using the mic for crisp forward sounding modern vocals,for podcast purposes a fet head alongside good audio interface can make the Shure sm7b shine too
Hi, I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm new to all of this. So you need a preamp to boost the gain on the mic and the audio interface is to connect all of that to something else yeah? If this is the case can you get an audio interface that's able to boost the gain up enough on the mic to make it where you want it to be? I'm almost clueless when it comes to all of this but I'm trying to make sense of it all. Great videos though, I enjoyed watching these!
+HD Geek Review Hi, and thanks for the video! I was wondering, can you hear a buzzing sound from your DBX286S unit itself? On the right side in particular, closer to the back (where the power transformer is)? Mine buzzes enough that I can hear it 3 feet away in a silent room. I am not sure if that is negatively effecting the unit, or indicative of a different problem all other. I may order the part and try my hand at replacing it as it just doesn't seem right. If you could listen for that buzzing, I'd appreciate it!
How are you liking you unit? @mpxz999 I have the same microphone and was wondering if it was worth buying it ($299 for the unit here in Aus and another 20ish for a neutrik trs/xlr m cable).I pick up almost no background noise from my room at all but I do pick up some preamp noise giving a slight hiss in my recordings.I was just wondering if you thought it was worth getting the 286s.Was really considering buying it when I have a little more money but at the same time I have been looking at mic preamps too that could boost my sound while lowering my mixers preamp hiss.
Ground loop issues are tricky to debug. It all depends on the source. Try replacing XLR or TRS cables. Keep them short in length and make sure they are not running alongside power cables that might bleed into them. See if you can determine what component introduces the noise by breaking your signal chain down and adding components one at a time. Those are some quick suggestions I would try.
Thanks to your advice, I have now purchased a Scarlett 2i4 and DBX 286A. I'm testing my friends' mic before dropping the big $$ on a SHURE SM7B, though.
Hi. Does this have a balanced output? i noticed it doesnt have an xlr out but has an xlr in. Also do you prefer t he preamp on this over the focusrite? I have an 18i20 but i'm looking for a compressor and i think this might just do the job.
Hi Mad Hermit, fantastic video I feel very confident buying it now. Quick question: For what exactly are you using the Focusrite in the Video since you turned the gain down to 0. Excuse my noob question but I currently only have the FiiO Olympus 2 USB DAC and some Audio T Headphones and wanna upgrade my setup to yours. Cheers
Great video. Would this setup work with a scarlett 2i2? I have a mdx4600 compressor that i want to connect to a scarlett 2i2. Will i need a preamp? Or maybe a mixer? Thanks
Hi. Just curious if there are newer versions of similar equipment that you would recommend. I like what this does, but the video is 5 years old which means that the tech is even older. I'm sure since then that there is newer, better, cheaper stuff out there. Any suggestions? Thanks. Great video, by the way.
The DBX 286S has an EIN of -125dB. It’s only a good value used for the preamplification, if the input you connect it to has no preamp and no phantom power. If the input you use it on has both, getting a sE Electronics DM-1 or the Cloud Microphones CL-1 is a better value, just for being lower noise, with an EIN of -129 dB and even below. But nobody would buy this thing as a mere preamplifier anyways. Nice review and demo about this device!
Hi love your channel... Wondering how to I connect dbx compressor and behringer multi effects units for use at the same time to focusrite 18i20 ? Would really appreciate any help ? Many thanks
I'm having quite of an issue in trying to connect the DBX onto a Scarlet Solo. Do you connect into the "INST" of the Scarlet with a TRS or in to XLR voice end? I also noticed that the INST gives you a much better signal. Please let me know your thoughts and details.Thanks a lot!
+Vegetable Police This will work for only one mic; so if you have two mics, you will need two of these. If you are not using the Shure SM7B and don't need the gain then you can try the dbx266xs (amzn.to/2A5wlPV). It supports two XLR mics and has a dedicated compressor and expander gate for each channel, but DOES NOT HAVE THE PREAMP SECTION THAT THE DBX286S (amzn.to/2znBDTw) COMES WITH. Since I am using the Shure SM7B, I need that preamp section to get the mic to line level. If I needed to add a second mic to my system I would get a second dbx286s. Hope that helps.
I've got your exact same setup but I am having trouble with this device. I've played around a lot with the dbx but I can't seem to get it so it removes background noise WHILE I am talking. It does a good job of that when I am not talking but I can still here it when I am for some reason. The only thing I have in background is somewhat quiet pc GPU fan.
+McSkillet It takes some adjusting but once you get it right it should be good. You have to find the balance for the various controls where they provide you with the enhancement you need without adding too much enhancement. Less is more! Too much can amplify sounds you don't want. Hard to explain but start by dialing each control to its off position, and then one-by-one adding just enough of a single control. If you notice things are not sounding right you can adjust the control you are working with, or scale-back one of the previous ones. Something to take into consideration is noise coming from your air conditioner (or similar device). I have a central air system and I find that when it is running, though quiet as it may seem, raises my noise floor. It could be the frequency the blowing air resonates at but whatever the case, I tend to shoot without the A/C blowing to avoid having to tweak things further and possibly making my audio sound artificially processed. Hope that helps.
What I've noticed is the expander gate seems to just stop sound from coming in if I'm not talking. When I am talking there is still tons of black-noise though. I'm not sure if there is another setting to fix this. What's weird though is I think my setup has even less background noise than yours.
You are exactly right. The expander gate is exactly that. A trigger that reduces the background noise to zero when you stop talking. When you talk, any background noise that exists will be allowed through. I suppose that is the "black noise" you are referring too. The trick is to use the other nobs to amplify your audio in an acceptable way, and use the expander gate to deal with whatever noise is left over. So when you stop talking, things get quiet quick. It's a delicate set of adjustments that you have to play with to get right. Once you do you will want to leave those settings alone. Again, less is more with these adjustments. If you are too heavy-handed with the signal processing you will get weird audio artifacts like ringing and such. Took me a while to come to an arrangement of settings that I liked. As far as you having less background noise then me, that is hard to convey on film. The noise in my room is generally quiet but I do have a lot of fans because of the computer and disk array. They are not as loud as they appear in my video but they are present. The point is, my office is by no means a sound stage and I still feel I get decent sound with this setup. Remember to be really critical of noise in your room. There is some noise that you might not realize exists until you are recording. The more real-world noise you remove, the less work you will have to make your dbx286s do, which will make your audio sound a lot more natural.
I've got (almost) the exact same setup. I'm using a 2i2 (with gain set to zero), a Cloudlifter and the 286s with the gain set to about 37db. When I had the gain set to 45db, I was having the same problem as you mentioned above. You could hear the background noise when I spoke, plus I could detect a hint of distortion. Rolling it back to 37 (+ the 20-25db) of the Cloudlifter gets me enough gain for the mic to come alive, but it gets rid of the background noise. I actually boosted up the compressor to compensate for the lesser gain. Still experimenting though to the get the best sound...not quite there yet.
+Timothy Jay Style & Fitness I would remove the Cloudlifter from the chain entirely. You don't need it with the dbx286s. In fact, as you can see in my video, I have the dbx286 gain at full, Output gain at -10db and my Focusrite gain dialed all the way down. The less components in the chain the better in my opinion. Less opportunity to introduce noise.
My room is also noisy and i was thinking about bying the DBX 266xs which has the same expander/gate module as the DBX286s. I would still like to get a confirmation on if it can get rid of the noise the same way as in this video when i first route my mic through the 226xs and from there route it to my apollo interface? Would appreciate if you'd answer.
I basically have the same equipment, focursite interface, dbx and shure sm7b so if I like the way your audio sounds I can just set the knobs on the dbx the same way you have them on the video?
now the only thing I really don't like about the DBX 286s is that the expander gate runs on top of the effects. this makes the noise floor skyrocket if you use compression since the noise floor is raised and then is cut out. if it were the other way around the noise floor would be cut and then the compressor would kick in. I found out about this little detail recently when I was setting up a compressor and noise gate in reaper and wondered what would happen if I had the other run first. the difference is night and day!.
Just curious why you don't use the Cloudlifter in this setup? Do you find running the 286s on full gain introduces any distortion into your sound? Also, I noticed you had the input on the 2i4 to Instrument, then had the output on the 286s dialled down to compensate. Any reason you aren't selecting the Line input instead of instrument?
+Timothy Jay Style & Fitness Great questions. I live near a radio transmission tower that seems to interfere with my Cloudlifter. It's a strange anomalous situation that no-one else seems to have experienced. I even replaced my Cloudlifter to no avail. As a result, I had to go with something else. In this case, the dbx286s, which comes in at around the same price ($199) as the Cloudlifter and brings a lot more to the table. With regard to your question regarding whether any distortion is introduced by running the dbx286s at full gain? Judge for yourself. The video I uploaded is posted the way I recorded it. I did not run it through Adobe audition or anything like that. Personally I like the way it sounds. Good catch with regard to my connections. According to the manual, "the Focusrite preamplifier stage is automatically configured for a microphone when you plug an XLR into the input, and for a line or instrument when you connect a jack plug." The switch only plays a role when you are connecting a 2 pin VS 3 pin TRS connector. Let me know if you have any further questions.
I got a Roland octa capture and a couple of mics audio Technica and AkG.. I'm about to buy the dbx heared a lot about .. now by your video I'm fixed .. will buy one very soon.. Thanks a lot .. my question is how you can keep the volume entry of your sound card to zero and still get the sound !!!? It's not obvious for me ! I notice that i never coupled my sound card with any preamp before ..
Would you recommend buying two DBX units for a podcast show with two hosts? Or would buying a mixer such as a mackie mix12fx be more worth the price? The mackie has a built in preamp, so you get 50db gain, so it is enough for a shure sm7b. However, I'm sure the dbx is better with producing studio quality low noise sound. If I were to buy 2 DBX units, it would run over $400 with tax. While a mackie 12fx mixer has 4 mic xlr inputs as well as a bunch of other inputs for just $120.
I get static noise in my headphones when I wiggle the XLR cable connected to the focus rite 2i2 interface. It only happens at the beginning when I turn on the interface, makes the noise for a few seconds when I wiggle the cable and then it stops. Any idea what can be causing that noise and a solution? Is it ok to clean the connector with alcohol perhaps?
+Carpower360Spanish I don't ever turn my interface off so I am not sure if that is normal or not. At first glance it sounds like you have a loose connection, but if that were the case it would probably happen all the time. It is more likely that the noise you are getting is a result of the components not being fully charged-up and filtering properly. Once they are fully powered and initialized it seems like the problem goes away. I wouldn't worry about it unless it persists beyond the few seconds you mention.
I fetched a DBX286s together with a SM7B for $500 ($499.99). The DBX286 was supposedly only $100, with the bundle. I had my eyes on the DBX286s for a while, but wasn't sure of the SM7B, this video made my decision final though. :)
Great video, awesome info! One question though - I have the exact same setup as you: SM7B, DBX286s & 2i4 all hooked into my laptop, however I'm getting some pretty bad hiss/whitenoise when I record into my audio software. Any idea what the source could be/how I could solve it? Thought I would ask, thanks!
Man !! It was a knowledgeable video. I have a question...like...is it still recommend to have a Pre-Amp. Mixer despite of the latest Technology DAW Avaliable now a days. I have little knowledge of it, wanna know it. I'm a Rapper...how much am I missing out on my vocals wanna know that ??!.
I bought a new and powerful computer, but when I plugged my scarlett into it, I noticed that it is coming with a lot of noise. I researched this and it seems to be the ground loop noise. Do you know how I can solve this? Thank you anyway
Great information! I'm having problems with my noise floor in my walk-in closet! range between -47dBs to -58 dBs. To pass ACX audio book submission noise floor can not exceed -60 dBs. So after normalizing, amp'ing, limiter etc effects the background noise is louder. Using the noise reducer effect changes to audio too much. Will this work with a Focusrite solo and a Rode NT1A? And will the investment be worth it ... which it achieve the min. req. for ACX? Thanks! (BTW using Audacity)
Great review. I'm looking into one of these now. So basically, it's like a cloudlifter that provides even more gain, and in addition adds the processing features? That's a crazy good deal for only $50 more than a cloudlifter if so.
Hey great video, I am looking to get this DBX model 286s, I was on the fence between this and the now discontinued DBX1086,,, but hey, you missed a section in the video to talk about the Expander/Gate feature, guess someone already told you about that, oh well, you did a great job with the video anyway, and you helped me make up my mind solid, thanks,
Thanks +GhostVOX. Glad the video helped. BTW, the expander gate is discussed at 3 minutes and 48 second mark ua-cam.com/video/FEaivtPrBe0/v-deo.htmlm48s. Looks like you missed it. ;)
Got today my Shure SM7b, but if i connect it to the DBX and put the Gain to 60, or anything below of that, the LED will not turn on. On record its lower than -20db still, how can that be possible?
Hello i have a focusrite 6i6 and a microphone at2020, thinking about buying this preamp. I mainly record vocals and acoustic guitar for some songs i make; Does this will improve my sound quality?
how are you connecting the two that's the real question???
+Katina Kyle The best way to connect them is as follows:
Connect Shure SM7B to DBX286s (via XLR Input On Back) using XLR Male to XLR Femle Balanced Mic Cable (amzn.to/1mEgNIm)
Connect DBX286s (Via TRS Output On Back) to Focusrite 2i4 (via TRS Input on Front) using 1/4" TRS To 1/4" TRS patch cable (amzn.to/2ve8njH)
NOTE: In my video I connect the DBX286s to the Focusrite 2i4 using a 1/4-Inch TRS Male to XLR Male Cable (amzn.to/1qC17rd). It sounds fine (as you can hear in the video) but as has been pointed out, connecting the devices this way has me going through two preamps. By connecting the dbx286s to the focusrite via 1/4 TRS I am able to bypass the Focusrites Preamp.
I'm trying to do that exact setup right now, going, with XLR going into the DBX286 and a 1/4 cable going from the DBX into the Focusrite.. but somehow the signal isn't getting through. The Focusrite has power and is connected to the computer, and I can see the mic signal is being registered by the DBX.. but nothing is happening
Wait.. the front ports double as XLR AND 1/4? I just realized that. That's what I was hanging up on
I followed your video as well as the steps you mention here on connecting the hardware to each other. I can only get it to pick up the mic when the gain is set almost all the way up. When it does, you can only hear the left ear and it doesn't sound great.
How are connecting pre amp to interface ..?? Thanks..!
As a "non-professional" self taught audio engineer who's been studying audio and music engineering for almost 3/half years, I can say I highly recommend this method for at home studio recording. It's great for music making and even streaming. The DBX 286s is great because it does what modern VST's would do.. Except it has 0 latency and the quality is better. Hardware always tops digital software in my opinion. This is good if you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on rack gear. This type of gear also has models with multiple microphone preamps!
"Hardware always tops digital software"
Do you have experience with UAD plugins? If yes, how do they stack up to the original hardware? Are they worth the money? Thank you!
You explain everything to the perfect degree of thoroughness, great video.
Thank you +Mat R
Agreed, he is very articulate.
Agreed. I finally understand expander/gate.
I learned more in the nine minutes of watching your vid than I have in a month of reading random junk. Thanks for this!
Thanks +Zeh Zahl
I like the effectiveness of the gate, but I can still very slightly hear the room noise while you're speaking (when the gate opens). If post processing and a DAW is available, a more effective solution is to leave the noise in and use a software solution (such as Waves Z-Noise or Izotope De-noise VST plugins). Leaving noise in would help the algorithms identify it and remove it from the rest of the signal. Of course, going that route would require you to also bypass the other cool features it comes with.
Overall it seems like a great unit, a good all-in-one solution for many use cases. I'm surprised how little noise that pre-amp adds when cranked all the way up.
I can still, with headphones, hear the background noise when you speak and the gate opens. Nice explanation anyway..
Watched this video, bought the DBX 286s, and the results are amazing! Thank you for your help!
Awesome Keith! Glad to hear it.
Quality videos man. Just what I was looking for. Cheers!
Thanks for the kind words!
i don't have the DBX but i learned so much, thank you.
+Abdulsalam Al-Abdulsalam (Streaming Q8) Glad to hear it.
Excellent video- found this via your "Shure SM7B Microphone Review". Keep up the good work, liked and subscribed.
Thanks +HyperDrive. I appreciate it. :)
pre amp is everything man! thanks remember it for us!
Thank you very much for this great and informative video! Been awhile since I have played with mics and audio equipment and I have been wanting a new setup for streaming. After researching, I decided to purchase your exact build and the rest of my order came in today. I only had just a few minutes to put it together for a test run and I can say I am very impressed! I did manage to confuse myself when recording as playback was only coming from my left headphone. I finally realized that the Focusrite xlr input is the right and left channel, hurray for mono recording!
I look forward to tweaking settings and recording in the future. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!
+Socorro Fernandez Awesome! Glad you are liking it. I am happy with it as well. Once configured it provides hassle-free audio recording.
Dude, love your videos. Im always looking to up my game on UA-cam and have been eye balling this type of setup, and ya sold me on it finally. Just ordered everything through your affiliate links~
Thank you for your kind words and support. Let me know how it goes or if you have any questions once your stuff arrives.
I started watching your reviews starting with the Shure microphone review. So far I'm enjoying your reviews and the items you've reviewed and have subscribed. Thanks Mark!
Thanks +David L. Happy to have you on board! :)
I am new to this voice processing stuff... I just purchased a DBX and this info will help me out. Thank you!
This is great video and explains everything I need to know. Already have a Focusrite, gonna pick up a Shure SM7B plus the DBX. I am aiming for professional voiceovers and livestreaming, so this setup should greatly help my stream sound quality and cut down on audio post. Thanks very much!
+Ian Phoenix You have the same goal in mind. Glad it helped!
I prefer to still use the cloud lifter with the DBX into my Focusrite Clarett 8pre because I noticed cranking the gain on the DBX without the cloudlifter still provided way too much noise than lowering the gain and using the cloudlifter. The DBX is great and overall pretty quiet, but this was just my preference.
Do you leave your clarett gain at 12 o'oclock and the gain on the dbx when using it with the cloudfilter?
Man I love you.... Pure love.......exactly what I need... others would a video and talk with no demonstration but you deliver...Wooo
Thanks for the love!
Amazing review ... I've been trying left and right to get noise out of my recordings for years to no avail. Doing it in post production is hectic and often times ruins the performance after all is said and done. There are many other pre amps that do this for 4 or 5 times the cost. You sold me on this !!Being able to correct noise pre recording makes recording fun again , and I know I'm only recording the parts of the performance I actually want. Takes hours of mixing out of the equation to where I can just work with clear pristine audio. If you're a home studio based musician having trouble with noise this is a must have.
+2DopeTv Thanks for the kind words. Like you said, it's a really great value for the money. I am very happy with it.
Thanks for taking the time to make this great video!
Thank you!
Perhaps I'm incorrect, but it seems to me that the background noise is completely unfiltered WHILE you are speaking except frequencies below 80Hz (due to the 80Hz high-pass filter), although it's less noticeable because your voice overpowers it. If one is recording, for example, a mic'd acoustic guitar, the DBX286s would do absolutely nothing to reduce the background noise. With that said, I do agree that it makes a very welcome difference to voice-over recordings.
To truly reduce background noise while speaking, the only solutions are: (1) Remove the background noise itself, (2) Move closer to the mic (i.e., bring down the overall pre-amp gain), (3) Move the background noise further from mic, (4) Record the background noise separately and subtract it from the mix.
+Nicholas H You are correct. Note: I don't have the 80 Hz high pass filter enabled on my dbx286s, though there is nothing stopping me from enabling it.
You are right! That is due to the Noise Gate. The noise gate will instantly kill the signal, once under the threshold level.
To destroy the background noise overall, you would have to do what is known as denoising.
Well done in demonstrating how to get sound gated out of the room. Most of the videos I've seen on this sound quiet before and after anyway.
Thanks for the positive feedback. :)
Thank you sooo much!!!! These are so helpful and informative!!!! It's wild the difference that it makes!!!!
+The Real - Luis Rivera Glad it helped.
You have very nicely explained the most confusing part of this channel strip, which is the compressor part with its unusual labeling (Drive and Density instead of Threshold and Release, and simple numbers instead of db or time value). Every other review of this piece I watched had lots of technical jargon, and the manual doesn't help here either. So, big thanks!
+Radek Andruszkiewicz Thanks for your kind words. Glad it helped!
I really enjoyed this video! Great informative information that I will surely use! Thank you
+Dess Marvel Thank you! I appreciate your kind words.
no problem bro!
p.s. This is One of the Very Best Videos Ive ever seen. added to my Favorites Playlist also. Cheers :)
Thank you. Your attention to detail and clarity is refreshing.
Thanks +Djard I appreciate it.
Perfect explanation man, you confirmed that the dbx is exactly what i'm looking for.
I have just one question for you: with a preamp like this, do you think is still needed a good quality audio interface?
M C ,
you will need a good recorder or audio interface.
But with this dbx ,
you will save a lot of money on the microphone.
Great demo, thanks. One question: Is there a reason you are using XLR cable (I think) and the "Inst" setting for your input to the Focusrite interface? Elsewhere I am reading that the DBX 286s outputs Line level audio, and also that you should use 1/4-inch TRS plugs at both ends to go from the DBX to the Focusrite. I have ordered a DBX 286s, largely because of your video, so I'm trying to choose the best cables and connections. What have you found about this, in your set-up? Does it not matter here because you have turned the Focusrite's gain to 0, and are not using its pre-amp?
It would have been nice if you showed what the Low and High boost sounds like at different settings.
Hi Sir, Can you please tell me or make a video that how to setup multi mic recording system with audio interface, preamp and compressor. I need to record 3 mic and 3 instruments simultaneously. How to set up the "in and outs" with focusrite interface and which focusrite interface will be sufficient for the purpose. Currently i have focusrite 2i4 (i will definitely upgrade as per the recommendations).
Whoa! Thanks for this. Literally INSTANTLY boosted my audio quality.
Glad it helped!
Which mic you use bro
Thank you I was pounding my head against the wall trying to figure this out.
You are welcome!
Excellent instruction for a newbie!!!!
Glad it was helpful!
I've just started learning about recording gear, and this was a terrific, informative review. Thanks for creating and sharing it! I think I'll buy the DBX286S through your affiliate link.
Very informative video! The comparison between the audio quality without, and with the use of the preamp was very surprising. I thought the build in preamps that are built into most audio interfaces would suffice, but this video proved me wrong. I can't wait to purchase DBX286.
+HiM Thanks. The audio processing that the dbx provides allowed me to achieve the sound quality I was looking for. Hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine!
got myself one of these thanks to you. it's a beautiful, yet, simple preamp. I'm very happy with this new addition. thanks mate!
Glad to hear it Ricardo!
Thank you for your video! Will the dbx286s work well with a CAD e100S mic? I'm not sure if you mostly recommend the sm7b for the dbx286s. Also, I mainly do voiceovers and the only thing I use is a focusrite 2i2 and it works well but sometimes I have to fix things in post like high peaks in my voice that I need to reduce, do you think the gates of the dbx286s will be too aggressive that will cut words/sounds?
+Carpower360Spanish Yes, the dbx286s should work fine. As far as processing is concerned, the beauty is, you can tweak things as much or as little as you like.
I was thinking about replacing my focusrite 2i2 for the Audient i14 in order to get an overall better and more robust sound. Do you think I should get the dbx286s instead?
+Carpower360Spanish I don't have experience with the Audient i14 so I really can't comment on how it compares to the dbx286s. All I can say is I like my setup and the sound it produces. My advice is to go with the setup that produces the quality of sound you are looking to achieve.
Great video..The excellent dbx286 was designed by Bob Orban.. Orban is the one of the world's top audio processor engineers.. He has designed the Orban processors used by most of the radio stations in the world.. Don't be fooled by the low price of the dbx286.. This processor is a serious piece of gear...
Thanks for the extra insight. I didn't know that.
The Mad Hermit Yes, here is his site if you're interested.. He has since sold the company but remains the chief engineer.. www.orban.com
awesome vid. Really enjoyed your simple and concise style. Very easy to understand yet comprehensive. Appreciate the work on this vid.
Thank you for your positive feedback. I appreciate it!
Sounds great! Thank you so much! I'm about to purchase this setup :)
Thanks and good luck! Hit me up if you have questions.
Couldn’t I just use the Apollo interface pre-amp??
this is pretty much what i have been doing with software using a vst host and a chain of plugins but im getting sick of trying to fiddle with that all of the time especially since im trying to switch from windows to linux. this is the exact kind of thing i am looking for i think.
Hi, really rnjoyed ur video tnks very much.
Pls i have a focusrite 2i2 buying this dbx will it remove the background noise? Please reply tnks GOD BLESS YOU.
Yes. It will remove the background noise
Great video thank you. I thought the Shure SM7B requires 48V phantom power? Or is that only if you’re using a cloud lifter without enough dB power
Also, is there any way to avoid having to fill in the right track in Premiere? I fear forgetting that step a few times lol
The Shure SM7B does not require Phantom Power. As you mentioned, the Cloudlifter does, thus your confusion.
With regard to a work-around to avoid having to fill the right channel with the left in Premiere... I have not figured one out. It's not difficult to do, however; and I always proof my work before I publish so I personally never found a need to find another solution. You can do this at the mixer level if that helps. I show you how to do this at the 11 minute and 18 second mark of the following video: ua-cam.com/video/DPj7uh50MuU/v-deo.html
The Mad Hermit beautiful, thank you very much for answering questions. New sub here, separates your channel from others!
Amazing tutorial. Thanks so much.
I have a ZOOM H6 as my audio interface and have been experience less than great quality sound with my PR40 and BCD-1. I’ve had the DBX 286s and have not tried this combo yet.
My question- should I get another audio interface like yours or will the DBX make up for any shortcomings of the H6?
+Stevie Richards Thanks. I would see what you can get with your existing hardware first. If you can't get the audio quality you are looking for you can always add the focusrite audio interface.
GREAT THANKS! in first 2 minutes I recognized how to solve the noise problem
thank you ^^
+Мария Ткачёва Glad it helped!
Very informative ! Thanks for the clear explanation!
I would still split the line level between both devices (DBX and 2i4) so neither are running hot keeping sure no ground floor is present in any of the preamps
So with compressors that have the de esser etc. And also a mic preamp in it I can use the compressor and eq stuff without using the preamp? Because I have a preamp already I just want the compression and eq from these kinda pieces.
Great job, you explain things very very well
DBX286s VS cloudlifter ? Which one should I buy for Rode Procaster?
I believe you've misunderstood the function of the de-esser frequency knob. The de-esser only targets and attenuates a narrow frequency band near where you set the frequency knob. Crank the threshold knob all the way and then sweep the frequency knob back and forth while making the "S" sound in your mic. You should find a frequency between 4k and 10k that will specifically target your personal "S" sound. That's where you set the frequency knob. Setting it at 2.5k does not seem right at all.
I was half-wrong. Unlike software de-essers, the de-esser on the DBX 286s does attenuate all frequencies above the set frequency, as you said in the video. But 2.5k is still way too low. My "ess" is attenuated strongly if the knob is set anywhere below about 7k. Setting it much lower than that starts to cut into the clarity of the voice.
Hi! Great video, thank you! My question is, I'm gonna get Shure sm 7b and DBX286S, and I have Focusrite 2i2, does this still work as good as your combination? Just like you, I don't want to process my voice afterwards, too, because I have tinnitus and some other ear problems, so if this will work, it will be life changing for me! Thank you for your reply :)
Thanks!. The Focusrite 2i2 should work just as good as the 2i4 for this purpose.
Thank you for this video. I found out the the dbx 266xs does the same for noise reduction as well. With the proper adjustment. Its great for noise reduction as well. Very help ful video..
Wow that DBX really cleans up the background noise! I currently use a Shure SM7B and a Focusrite 6i6 with a cloudlifter. I noticed a huge difference by adding just that but once you showed the DBX it makes me wish I got that over the cloudlifter haha. I guess I will have to check it out on Sweetwater now :) Thanks!
+Glassic Gamer I hear you. I went through the same process. Bought the Cloudlifter but after I found the dbx286s the Cloudlifter is now collecting dust in my closet.
I guess I can donate the Cloudlifter to my Churches worship band once i upgrade ;)
+Glassic Gamer That will work. :)
Thank you so much for this video it has inspired me to upgrade my studio! I was wondering if I were to buy the following how would I go about hooking it up?
-Condenser Mic
-DBX Noise Gate
-USB Audio Interface
HD Geek Review, you are a lifesaver! thx for this video!
+Cry of the Prophet You are welcome!
HD Geek Review I purchased this based on your review, I was using a triton fethead (similiar to cloudlifter) with my EVRE320 but really was looking for more of a noise gate and your review of the dbx is consistent with what Ive been hearing, so thanks, make some more vids, you got a great channel ;)
Thanks +Cry of the Prophet. I appreciate your kind words and feedback!
The best investment that one can make is to make a real upgrade to the audio interface rather, Audient,Apollo etc will give you enough gain for Shure sm7b and cloudlifter still can be added to the mix esp if you using the mic for crisp forward sounding modern vocals,for podcast purposes a fet head alongside good audio interface can make the Shure sm7b shine too
Hi, I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm new to all of this. So you need a preamp to boost the gain on the mic and the audio interface is to connect all of that to something else yeah? If this is the case can you get an audio interface that's able to boost the gain up enough on the mic to make it where you want it to be? I'm almost clueless when it comes to all of this but I'm trying to make sense of it all. Great videos though, I enjoyed watching these!
+HD Geek Review Hi, and thanks for the video!
I was wondering, can you hear a buzzing sound from your DBX286S unit itself?
On the right side in particular, closer to the back (where the power transformer is)?
Mine buzzes enough that I can hear it 3 feet away in a silent room.
I am not sure if that is negatively effecting the unit, or indicative of a different problem all other.
I may order the part and try my hand at replacing it as it just doesn't seem right.
If you could listen for that buzzing, I'd appreciate it!
+mpxz999 I don't here any buzzing. I would try to replace the unit to see if it improves.
How are you liking you unit? @mpxz999 I have the same microphone and was wondering if it was worth buying it ($299 for the unit here in Aus and another 20ish for a neutrik trs/xlr m cable).I pick up almost no background noise from my room at all but I do pick up some preamp noise giving a slight hiss in my recordings.I was just wondering if you thought it was worth getting the 286s.Was really considering buying it when I have a little more money but at the same time I have been looking at mic preamps too that could boost my sound while lowering my mixers preamp hiss.
thanks for the great video. Pretty much persuaded me to upgrade to this exact setup. keep up the great work
+Tim Younkin Thanks! I appreciate the positive feedback. Hope you like this setup as much as I do.
Great video, thanks! Andy idea how to fix ground loop/buzzing issues with one of these?
Ground loop issues are tricky to debug. It all depends on the source. Try replacing XLR or TRS cables. Keep them short in length and make sure they are not running alongside power cables that might bleed into them. See if you can determine what component introduces the noise by breaking your signal chain down and adding components one at a time. Those are some quick suggestions I would try.
Thanks to your advice, I have now purchased a Scarlett 2i4 and DBX 286A. I'm testing my friends' mic before dropping the big $$ on a SHURE SM7B, though.
+sgtsmithy100 You're welcome!
Fantastic video and explanation. Subscribed!
Welcome to the community!
Hi. Does this have a balanced output? i noticed it doesnt have an xlr out but has an xlr in. Also do you prefer t he preamp on this over the focusrite? I have an 18i20 but i'm looking for a compressor and i think this might just do the job.
Hi Mad Hermit, fantastic video I feel very confident buying it now. Quick question: For what exactly are you using the Focusrite in the Video since you turned the gain down to 0. Excuse my noob question but I currently only have the FiiO Olympus 2 USB DAC and some Audio T Headphones and wanna upgrade my setup to yours. Cheers
How do you connect the Focusrite to the preamp? Did you just use a cable to plug in to the input part of the preamp?
Great video. Would this setup work with a scarlett 2i2? I have a mdx4600 compressor that i want to connect to a scarlett 2i2. Will i need a preamp? Or maybe a mixer?
Thanks
Hi. Just curious if there are newer versions of similar equipment that you would recommend. I like what this does, but the video is 5 years old which means that the tech is even older. I'm sure since then that there is newer, better, cheaper stuff out there. Any suggestions? Thanks. Great video, by the way.
The DBX 286S has an EIN of -125dB. It’s only a good value used for the preamplification, if the input you connect it to has no preamp and no phantom power. If the input you use it on has both, getting a sE Electronics DM-1 or the Cloud Microphones CL-1 is a better value, just for being lower noise, with an EIN of -129 dB and even below. But nobody would buy this thing as a mere preamplifier anyways. Nice review and demo about this device!
Hi love your channel... Wondering how to I connect dbx compressor and behringer multi effects units for use at the same time to focusrite 18i20 ? Would really appreciate any help ? Many thanks
I'm having quite of an issue in trying to connect the DBX onto a Scarlet Solo. Do you connect into the "INST" of the Scarlet with a TRS or in to XLR voice end? I also noticed that the INST gives you a much better signal. Please let me know your thoughts and details.Thanks a lot!
great video!! ive been looking at countless SM7B videos but they fail to show you what you need to make it sound like you do.
+Drippy Beats Thanks. It's precisely why I made the video. I was in the same boat. :)
So this will only work for one mic? What would you recommend for 2 people recording a podcast? Is there a similar dbx unit with 2 mic inputs?
+Vegetable Police This will work for only one mic; so if you have two mics, you will need two of these. If you are not using the Shure SM7B and don't need the gain then you can try the dbx266xs (amzn.to/2A5wlPV). It supports two XLR mics and has a dedicated compressor and expander gate for each channel, but DOES NOT HAVE THE PREAMP SECTION THAT THE DBX286S (amzn.to/2znBDTw) COMES WITH. Since I am using the Shure SM7B, I need that preamp section to get the mic to line level. If I needed to add a second mic to my system I would get a second dbx286s. Hope that helps.
I've got your exact same setup but I am having trouble with this device. I've played around a lot with the dbx but I can't seem to get it so it removes background noise WHILE I am talking. It does a good job of that when I am not talking but I can still here it when I am for some reason. The only thing I have in background is somewhat quiet pc GPU fan.
+McSkillet It takes some adjusting but once you get it right it should be good. You have to find the balance for the various controls where they provide you with the enhancement you need without adding too much enhancement. Less is more! Too much can amplify sounds you don't want. Hard to explain but start by dialing each control to its off position, and then one-by-one adding just enough of a single control. If you notice things are not sounding right you can adjust the control you are working with, or scale-back one of the previous ones.
Something to take into consideration is noise coming from your air conditioner (or similar device). I have a central air system and I find that when it is running, though quiet as it may seem, raises my noise floor. It could be the frequency the blowing air resonates at but whatever the case, I tend to shoot without the A/C blowing to avoid having to tweak things further and possibly making my audio sound artificially processed.
Hope that helps.
What I've noticed is the expander gate seems to just stop sound from coming in if I'm not talking. When I am talking there is still tons of black-noise though. I'm not sure if there is another setting to fix this. What's weird though is I think my setup has even less background noise than yours.
You are exactly right. The expander gate is exactly that. A trigger that reduces the background noise to zero when you stop talking. When you talk, any background noise that exists will be allowed through. I suppose that is the "black noise" you are referring too.
The trick is to use the other nobs to amplify your audio in an acceptable way, and use the expander gate to deal with whatever noise is left over. So when you stop talking, things get quiet quick. It's a delicate set of adjustments that you have to play with to get right. Once you do you will want to leave those settings alone.
Again, less is more with these adjustments. If you are too heavy-handed with the signal processing you will get weird audio artifacts like ringing and such. Took me a while to come to an arrangement of settings that I liked.
As far as you having less background noise then me, that is hard to convey on film. The noise in my room is generally quiet but I do have a lot of fans because of the computer and disk array. They are not as loud as they appear in my video but they are present. The point is, my office is by no means a sound stage and I still feel I get decent sound with this setup. Remember to be really critical of noise in your room. There is some noise that you might not realize exists until you are recording. The more real-world noise you remove, the less work you will have to make your dbx286s do, which will make your audio sound a lot more natural.
I've got (almost) the exact same setup. I'm using a 2i2 (with gain set to zero), a Cloudlifter and the 286s with the gain set to about 37db. When I had the gain set to 45db, I was having the same problem as you mentioned above. You could hear the background noise when I spoke, plus I could detect a hint of distortion. Rolling it back to 37 (+ the 20-25db) of the Cloudlifter gets me enough gain for the mic to come alive, but it gets rid of the background noise. I actually boosted up the compressor to compensate for the lesser gain. Still experimenting though to the get the best sound...not quite there yet.
+Timothy Jay Style & Fitness I would remove the Cloudlifter from the chain entirely. You don't need it with the dbx286s. In fact, as you can see in my video, I have the dbx286 gain at full, Output gain at -10db and my Focusrite gain dialed all the way down. The less components in the chain the better in my opinion. Less opportunity to introduce noise.
Thank you so much! Very helpful and informative.
My room is also noisy and i was thinking about bying the DBX 266xs which has the same expander/gate module as the DBX286s. I would still like to get a confirmation on if it can get rid of the noise the same way as in this video when i first route my mic through the 226xs and from there route it to my apollo interface? Would appreciate if you'd answer.
I basically have the same equipment, focursite interface, dbx and shure sm7b so if I like the way your audio sounds I can just set the knobs on the dbx the same way you have them on the video?
now the only thing I really don't like about the DBX 286s is that the expander gate runs on top of the effects. this makes the noise floor skyrocket if you use compression since the noise floor is raised and then is cut out. if it were the other way around the noise floor would be cut and then the compressor would kick in. I found out about this little detail recently when I was setting up a compressor and noise gate in reaper and wondered what would happen if I had the other run first. the difference is night and day!.
Why do you have the switch on your Focusrite to "Inst" instead of Line?
Good catch! It shouldn't have been. See how it's all connected in this updated video ua-cam.com/video/bdpgqrFLDxs/v-deo.html.
Awesome Video dude! Keep up the great work!
Thanks +LukeZgaming!
The Mad Hermit sure
Just curious why you don't use the Cloudlifter in this setup? Do you find running the 286s on full gain introduces any distortion into your sound? Also, I noticed you had the input on the 2i4 to Instrument, then had the output on the 286s dialled down to compensate. Any reason you aren't selecting the Line input instead of instrument?
+Timothy Jay Style & Fitness Great questions.
I live near a radio transmission tower that seems to interfere with my Cloudlifter. It's a strange anomalous situation that no-one else seems to have experienced. I even replaced my Cloudlifter to no avail. As a result, I had to go with something else. In this case, the dbx286s, which comes in at around the same price ($199) as the Cloudlifter and brings a lot more to the table.
With regard to your question regarding whether any distortion is introduced by running the dbx286s at full gain? Judge for yourself. The video I uploaded is posted the way I recorded it. I did not run it through Adobe audition or anything like that. Personally I like the way it sounds.
Good catch with regard to my connections. According to the manual, "the Focusrite preamplifier stage is automatically configured for a microphone when you plug an XLR into the input, and for a line or instrument when you connect a jack plug."
The switch only plays a role when you are connecting a 2 pin VS 3 pin TRS connector.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
I got a Roland octa capture and a couple of mics audio Technica and AkG.. I'm about to buy the dbx heared a lot about .. now by your video I'm fixed .. will buy one very soon..
Thanks a lot .. my question is how you can keep the volume entry of your sound card to zero and still get the sound !!!? It's not obvious for me ! I notice that i never coupled my sound card with any preamp before ..
Aside from spoken-word real-time podcast, broadcast, is this unit appropriate for singers using a condensor mic to make recordings?
Would you recommend buying two DBX units for a podcast show with two hosts? Or would buying a mixer such as a mackie mix12fx be more worth the price? The mackie has a built in preamp, so you get 50db gain, so it is enough for a shure sm7b. However, I'm sure the dbx is better with producing studio quality low noise sound. If I were to buy 2 DBX units, it would run over $400 with tax. While a mackie 12fx mixer has 4 mic xlr inputs as well as a bunch of other inputs for just $120.
I get static noise in my headphones when I wiggle the XLR cable connected to the focus rite 2i2 interface. It only happens at the beginning when I turn on the interface, makes the noise for a few seconds when I wiggle the cable and then it stops. Any idea what can be causing that noise and a solution? Is it ok to clean the connector with alcohol perhaps?
+Carpower360Spanish I don't ever turn my interface off so I am not sure if that is normal or not. At first glance it sounds like you have a loose connection, but if that were the case it would probably happen all the time. It is more likely that the noise you are getting is a result of the components not being fully charged-up and filtering properly. Once they are fully powered and initialized it seems like the problem goes away. I wouldn't worry about it unless it persists beyond the few seconds you mention.
Can you make a video showing how you connected Scarlett 2i2 and your dbx 286s?
I fetched a DBX286s together with a SM7B for $500 ($499.99). The DBX286 was supposedly only $100, with the bundle.
I had my eyes on the DBX286s for a while, but wasn't sure of the SM7B, this video made my decision final though. :)
You snagged it for a nice price. The dbx286s alone typically sells for $199. Well done!
Yup, thanks. I've been using it and It's been AMAZING!
Thank you so much for this video.
Great video, awesome info! One question though - I have the exact same setup as you: SM7B, DBX286s & 2i4 all hooked into my laptop, however I'm getting some pretty bad hiss/whitenoise when I record into my audio software. Any idea what the source could be/how I could solve it? Thought I would ask, thanks!
Man !! It was a knowledgeable video. I have a question...like...is it still recommend to have a Pre-Amp. Mixer despite of the latest Technology DAW Avaliable now a days. I have little knowledge of it, wanna know it. I'm a Rapper...how much am I missing out on my vocals wanna know that ??!.
Thank you very much! Solid Gold for me! THANKS AGAIN! !
I bought a new and powerful computer, but when I plugged my scarlett into it, I noticed that it is coming with a lot of noise. I researched this and it seems to be the ground loop noise. Do you know how I can solve this? Thank you anyway
Great information! I'm having problems with my noise floor in my walk-in closet! range between -47dBs to -58 dBs. To pass ACX audio book submission noise floor can not exceed -60 dBs. So after normalizing, amp'ing, limiter etc effects the background noise is louder. Using the noise reducer effect changes to audio too much. Will this work with a Focusrite solo and a Rode NT1A? And will the investment be worth it ... which it achieve the min. req. for ACX? Thanks! (BTW using Audacity)
Great review. I'm looking into one of these now.
So basically, it's like a cloudlifter that provides even more gain, and in addition adds the processing features?
That's a crazy good deal for only $50 more than a cloudlifter if so.
+NW My thoughts exactly!
Thanks again for your video. :-)
I have one on the way from sweetwater once they're in stock (this friday hopefully).
I can't wait to mess with it.
I got my 286s yesterday; I just wanted to say thanks again for your setup video. It helped a lot in getting it adjusted just right. :-)
Hey great video, I am looking to get this DBX model 286s, I was on the fence between this and the now discontinued DBX1086,,, but hey, you missed a section in the video to talk about the Expander/Gate feature, guess someone already told you about that, oh well, you did a great job with the video anyway, and you helped me make up my mind solid, thanks,
Thanks +GhostVOX. Glad the video helped. BTW, the expander gate is discussed at 3 minutes and 48 second mark ua-cam.com/video/FEaivtPrBe0/v-deo.htmlm48s. Looks like you missed it. ;)
Is the lack of a threshold control really not an issue with this compressor? I would think it's kind of crucial to any analog compressor
Got today my Shure SM7b, but if i connect it to the DBX and put the Gain to 60, or anything below of that, the LED will not turn on. On record its lower than -20db still, how can that be possible?
Add a Cloud Lifter in between mic and dbx for more power!
Hello i have a focusrite 6i6 and a microphone at2020, thinking about buying this preamp. I mainly record vocals and acoustic guitar for some songs i make; Does this will improve my sound quality?