Behringer X32 FX Series - Fair Compressor - Part 1

Welcome to my FX Series of videos on the Behringer X32 console. This series is taking a look at the effect rack built into the X32. Today we look at the 'Fair Compressor' which is modeled after the famous FairChild 670 stereo tube compressor.
This is Part 1 of 2 in my series about the Fair Compressor. This video will explain the controls that we have at our disposal and Part 2 will show use of the effect with audio.
If you haven't already, make sure to check out my new website dbbaudio.com for the latest news and updates! Thanks so much!
Drew Brashler

[@glenpar26]

We have watched your videos many many times just to setup our church Midas M32 they were all very helpful. Thank you very much. Many THANKS in advance for explaining the different effects. This will be very helpful because we don't have a clue which this use for soloist to enhance their voice or FX for singing groups. The manual has some definitions but a video explaining things will be very great. We actually need this FX you just discuss. Thanks again.

[@StephenTack]

From the UAD manual Bias: DC Threshold controls the ratio of compression as well as the knee width. As the knob is turned clockwise, the ratio gets lower and the knee gets broader. The threshold also gets lower as the knob is turned clockwise. It’s more technically accurate to say that this control simply changes the knee width, since no matter where it’s set, the ratio always approaches true limiting eventually. How-ever, the knee becomes so broad that it becomes more practical to speak of the ratio changing, because for reasonable amounts of compression (less than 25 dB), this is the case. Balance: Balance controls the bias current balance. It always controls one channel of the compressor, regardless of what the nearby Meter Switch is set to. The point of perfectly calibrated bias currents is achieved when the screw slot is at the 12 o’clock position (the default value). At this setting, the amount of additive signal deflection (“thud”) which happens due to an attack is minimized. Setting this control counter-clockwise from this position results in a thud of one polarity on transients, and going clockwise produces a thud of opposite polarity.

[@DrewBrashler]

Nice find!! Thanks so much for sharing that!

[@macmigue1066]

Drew, can I ask you our lcd screen broke from church how can we get one I've tried several of links but I haven't had any way of getting one from a company ? Thank God Bless

[@squibbly_mcgrink7689]

How would one go about using the Fair comp for parallel compression on vocals? Could I have one bus with a neutral dry signal with a Fair comp to keep the latency the same as a wet compressed one? what would neutral settings look like? Thanks.

[@billymaberry6957]

Mr. Brashler. I have a question about effects on the vocal channels through the p-16 system. I noticed after setting it up there are no effects. I have set it up as post fader, pre fader, basically every choice there is and still no effects. Is there a way to get effects back on the vocals when going through the P-16. They are still there in the main L/R channels. Thanks & I love the videos. Have used them many times. Peace.

[@ebbtai]

I've been talkiing to some folks that just got a X32. A question came up about limiting the signal if somebody caughs into a mic or drops a mic. ooking around it looks like some kind of 'compressor' may do it. Any recommendations? Thx!

[@timschrock]

A compressor will help limit the cough, but you may also want to try the gate. The first thing to try is explaining mic etiquette: don't cough into the mic!

[@timschrock]

Typically, would you insert a compressor on the Main LR when sending a full mix? If so, what advantage does this give you to compress the whole mix?

[@JayJayStudios1]

Rather don't insert a tube compressor like the Fairchild on the master. Better to use the inbuilt one in the channel strip. It is cleaner and better suited for the Master. Yes a little bit of compression on the master isn't a bad idea

[@sghrd]

Using Fairchild emulation on MID/SIDE mode to polish mix bus. My configuration is: real guitar track (two channels in stereo), voice track (two channels in stereo) with external effects, MIDI backing tracks (two stereo channels). Maybe because of the "linearity" of the midi backing tracks I can see a little gain reduction on the meter raising the threshold and the gain but only with high values of the BIAS knob. Is it normal? Any suggestions? Have the BIAS knob to be so relevant? Thanx :)

[@andylauer4244]

Hi, First many thanks for the Videos, but wich compressor do u use to compress the Main L/R Signal ? This one or Leisure or Ultimo, what do you think will be the best for that? Thanks :)

[@DrewBrashler]

This would work well for a buss compressor. I would try out using time setting 1, 2 or 6. Make sure to check out my blog post for a handy chart showing the attack and release times with that knob: dbbaudio.com/2015/behringer-x32-effects-tutorial-fair-compressor/

[@mariorangel4773]

Can you use this effect (m/s fair comp) and still assign a dual eq to a different effect rack? I've tried using this effect while applying it main LR but noticed I can't assign an eq to main LR as well.

[@DrewBrashler]

Great question Mario! No, you are only able to insert one effect at a time. One way to get around this is some routing, you could insert the M/S Fair Comp on the LR bus, and then send the LR bus to Matrix 1 & 2, then insert your GEQ or TruEQ on the Matrix 1&2. Just make sure to change your output routing to pull from Matrix 1 & 2 instead of LR. Doing this will let you have the Fair Comp and the graphic EQ!

[@mariorangel4773]

Awesome! Thank you, Drew for responding. I'll give it a try.

[@clubhangar18]

need one for the delay

[@beedslolkuntus2070]

Isn’t there one for delay?

[@bellosonido878]

hola

[@TheAidanVogt]

Nice video Drew, thank you. But I'm just gonna go ahead and say it, compression isnt an effect, its dynamics. But that's behringers bad, not yours

[@DrewBrashler]

+Aidan Vogt haha so true. But the 'effect' of it is the emulation of the FairChild. ;-)

[@TheAidanVogt]

+Drew Brashler touche 😉👍