How to hook up an use Behringer MDX4600 Compressor Limiter Gate Podcast

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This is a complete and thorough video on how to hook up and utilize the Behringer MDX4600 in a podcast type environment.

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So, I must admit that I didn't really see a need for a compressor/limiter/gate when I first started podcasting and I did get by without it. I always prided myself on microphone discipline, but for my co-hosts it became a constant battle for me. Yes, you can get by without this piece of equipment, but it can make your life much easier as a podcaster. It can certainly increase the quality of your audio.

You see, I am very familiar with my podcast equipment and how to get the best audio quality, but I can't say that my co-hosts really take these things into consideration. So, when I am going to be loud during a podcast I quickly realize I need to back up off the microphone. And, if I am going to be quiet then I get closer to the mic. Of course I am always watching my mixer level lights to make sure I am in the "zone". I have made my co-hosts aware of this, but when in the moment they often fail at these explained techniques. Even if you don't normally have co-hosts on your podcast I think the Behringer MDX4600 Compressor/Limiter/Gate can still be useful and improve your audio quality.

Every podcaster knows that when someone "clips" or "peaks" the end result is poor audio quality and it can't really be fixed. No podcaster wants to have to deal with that, so we try our best not to let it happen and train our co-hosts.

I purchased the Behringer MDX4600 Compressor/Limiter/Gate mostly for the "limiter" portion to help stop clipping when me or my co-hosts suddenly get too loud. So, you can set this piece of equipment up (see video above) and get it all fine tuned. Once you do so, you can talk as loud as you want while recording, but the limiter will kick in, sending quality (non clipping) audio to your end recording device. So, when you listen to the end product it sounds fine, even when me or my co-host got very loud. You can tell that we got loud in the scheme of our recorded conversation, but the audio quality is perfect and it doesn't clip or sound bad at all. That is what the Behringer MDX4600 is made to do and it does it well. I have the MDX4600 right below my Behringer HA4700 Headphone Amplifier/Distribution System in my frame rack and it fits nicely. I listen to my mix while recording using Sony MDR-7506 Headphones.

The Behringer MDX4600 Compressor/Limiter/Gate also has a "gate" function that can be adjusted. Basically, you can set the MDX4600 (see video above) so that when sounds fall below a certain (set) decibel (dB) level a "gate" closes and no sound will get through to your end recording device. You can distinctly hear this in your headphones you are using to hear your mix. When I stop talking the gate closes and nothing can be heard in the background except dead silence. When I start talking again (above set dB) the gate opens and you hear me talk again. This can be useful if you have low background noises or are recording a Skype interview and there is a bit of background noise. Just know that if you had a loud fan in the background you would not hear the fan when the gate is closes. But, when you started talking and the gate opened you would hear both your voice and a loud fan. So, this function is really reserved for just getting rid of that low background noise when you are not talking (see video above for how it sounds).

So, for a podcasting environment I highly recommend the Behringer MDX4600 Compressor/Limiter/Gate. I use it in a very specific way. Both to stop clipping/peaking and to knock out any very low background noise when I am not speaking. The MDX4600 has other functionality of course, but I don't use it.