I've worked in the broadcast industry for over 40 years. This is the most consumer-friendly presentation of how to set up audio processing I've ever heard.
I've been waiting about three years to learn how to fine-tune my DBX properly for my specific microphone. Thank you for explaining this in a way I can understand.
Great video! I've had a 286s for years and was never really satisfied with how I was using it. Your step-by-step approach through every section helped me understand it like never before, and my next recording was really satisfying. Thank you!
Thanks very much. This information is priceless. Been in radio 33 years, never found anybody to show me how to properly use a processor. Engineers would set them. I think most people just try to get a feel for doing it. This explains how the unit works and the most efficient and accurate way to set it up. You back that up with great explanations. One of the most helpful sound videos I've seen.
I am brand new to VO, and so far, I've only used my DBX as a stand for my focus rite, all these knobs are so intimidating. But I took notes as you spoke, and tried the knobs as you instructed, and now my voice sounds AMAZE-BALLS! It's so rich, velvety, and the room noise is almost totally gone! You did a fantastic job using language us non tekkies can understand. Now, to find someone like you to help me understand how to use my Reaper DAW. Excellent video here, I'll send others here now too!
The dbx 286s is a fantastic unit. The "bang for the buck" makes it best in its affordable class. I've tried several times to remove it from my chain, opting for the simplicity of plugin-based-processing... But I always go back. That initial stage of processing is critical, and it gives the user something that for some reason can't be attained equally with any plugin. dbx did a great job of adding enough control but not overwhelming the user with too much. Anyone can dial in a good sound with a dbx286s... Especially with this helpful video. (Pairing the HF Detail with de-esser settings isn't something I considered before, very helpful.)
I am thinking of buying it only because of the de-esser so I can use it as an insert for my tube channel strip. I remember the old 386 and it had a great de-esser, not sure if this one is the same but it seems like it might be the same unit.
I own the 286s for a few years now and it has never let me down, yet I still learned something new here today so I will reconfigure it for my live streams. Thank you very much for a high quality video.
You certainly nailed using the DBX286s. I haven't used my own 286 for years preferring to use plugins on my UAD Apollo. That said the 286 was a fantastic unit.
Man, I had this for 3 years, and I'm not savy with this I watched so many videos, I recently bought a new wave XLR interface, thought I didn't need this anymore, I was wrong. I had to plug this back on and reworked the settings. This is by far the bestest explanation and demonstration I've watched. You, brother must have engineered this thing! I think my biggest problem is understanding how the deesser works. Great tutorial! I subbed for more!
THE BEST! I usually return to watch Lenny's instruction about three times a year or more, because I like to turn knobs and eventually get all out of wack - slowly but deadly. The DBX is a great piece of gear if set up right, and not so good if you get casual about settings (or are setting up for the first time). There are many DBX TH-cams out there that I went through before I found this one. I don't want to bash the other creators, but this is the only instruction you need. Follow it, and then leave it alone (words to myself).
WOW! THE Curtis Judd! I've seen so many of your videos. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I would love to collaborate with you in the future. If ever there is any subjects you would like to discuss, I would be happy to connect.
Lenny! You’re the man! Through you videos, I’ve learned so much about processing voice overs, and it’s been immensely helpful in my podcast startup. My DBX just arrived-can’t wait to test it out.
I’m working on making mine work with a Focusrite Solo & a Rode NT-1A. I’m getting a ton of distortion so I have to turn all the gain way down. How is your setup coming along?
Thanks Roderick. How are you using the 286s? What kind of audio work do you do? I'm creating a series of online courses and I'm interested in what kind of things a person like you wants to learn more about.
You helped me out once again. I watched you about 4 months ago when I first received my 286. But over time, because I like to turn knobs, I kind of lost my way and started to make narration files that had lost their fidelity, and luster. It got really confusing with each and every recording I decided I needed to go back in time and start watching vids again like I did when I first acquired the 286. I went to my bookmarks that I had saved, - (maybe 20 285 vids) and saw on that I had added the word "GOOD" to the bookmark title of this vid. I opened that up, remembered seeing it a long time ago, and once again followed the advice and settings to get me right again. This is a GREAT video to follow for anyone just starting out. I have done it twice now - 4 months apart.
Finally someone who knows how to use a gate properly in voice over! I see and hear so many voice actors overdoing the gate and killing the natural sound of speech. 👍
I find my settings are almost identical to yours! I spent 41 years in radio as talent, not an engineer, however I had an engineer friend come to my house and set my system up. He did not do as good a job as you did explaining WHY he chose the settings, but I was pleased with the end result. Now I know how AND why! Thanks, wonderful presentation!
Thanks for the video! I've been using the DBX for about 5 years but just got a new mic (Neumann TLM 103) and wanted to dial it in and this was a great refresher. Thanks!
Very cool! I have a TLM 103 also. Are you familiar with my custom presets? Send me your voice and I'll send you back a sample of what it sounds like with with EQ and Compression specifically tuned to your voice, your new amazing mic, and your room. Submit Your Voice For Processing: bit.ly/Submit-Your-Voice
Just found this video and it's THE best setup walkthrough of the DBX 286s that I've found. Just getting started in VO and this is going to be a game changer. Many thanks for this video!
Glad you found it helpful. I see that you're getting started in VO. Here's my take on the DBX 286s for Voice Over. When you need a fast way to get an excellent live voice-over or streaming sound without plugins, this is what you need. It's the most popular microphone processor in the broadcast industry, and it's prevalent for radio broadcasters and podcasters. However, it's also important to note that channel strips like the DBX 286s assume that your recording space (the room you're recording in) is appropriately treated. But, If you are looking for more quality and control over your voice-over sound, using a direct line to an interface with post-processing with plugins is a better choice. It would help if you didn't use them both simultaneously. I hope this helps further.
This has got to be the best demonstration of this preamp by far. I have just bought one but I am thinking I have paid too much because the dbx 266 is a dual channel and you can get this for half the price but with the same features apart from the enhancer. Great Video
No, you didn't pay too much. The DBX 266 and the DBX 286s look very similar but they are NOT the same. The 266 doesn't include a preamp. If you were to replace the DBX 286s with the 266, it wouldn't work. So, you didn't choose wrong. 👍
Where I live, the DBX 286s is cheaper than a CL-1 cloudlifter which is stupid because the DBX offers so much more effects (the cloudlifter dosen't even have effects) and a lot more gain then the CL-1. Thank you so much for this review!
Best setup overview I've seen for the 286s! Thanks, Lenny. Makes me want to go start over on my settings ("been-there" tip: folks, always take a nice, clear photo of your 286s settings if you're already using it before you start experimenting). I love mine, but the one function not mentioned is the one on my wishlist for Harmon to change: the 80Hz high-pass button. I REALLY wish they would consider making it an incremental dial like the other features; better yet two settings, threshold and ratio, like the gate. But it's all or nothing--from what I can tell it's just a steep shelf to 80Hz with a flat 18dB reduction that's applied before any subsequent signal processing in the chain. Admittedly doesn't impact a ton of users, and I get around it by simply turning high-pass off and adjusting the lowest end in post-processing when it's feasible (can't do it for live stuff and webinars, of course). But I'm not the only guy with a relatively low voice. My typical conversational range is 92Hz to 196Hz, but my low-end starts at 47/48Hz. Even someone with a nominally higher range can have harmonics going on below 80Hz that they might not want to take a scalpel to. Kinda like you wouldn't want an aggressive low-pass filter on Mariah Carey's top-end. ;-) In post-processing EQ I drop a 50Hz curve on it and then do a clean-up on what artifacts are left at the very bottom via spectral sampling. But having a simple selector dial on the 286s to set the high-pass threshold variably from, say, 30Hz through 90Hz would be a great feature. I'm posting all that here because I'm hoping the Harmon engineers follow your channel. :-)
Hi Ed, That would be a nice feature. It's due for an update. I've actually contacted them and asked for a DBX audio interface with all of the features that the 286s have. It would be gangbusters! Thanks for watching.
I just purchased this unit yesterday. I have a DIY booth made of pvc and moving blankets in a walk-in closet, using a Rode NT1 that picks up every sound you make. I bought this because I'm pretty bad with semblance and a little lisping, I wanted to provide a cleaner incoming sound into my DAW ... a little confidence booster if you will. Great video, very well explained. Thank you!
So far, you're video is the best I've seen on this and the fact that you touched on music in it has helped me determine that this will help me tweak my broadcasting reception. I've been having a hard time getting rid of tinny (ear piercing vocals) in the broadcast signal at high volumes which in turn prevented me from cranking up the volume to a higher db. I've done a lot of research on de-essers and most of them come as a plug-in which sucks because there's a whole other use for them besides vocals and post production. Now that I've babbled on I'll end with a thank you for this video.
Hey DJSmooth NY! Thanks for the kind words. I really tried to speak in lay-man's terms so more people would understand how to use it in real life. There are a few other units from a company called Drawmer that are really good D-Essers. Also, if you don't need the preamp section of the DBX, they have other units that only offer compression and gating. Good luck! Thanks for watching.
I have one more suggestion. You may want to consider the headphones that you use as a possible cause of the "Tinny, ear piercing" sound that you want to minimize. Many consumer headphones actually EQ the sound so it sounds "better" to the listen. You may want to check out some of the studio headphones. The difference is that they don't add additional "EQ" because they're intended to give you a good reference to what you're recording. The Sony MDR series headphones are undoubtedly the most common broadcast headphones out there. I even did a video about them years ago (th-cam.com/video/yO23vg48GGQ/w-d-xo.html). Also, I see that you're using he RE20. You should also consider adjusting the low cut filter (little switch on the side of the mic) to the "flat" position if it isn't already. They may help even out the frequencies for you. OK, now that I've babbled on....
@@HeyLennyB Thank you for your reply. It's interesting that you mentioned headphones. I use a pair of beats that my son gave me, lol. I had bose before but broke them. I will definitely check out your SONY video though because it may be the old radio I'm using to monitor the FM output signal and volume that's causing the tinny sound especially on female voice. With the RE-20, this is my go to mic as it has followed me around from broadcast stations to production work for decades :) Because I already have a deep voice I use the low cut and still don't lose that broadcast airy sound. My female air talent on the other hand has been producing sss's lately so I spoke with her about de-essing her voice in post production or adjusting her gains. As far as the unit, I like it so far because it allows me to crank up the volume to the broadcast and not produce distortion. Funny thing is I've reviewed this unit several times and told myself I don't need one because I'm not trying to fix my vocals but when I started looking for a de-esser it became apparent to me that this would give me what I need and then some.
For anyone that bought this processor , this is gold. I have the Symetrix 528e voice Processor. I really wish someone would do the same kind of walk-through on that one.
I would probably have a 528E if they still made them. They were very popular radio station studio mic processors. If you've got a good one, you're lucky. That said, I would like to compare head to head with the 286S. I would be curious how they sound side by side.
I live in a building with an industrial hum and commuter traffic outside. My Rode NT-1 likes to promote my SSS'es. I have been trying for a couple of years to beat these back just with blankets and some luck on the hundreds of MIC placements I have made. I finally have said to myself, "I need some help" I have a DBX 286s coming, to arrive in three days. I have watched many setup videos while researching and am now preparing, for real Yours was the best video. Am looking forward to moving up a notch in my voice recordings.
Hi Jerry, Thanks for leaving some nice words. I hope the DBX 286s works well for you. I expect it will. I might add that we're all our own worst critics. Just something to consider. Let me know how it works out!
Felt like a college course in a bottle. I've watched a lot of dbx 286 vids, I believe this is the most helpful. Excellent demos and explanation. I'm sure I can improve my sound. Thanks again.
So clear and concise with your tutorial. I was struggling for hours today trying to get better playback and your video solved the issues. You make it easy to understand for newbies like me. Awesome job - thank you for sharing this!
Great content & excellent walkthrough for newcomers. DBX has been making excellent consumer & professional audio products forever. I really wish they’d jump back into the home/consumer market with both feet again. I was reading the manual for the DBX-1bx ds the other day & you can tell even at the time it was written by dedicated audiophiles with a Great sense of humor.
Hey man, thanks for interacting. It was such a blast to chat with Curtis. I've been watching his videos for years. I perused a few of your movie reviews. Very cool! I love broadcasting!!
Great hands-on illustration of how to easily set-up this equipment. Thank you so much for making the effort and taking the time to help us all sound good.
This is a good tutorial. Especially like the technique of using the Process Bypass at the end to match output levels between with/without the processors engaged.
Thanks very much for the excellent setup tips. I've had my unit for a couple of weeks and am still tinkering with the settings to find the sweet spot. Your video and website tips will make it a much easier quest.
Lenny, THANK YOU! I had all kinds of background noise and distortion in my sm7b > dbx > focusrite scarlet solo setup. Your step-by-step solved everything. I was ready to axe my whole set up, but you turned it into huge pro sounds. Can't thank you enough.
I have recently got a dbx 286s, and prefer much more a reliable hardware mic processing unit than software plugins, which can be a real pain to use with different applications, and can give all sorts of software and performance problems. The only thing that I really hate about the dbx 286s is its *very* noisy built-in power transformer. I am talking about the 50 Hz (I am in Europe) mechanical vibration noise that it produces, and it is picked up by the microphone. I had to order a Toroidal type of transformer to replace its original transformer (have just ordered one). It could be that the units produced for 120 VAC/60 Hz have much less transformer noise than the 230 VAC/50 Hz, as I don't see many complaints from the US.
Super useful video, Lenny. What's the best way to stop other mics from getting into my mic during a 3 person radio production session? I've dialed up my gate on the expander and it 'seems' to help. Curious about what you think. Using RE20's.
Yes, it's a great question! Here are a few techniques to improve the separation. Ensure each person is speaking close to the mic. The larger the room, the better. Room treatment to absorb as much of the reflections as possible is essential. Also, use the rejection of the mic. This means the back of the microphones should be facing the other two people. For example, a circular table with each person facing the center would be a good configuration. I hope this helps.
@@HeyLennyB It does, thanks. It was better for today's radio shows---but guest #1 (the boss) comes in loud before settling down. I'm simply bringing my fader down when he's on. I'll know more this weekend when I hear the shows over the air. That's the moment of truth. I'm not doing post processing currently as our show runs through whatever the station is pumping.
The DBX 286 is sold out on Amazon and Sweetwater for now (as of Aug 2020). Number 1 best seller on Amazon. Of note, I went to Guitar Center the other day and nearly all their podcast gear was sold out. They said since everyone is going virtual in light of Covid, they can't keep their shelves stocked. Interesting times.
Yes, interesting times. I have several items on order that I'm waiting for. Personally, I think creating/working from home will be here to stay. I often tell my audio clients that if you are good at making content look and sound good, you are in demand. It's a great time to be a content creator. I'm seeing a tremendous interest in my own audio skills which is exciting. BTW, Sweetwater is absolutely the best place to buy audio gear in my opinion. Everytime I purchase from somewhere other than Sweetwater, I end up regretting it. I won't buy anywhere else. My "guy" there is Aaron Tremain. I can't say enough about how great Sweetwater is!
I recently got a mic and interface from guitar center and yes they are having problems keeping stuff in stock. The guy at the store told me its a combo of increased demand and their supply chain being slower. I had to drive to a different city to get what I wanted. The store close to me Toledo Ohio had mics but no interfaces. And they didn't have any USB mics if you wanted to go that route. I had to drive to Canton Michigan to get a focusrite 2i2. And no one around me, not just guitar center, but any music store has the DBX in stock. They are on Sweetwater as of today in early october. I should probably grab one while they still have them lol.
AWESOME-AWESOME-AWESOME information & education!! I do have a couple Q's based on the info in this video and the one you created about recommended gear. I am launching into the deep into the world of VO and purchased all (99%) of the gear you recommended. In the process of connecting everything, I learned that I got the wrong type of TRS jack and I am seeking to swap that out w/the seller. My 1st question is, what type of sound quality will I experience in using the wrong jack? My other question relates to connecting the TRS jack to the Scarlett Solo where the only input is for guitar/synthesizer on the front. I am presuming that this is where I plugin, it's the only port that makes sense. The others, on the back, are for speakers and the mic which is plugged into the DBX. Thanks in advance for the response and much-needed information
Hi Pyxel Mixer, To answer your fist question, if you use a TS jack instead of a TRS jack you'll likely either get noise in your recording or it may not work at all. For question #2, I'm going to save you lot's of headache. Specifically with the Scarlet Solo, you can ONLY connect the DBX to the XLR (channel one) of the Solo. Channel 2's input won't work. The Solo can receive both a mic level and the "balanced" line connection with it's XLR connection. So you'll need a male 1/4" TRS cable from your line out of the DBX 286s to a male XLR into the channel 1 of your Scarlet Solo. Hope that helps you. Let me know how it turns out! Thanks for stopping by my channel.
Hi Lenny, what I don’t understand is why you would go through all this trouble when you can postprocess the raw audio afterwards, when you are cleaning up your audio afterwards anyway? Is there an advantage to do this during recording and not afterwards?
Hi, @BetterEngineering I agree with you. You can absolutely get more control and usually a better sound in post. But, the reason you'd want to use a hardware processor like this is for live applications. If you are podcasting, streaming audio/video, this is a great choice. Thanks for reaching out.
I picked up the DBX 286s about mid 2020. As I wanted to get into content creating and voiceover work. I found fiddling with this to be an art in itself. When you can get the settings dialed in this works very well for many different kinds of microphones. But I never was able to get it to sound "good". I think my issue was, I was not turning up the input gain to the point to get the one to two LEDs lit on the mic preamp, and then the slightly not quite as hot of a signal through the processing would come out scratchy after the noise gate, and then some gain staging with the trim input knob on the audio interface. I was basically "making rubbish sound louder". So thank you for this video. I followed this through your step by step and this thing sounds awesome. Your video should be the "missing manual that did not come with the DBX-286s". Well. perhaps there was a useful manual. I did pick mine up used and I guess its possible it didn't come with the manual it should have.
This piece of gear is so fantastic. It really should be a $1200 price tag. Combine this with a $200-300 mic, a BBE or similar bass boost and everyone can have a professional radio/podcaster voice.
I'm currently putting together an online audio editing course for Voice Over talent, Podcasters, TH-cam Creators like yourself, etc... Are there any subjects you want to learn more about? Your suggestions will help me zero in on the most helpful information for the course. Thanks
Hi Lenny. Great video and great explanation. I'm in the process of gathering equipment and setting up a recording area for VO and am wondering if this would be appropriate as I understand clients typically want an unprocessed recording. Thanks in advance! - Jeff
Hi Jeff, Great question. There is a vast array of clients and project types. Some call for unprocessed recordings, while others don't. However, I will say that demos and auditions featuring a finished, processed sound usually help you compete.
Hey! Great video. I just re-adjusted my setup. Now I'm still confused about the gain. What is the "best" gain to use to keep the signal as high quality as possible? The line Gain or the gain on the interface? When I record, especially in voice acting, my loudness changes really quick and I go from -12db to -6db really quick. I like to adjust the line gain on the dbx to be at around -10db when that happens but I'm always unsure if that's good or bad.
Ideally, to get the best sound (lowest noise) from the DBX, your input gain should flicker the Yellow, but never go into the red. The key is using that LED meter. Then use the "Process Bypass" button to make sure that your DBX output is set correctly (see the end of this video). Then use the meters on your interface to get the best level (lowest) by again using the meters. Hitting about -6 on your (interface) meters is the highest you should go. NEVER hit the red. That should be the "best" gain settings for the lowest noise. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the video! I decided to order a DBX 286s as I hate all those alternative software plugins available. They are confusing to set up with different applications and don't give the "real feel" when adjusting the controls. This will be the perfect solution for me.
Here are my thoughts on choosing the DBX 286s When you need a fast way to get a good live voice over or streaming sound without plugins, this is what you need. It's the most popular microphone processor in the broadcast industry and it's very popular for radio broadcasters and podcasters. But, If you are looking for more quality and control over your voice over sound, using a direct line to an interface with post processing with plugins is a better choice. (That's where my custom presets would be used) Good luck! Thanks for watching.
Thank you SO SO SO much for this video! That being said, I'm finding the De-esser part really difficult, and I don't know if you explained what the lights do for that. I'm just not really able to discern what is good or bad sound for that in an easy manner.
Hey Maj0ra, I understand. That part kind of takes a trained ear. Send me a sample of your voice and I'll send back the frequency that should be De-Essed. email lenny@lennyb.com and make a note reminding me of this discussion. We'll get you dialed in!
I've worked in the broadcast industry for over 40 years. This is the most consumer-friendly presentation of how to set up audio processing I've ever heard.
Exactly Jack! So well done!
Onmia have a onmia microphone processor for broadcast quality now days my local station has one and onmia 9 for fm trasnmitter
The best compliment I can offer this man is: "I do not have even one question."
Thank you is not really enough.
Best Explanation of the DBX 286s in the entire internet, Probably, ....................Great Job, easy to understand, Loved it.
Right on Brian! Thanks for that. I'm planning to post many more on the subject soon. You can get more of my instruction at www.lennyb.com
The most comprehensive guide for 286s i've seen so far. And just in 10 minutes. Excellent.
Quite a complement that you have received absolutely no negative ratings. Thanks.
0:00 - Intro
0:36 - Connection Setup
1:10 - Initial Knob & Dial Positions
2:00 - Input Gain
2:28 - Compressor
4:33 - Enhancer LF/HF Detail
5:34 - De-Esser
6:43 - Expander/Gate
9:24 - Output Gain
This is very kind of you. Thanks! It's been added.
No one teaches the way you do. A professional Guru
I've been waiting about three years to learn how to fine-tune my DBX properly for my specific microphone. Thank you for explaining this in a way I can understand.
Great video! I've had a 286s for years and was never really satisfied with how I was using it. Your step-by-step approach through every section helped me understand it like never before, and my next recording was really satisfying. Thank you!
I love hearing results like this. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. This makes me want to make more videos.
Thanks very much. This information is priceless. Been in radio 33 years, never found anybody to show me how to properly use a processor. Engineers would set them. I think most people just try to get a feel for doing it. This explains how the unit works and the most efficient and accurate way to set it up. You back that up with great explanations. One of the most helpful sound videos I've seen.
Thanks Bill! I appreciate you taking the time to write. 👍
One of the best videos out there explaining the setup of the DBX 286s. Good job!!
Thanks Jim. My goal was to explain the DBX's benefits to producers no matter what microphone they're using. I appreciate your kind words.
I never realized how the HF Detail and the De-Esser worked together. That was a big lightbulb moment for me! Thanks for explaining!
SM7B+SSL2+dbx286S+your guide, it help me sooo much, thanks Lenny
see a lot of people with this setup
Thanks a lot, Lenny, im a voiceover from Argentina, i have that dbx compressor, and you have helped me to give that a better use! Best regards!!
I am brand new to VO, and so far, I've only used my DBX as a stand for my focus rite, all these knobs are so intimidating. But I took notes as you spoke, and tried the knobs as you instructed, and now my voice sounds AMAZE-BALLS! It's so rich, velvety, and the room noise is almost totally gone! You did a fantastic job using language us non tekkies can understand. Now, to find someone like you to help me understand how to use my Reaper DAW. Excellent video here, I'll send others here now too!
Hearing this makes me very happy. I'm so glad it's helped and thank you for taking the time to write and let me know. 👍
The dbx 286s is a fantastic unit. The "bang for the buck" makes it best in its affordable class. I've tried several times to remove it from my chain, opting for the simplicity of plugin-based-processing... But I always go back. That initial stage of processing is critical, and it gives the user something that for some reason can't be attained equally with any plugin. dbx did a great job of adding enough control but not overwhelming the user with too much. Anyone can dial in a good sound with a dbx286s... Especially with this helpful video. (Pairing the HF Detail with de-esser settings isn't something I considered before, very helpful.)
I am thinking of buying it only because of the de-esser so I can use it as an insert for my tube channel strip. I remember the old 386 and it had a great de-esser, not sure if this one is the same but it seems like it might be the same unit.
I own the 286s for a few years now and it has never let me down, yet I still learned something new here today so I will reconfigure it for my live streams. Thank you very much for a high quality video.
Thanks Rayder Rich. My channel is all about making your voice sound better!
You certainly nailed using the DBX286s. I haven't used my own 286 for years preferring to use plugins on my UAD Apollo. That said the 286 was a fantastic unit.
Finally, a tutorial that makes sense to someone who ISN'T already a professional sound engineer. Great work!
Man, I had this for 3 years, and I'm not savy with this I watched so many videos, I recently bought a new wave XLR interface, thought I didn't need this anymore, I was wrong. I had to plug this back on and reworked the settings. This is by far the bestest explanation and demonstration I've watched. You, brother must have engineered this thing! I think my biggest problem is understanding how the deesser works. Great tutorial! I subbed for more!
I feel like I owe you money. I have been stressing and calling people and you just solved such a big problem I'm so grateful. Thank you so much!!
Happy to help! I saw your email. I'll get back to you asap!
That was DBXcellent!
THE BEST! I usually return to watch Lenny's instruction about three times a year or more, because I like to turn knobs and eventually get all out of wack - slowly but deadly. The DBX is a great piece of gear if set up right, and not so good if you get casual about settings (or are setting up for the first time). There are many DBX TH-cams out there that I went through before I found this one. I don't want to bash the other creators, but this is the only instruction you need. Follow it, and then leave it alone (words to myself).
Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate you!
Helpful, indeed. Thanks Lenny.
WOW! THE Curtis Judd! I've seen so many of your videos. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I would love to collaborate with you in the future. If ever there is any subjects you would like to discuss, I would be happy to connect.
Lenny! You’re the man! Through you videos, I’ve learned so much about processing voice overs, and it’s been immensely helpful in my podcast startup. My DBX just arrived-can’t wait to test it out.
I’m working on making mine work with a Focusrite Solo & a Rode NT-1A. I’m getting a ton of distortion so I have to turn all the gain way down. How is your setup coming along?
Lenny, that was the best explanation for the 286s. As a newbie in voice over I understood it. Thank you very much.
Thanks Roderick. How are you using the 286s? What kind of audio work do you do? I'm creating a series of online courses and I'm interested in what kind of things a person like you wants to learn more about.
Demystifying a box of tricks I’ve always shrunk from pulling the trigger on - a really useful, well-delivered video, thank you.
You helped me out once again. I watched you about 4 months ago when I first received my 286. But over time, because I like to turn knobs, I kind of lost my way and started to make narration files that had lost their fidelity, and luster. It got really confusing with each and every recording I decided I needed to go back in time and start watching vids again like I did when I first acquired the 286. I went to my bookmarks that I had saved, - (maybe 20 285 vids) and saw on that I had added the word "GOOD" to the bookmark title of this vid. I opened that up, remembered seeing it a long time ago, and once again followed the advice and settings to get me right again. This is a GREAT video to follow for anyone just starting out. I have done it twice now - 4 months apart.
I love hearing stories like this. Thanks!!!!
Thank you for an awesome video. I wish others made their videos like this. No irritating loud music in the background...lol..well done!
Finally someone who knows how to use a gate properly in voice over! I see and hear so many voice actors overdoing the gate and killing the natural sound of speech. 👍
I find my settings are almost identical to yours! I spent 41 years in radio as talent, not an engineer, however I had an engineer friend come to my house and set my system up. He did not do as good a job as you did explaining WHY he chose the settings, but I was pleased with the end result. Now I know how AND why! Thanks, wonderful presentation!
Thanks for the video! I've been using the DBX for about 5 years but just got a new mic (Neumann TLM 103) and wanted to dial it in and this was a great refresher. Thanks!
Very cool! I have a TLM 103 also. Are you familiar with my custom presets? Send me your voice and I'll send you back a sample of what it sounds like with with EQ and Compression specifically tuned to your voice, your new amazing mic, and your room. Submit Your Voice For Processing: bit.ly/Submit-Your-Voice
@@HeyLennyB Awesome!
Just found this video and it's THE best setup walkthrough of the DBX 286s that I've found. Just getting started in VO and this is going to be a game changer. Many thanks for this video!
Glad you found it helpful. I see that you're getting started in VO. Here's my take on the DBX 286s for Voice Over. When you need a fast way to get an excellent live voice-over or streaming sound without plugins, this is what you need. It's the most popular microphone processor in the broadcast industry, and it's prevalent for radio broadcasters and podcasters. However, it's also important to note that channel strips like the DBX 286s assume that your recording space (the room you're recording in) is appropriately treated. But, If you are looking for more quality and control over your voice-over sound, using a direct line to an interface with post-processing with plugins is a better choice. It would help if you didn't use them both simultaneously. I hope this helps further.
Easily one of the best videos on the DBX 286s!!
Your instructions take all the guesswork on how to adjust the DBX 286s, If I order one, I will order through your affiliate link for sure !!
This has got to be the best demonstration of this preamp by far. I have just bought one but I am thinking I have paid too much because the dbx 266 is a dual channel and you can get this for half the price but with the same features apart from the enhancer. Great Video
No, you didn't pay too much. The DBX 266 and the DBX 286s look very similar but they are NOT the same. The 266 doesn't include a preamp. If you were to replace the DBX 286s with the 266, it wouldn't work. So, you didn't choose wrong. 👍
@@HeyLennyB Cheers Lenny, Keep up the good work
Nice work, good conversational presentation and demonstration was excellent.
Thank you!
About time someone knows what he's doing in this space on youtube.
Most userful tutorial about this. Thanks!!
Very comprehensive explanation in plain English. Thank you!
Where I live, the DBX 286s is cheaper than a CL-1 cloudlifter which is stupid because the DBX offers so much more effects (the cloudlifter dosen't even have effects) and a lot more gain then the CL-1. Thank you so much for this review!
This was so incredibly clear and easy to follow. Can’t thank you enough!!
Best setup overview I've seen for the 286s! Thanks, Lenny. Makes me want to go start over on my settings ("been-there" tip: folks, always take a nice, clear photo of your 286s settings if you're already using it before you start experimenting).
I love mine, but the one function not mentioned is the one on my wishlist for Harmon to change: the 80Hz high-pass button. I REALLY wish they would consider making it an incremental dial like the other features; better yet two settings, threshold and ratio, like the gate. But it's all or nothing--from what I can tell it's just a steep shelf to 80Hz with a flat 18dB reduction that's applied before any subsequent signal processing in the chain.
Admittedly doesn't impact a ton of users, and I get around it by simply turning high-pass off and adjusting the lowest end in post-processing when it's feasible (can't do it for live stuff and webinars, of course). But I'm not the only guy with a relatively low voice. My typical conversational range is 92Hz to 196Hz, but my low-end starts at 47/48Hz. Even someone with a nominally higher range can have harmonics going on below 80Hz that they might not want to take a scalpel to. Kinda like you wouldn't want an aggressive low-pass filter on Mariah Carey's top-end. ;-) In post-processing EQ I drop a 50Hz curve on it and then do a clean-up on what artifacts are left at the very bottom via spectral sampling. But having a simple selector dial on the 286s to set the high-pass threshold variably from, say, 30Hz through 90Hz would be a great feature. I'm posting all that here because I'm hoping the Harmon engineers follow your channel. :-)
Hi Ed, That would be a nice feature. It's due for an update. I've actually contacted them and asked for a DBX audio interface with all of the features that the 286s have. It would be gangbusters! Thanks for watching.
Excellent vid Lenny. Thanks. Always good to get a healthy signal into your interface and DAW from the get go.
Just ordered a DBX286s to cure that noisy preamp issue of mine.
Lenny thank you, the clearest explanation I have seen on how to set this up!
I just purchased this unit yesterday. I have a DIY booth made of pvc and moving blankets in a walk-in closet, using a Rode NT1 that picks up every sound you make. I bought this because I'm pretty bad with semblance and a little lisping, I wanted to provide a cleaner incoming sound into my DAW ... a little confidence booster if you will. Great video, very well explained. Thank you!
So far, you're video is the best I've seen on this and the fact that you touched on music in it has helped me determine that this will help me tweak my broadcasting reception. I've been having a hard time getting rid of tinny (ear piercing vocals) in the broadcast signal at high volumes which in turn prevented me from cranking up the volume to a higher db. I've done a lot of research on de-essers and most of them come as a plug-in which sucks because there's a whole other use for them besides vocals and post production. Now that I've babbled on I'll end with a thank you for this video.
Hey DJSmooth NY! Thanks for the kind words. I really tried to speak in lay-man's terms so more people would understand how to use it in real life. There are a few other units from a company called Drawmer that are really good D-Essers. Also, if you don't need the preamp section of the DBX, they have other units that only offer compression and gating. Good luck! Thanks for watching.
I have one more suggestion. You may want to consider the headphones that you use as a possible cause of the "Tinny, ear piercing" sound that you want to minimize. Many consumer headphones actually EQ the sound so it sounds "better" to the listen. You may want to check out some of the studio headphones. The difference is that they don't add additional "EQ" because they're intended to give you a good reference to what you're recording. The Sony MDR series headphones are undoubtedly the most common broadcast headphones out there. I even did a video about them years ago (th-cam.com/video/yO23vg48GGQ/w-d-xo.html). Also, I see that you're using he RE20. You should also consider adjusting the low cut filter (little switch on the side of the mic) to the "flat" position if it isn't already. They may help even out the frequencies for you. OK, now that I've babbled on....
@@HeyLennyB Thank you for your reply. It's interesting that you mentioned headphones. I use a pair of beats that my son gave me, lol. I had bose before but broke them. I will definitely check out your SONY video though because it may be the old radio I'm using to monitor the FM output signal and volume that's causing the tinny sound especially on female voice. With the RE-20, this is my go to mic as it has followed me around from broadcast stations to production work for decades :) Because I already have a deep voice I use the low cut and still don't lose that broadcast airy sound. My female air talent on the other hand has been producing sss's lately so I spoke with her about de-essing her voice in post production or adjusting her gains. As far as the unit, I like it so far because it allows me to crank up the volume to the broadcast and not produce distortion. Funny thing is I've reviewed this unit several times and told myself I don't need one because I'm not trying to fix my vocals but when I started looking for a de-esser it became apparent to me that this would give me what I need and then some.
Lenny.....got it, I figured it out. Thanks for all your great tutorials!
Excellent! Let me know if you have further questions.
For anyone that bought this processor , this is gold. I have the Symetrix 528e voice Processor. I really wish someone would do the same kind of walk-through on that one.
I would probably have a 528E if they still made them. They were very popular radio station studio mic processors. If you've got a good one, you're lucky. That said, I would like to compare head to head with the 286S. I would be curious how they sound side by side.
I live in a building with an industrial hum and commuter traffic outside. My Rode NT-1 likes to promote my SSS'es. I have been trying for a couple of years to beat these back just with blankets and some luck on the hundreds of MIC placements I have made. I finally have said to myself, "I need some help" I have a DBX 286s coming, to arrive in three days. I have watched many setup videos while researching and am now preparing, for real Yours was the best video. Am looking forward to moving up a notch in my voice recordings.
Hi Jerry, Thanks for leaving some nice words. I hope the DBX 286s works well for you. I expect it will. I might add that we're all our own worst critics. Just something to consider. Let me know how it works out!
Felt like a college course in a bottle. I've watched a lot of dbx 286 vids, I believe this is the most helpful. Excellent demos and explanation. I'm sure I can improve my sound. Thanks again.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Absolutely invaluable tutorial, just picked one of these up yesterday and will be setting it up later on.
Great to hear!
So clear and concise with your tutorial. I was struggling for hours today trying to get better playback and your video solved the issues. You make it easy to understand for newbies like me. Awesome job - thank you for sharing this!
This is the BEST DBX286s video I have seen yet! Thank you so much!
Great content & excellent walkthrough for newcomers. DBX has been making excellent consumer & professional audio products forever. I really wish they’d jump back into the home/consumer market with both feet again. I was reading the manual for the DBX-1bx ds the other day & you can tell even at the time it was written by dedicated audiophiles with a Great sense of humor.
Lenny, just subscribed after enjoying your conversation with Curtis Judd today. Thanks so much for your thoughtful answers to my questions!
Hey man, thanks for interacting. It was such a blast to chat with Curtis. I've been watching his videos for years. I perused a few of your movie reviews. Very cool! I love broadcasting!!
@@HeyLennyB I've definitely caught the bug, too :-) And we are getting better, honest!
Many thanks for this amazing and detailed tutorial!
I just ordered one because of this video. They should sponser you for this video.
Hey @DBX_Pro did you hear that?
@@HeyLennyB I even have the receipt 😃
LOVED IT... I'm suppa new to VO and this was an important hurdle!! CLEARED IT THANKS
Glad it helped!
great, useful video! I've been a full-time freelance voice talent for many years, and this still told me a lot I didn't know.
Great hands-on illustration of how to easily set-up this equipment. Thank you so much for making the effort and taking the time to help us all sound good.
AWESOME TUTORIAL, LENNY!!! LOVE IT!!!
Glad you liked it!!
This is a good tutorial. Especially like the technique of using the Process Bypass at the end to match output levels between with/without the processors engaged.
Fab video! Clean and easy to understand, thank you!
Another incredible video. Thank you lenny. I just bought the DBX after watching this video. I used your link. such valuable content.
Thanks very much for the excellent setup tips. I've had my unit for a couple of weeks and am still tinkering with the settings to find the sweet spot. Your video and website tips will make it a much easier quest.
Lenny, THANK YOU! I had all kinds of background noise and distortion in my sm7b > dbx > focusrite scarlet solo setup. Your step-by-step solved everything. I was ready to axe my whole set up, but you turned it into huge pro sounds. Can't thank you enough.
Wow that's so nice to hear. Thanks for taking the time to write and let me know.
I have recently got a dbx 286s, and prefer much more a reliable hardware mic processing unit than software plugins, which can be a real pain to use with different applications, and can give all sorts of software and performance problems. The only thing that I really hate about the dbx 286s is its *very* noisy built-in power transformer. I am talking about the 50 Hz (I am in Europe) mechanical vibration noise that it produces, and it is picked up by the microphone. I had to order a Toroidal type of transformer to replace its original transformer (have just ordered one). It could be that the units produced for 120 VAC/60 Hz have much less transformer noise than the 230 VAC/50 Hz, as I don't see many complaints from the US.
Very Nice presentation 👍
Excellent tutorial. Thank you so much!
Super useful video, Lenny. What's the best way to stop other mics from getting into my mic during a 3 person radio production session? I've dialed up my gate on the expander and it 'seems' to help. Curious about what you think. Using RE20's.
Yes, it's a great question! Here are a few techniques to improve the separation. Ensure each person is speaking close to the mic. The larger the room, the better. Room treatment to absorb as much of the reflections as possible is essential. Also, use the rejection of the mic. This means the back of the microphones should be facing the other two people. For example, a circular table with each person facing the center would be a good configuration. I hope this helps.
@@HeyLennyB It does, thanks. It was better for today's radio shows---but guest #1 (the boss) comes in loud before settling down. I'm simply bringing my fader down when he's on. I'll know more this weekend when I hear the shows over the air. That's the moment of truth. I'm not doing post processing currently as our show runs through whatever the station is pumping.
Excellent explanation! Thank you for this!
Very useful information on the dbx 286s, thank you. Just got one today.
Glad it helped.
Yeah the expander sealed it off im definitely getting this preamp great tutorial bro bro 💯🤝
The DBX 286 is sold out on Amazon and Sweetwater for now (as of Aug 2020). Number 1 best seller on Amazon.
Of note, I went to Guitar Center the other day and nearly all their podcast gear was sold out. They said since everyone is going virtual in light of Covid, they can't keep their shelves stocked. Interesting times.
Yes, interesting times. I have several items on order that I'm waiting for. Personally, I think creating/working from home will be here to stay. I often tell my audio clients that if you are good at making content look and sound good, you are in demand. It's a great time to be a content creator. I'm seeing a tremendous interest in my own audio skills which is exciting. BTW, Sweetwater is absolutely the best place to buy audio gear in my opinion. Everytime I purchase from somewhere other than Sweetwater, I end up regretting it. I won't buy anywhere else. My "guy" there is Aaron Tremain. I can't say enough about how great Sweetwater is!
I recently got a mic and interface from guitar center and yes they are having problems keeping stuff in stock. The guy at the store told me its a combo of increased demand and their supply chain being slower. I had to drive to a different city to get what I wanted. The store close to me Toledo Ohio had mics but no interfaces. And they didn't have any USB mics if you wanted to go that route. I had to drive to Canton Michigan to get a focusrite 2i2. And no one around me, not just guitar center, but any music store has the DBX in stock. They are on Sweetwater as of today in early october. I should probably grab one while they still have them lol.
AWESOME-AWESOME-AWESOME information & education!! I do have a couple Q's based on the info in this video and the one you created about recommended gear. I am launching into the deep into the world of VO and purchased all (99%) of the gear you recommended. In the process of connecting everything, I learned that I got the wrong type of TRS jack and I am seeking to swap that out w/the seller. My 1st question is, what type of sound quality will I experience in using the wrong jack? My other question relates to connecting the TRS jack to the Scarlett Solo where the only input is for guitar/synthesizer on the front. I am presuming that this is where I plugin, it's the only port that makes sense. The others, on the back, are for speakers and the mic which is plugged into the DBX. Thanks in advance for the response and much-needed information
Hi Pyxel Mixer, To answer your fist question, if you use a TS jack instead of a TRS jack you'll likely either get noise in your recording or it may not work at all. For question #2, I'm going to save you lot's of headache. Specifically with the Scarlet Solo, you can ONLY connect the DBX to the XLR (channel one) of the Solo. Channel 2's input won't work. The Solo can receive both a mic level and the "balanced" line connection with it's XLR connection. So you'll need a male 1/4" TRS cable from your line out of the DBX 286s to a male XLR into the channel 1 of your Scarlet Solo. Hope that helps you. Let me know how it turns out! Thanks for stopping by my channel.
Beautiful explanation. Beautiful voice!
Hi A. Miller. I don't see why not.
Excellent instructional, very helpful. I'm hoping to get one of these soon.
Hi Matthew, thanks for the kind words. If you have any issues, I'm happy to help. Let me know how it works out.
Hi Lenny, what I don’t understand is why you would go through all this trouble when you can postprocess the raw audio afterwards, when you are cleaning up your audio afterwards anyway? Is there an advantage to do this during recording and not afterwards?
Hi, @BetterEngineering I agree with you. You can absolutely get more control and usually a better sound in post. But, the reason you'd want to use a hardware processor like this is for live applications. If you are podcasting, streaming audio/video, this is a great choice. Thanks for reaching out.
@@HeyLennyB Hi Lenny, thank you for clearing that up. Much appreciated!
this is an awesome upload. no fuss, and straight to the point. and what a voice!! i've subscribed
I picked up the DBX 286s about mid 2020. As I wanted to get into content creating and voiceover work.
I found fiddling with this to be an art in itself. When you can get the settings dialed in this works very well for many different kinds of microphones.
But I never was able to get it to sound "good". I think my issue was, I was not turning up the input gain to the point to get the one to two LEDs lit on the mic preamp, and then the slightly not quite as hot of a signal through the processing would come out scratchy after the noise gate, and then some gain staging with the trim input knob on the audio interface. I was basically "making rubbish sound louder".
So thank you for this video. I followed this through your step by step and this thing sounds awesome. Your video should be the "missing manual that did not come with the DBX-286s". Well. perhaps there was a useful manual. I did pick mine up used and I guess its possible it didn't come with the manual it should have.
Thanks Travis! I'm really glad it helped. I always say engineering "know-how" is more powerful than the equipment.
Amazing video. Thank's for sharing!
This helped me find what I need. I got a good understanding of how the device is supposed to work. I also have a video for reference in the future.
This piece of gear is so fantastic. It really should be a $1200 price tag. Combine this with a $200-300 mic, a BBE or similar bass boost and everyone can have a professional radio/podcaster voice.
You are the real G my brother 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I have seen about 5 videos on the DBX 286. Great walkthrough, really helpful!
Thanks Ralf. Are you doing voice over work?
@Lenny B: yes, I do learning videos, record in Audition, if necessary some RX 7 and then Camtasia. Hope RX 7 can be skipped now.
I'm currently putting together an online audio editing course for Voice Over talent, Podcasters, TH-cam Creators like yourself, etc... Are there any subjects you want to learn more about? Your suggestions will help me zero in on the most helpful information for the course. Thanks
awesome! Shout out from Brazil!
Hey Fernanddo ! Thanks for watching.
Brilliant tutorial!!
Hi Lenny. Great video and great explanation. I'm in the process of gathering equipment and setting up a recording area for VO and am wondering if this would be appropriate as I understand clients typically want an unprocessed recording. Thanks in advance! - Jeff
Hi Jeff, Great question. There is a vast array of clients and project types. Some call for unprocessed recordings, while others don't. However, I will say that demos and auditions featuring a finished, processed sound usually help you compete.
This was an absolutely incredible and informative video. Thanks so much Lenny!
Great video. I hope this can speed up my work by having it come into the DAW with most of the work done.
This was fantastic!! Thank you!!!
Thank you for such a detailed video you sold me on this. Just ordered 1
Man! This sounds SO good! Thanks for sharing!
Hey! Great video. I just re-adjusted my setup. Now I'm still confused about the gain. What is the "best" gain to use to keep the signal as high quality as possible? The line Gain or the gain on the interface? When I record, especially in voice acting, my loudness changes really quick and I go from -12db to -6db really quick. I like to adjust the line gain on the dbx to be at around -10db when that happens but I'm always unsure if that's good or bad.
Ideally, to get the best sound (lowest noise) from the DBX, your input gain should flicker the Yellow, but never go into the red. The key is using that LED meter. Then use the "Process Bypass" button to make sure that your DBX output is set correctly (see the end of this video). Then use the meters on your interface to get the best level (lowest) by again using the meters. Hitting about -6 on your (interface) meters is the highest you should go. NEVER hit the red. That should be the "best" gain settings for the lowest noise. Hope that helps.
Thanks for the video! I decided to order a DBX 286s as I hate all those alternative software plugins available. They are confusing to set up with different applications and don't give the "real feel" when adjusting the controls. This will be the perfect solution for me.
Here are my thoughts on choosing the DBX 286s
When you need a fast way to get a good live voice over or streaming sound without plugins, this is what you need. It's the most popular microphone processor in the broadcast industry and it's very popular for radio broadcasters and podcasters.
But, If you are looking for more quality and control over your voice over sound, using a direct line to an interface with post processing with plugins is a better choice. (That's where my custom presets would be used)
Good luck! Thanks for watching.
what a perfect guide man thanks ! i improved my quality a lot
This was extremely helpful THANK YOU!
I'm so glad!
Very helpful. Thanks for the simple explanation.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you SO SO SO much for this video! That being said, I'm finding the De-esser part really difficult, and I don't know if you explained what the lights do for that. I'm just not really able to discern what is good or bad sound for that in an easy manner.
Hey Maj0ra, I understand. That part kind of takes a trained ear. Send me a sample of your voice and I'll send back the frequency that should be De-Essed. email lenny@lennyb.com and make a note reminding me of this discussion. We'll get you dialed in!