Muddy vocals with no EQ. Compression issue??

I’ve been facing a whole range of audio issues, which I can’t curb. With the feeling of hitting a brick wall in terms of trying to figure this out, I thought I’d ask you beautiful people.

This is my setup if anyone’s interested: Se2200aiiC Microphone > XLR > MG10XU Mixer (preamp) > XLR from stereo out > XLR > dbx 166 compressor > Output from compressor > TRS to Insert cable > Line 6 UX2 interface > PC.

The problem is that with any compression above -20db, the audio is HORRIBLE. It sounds so boomy and muddy, even with no EQ applied. There’s compression on the mixer but assumed the compression itself had a horrible filter to it. I tried using Pod Farm 2 but after days of trying to make it work, I give up. I finally bought my hardware compressor.....I just hoping that throwing money at the screen would fix it.

I tried using the volume on the mixer with no gain. This fixed background sounds, and nasty mouth sounds. Although I don’t think this is the correct way? I’ve been told gain staging is important. I tried applying the correct amount of gain but that invited other issues and the voice got more muddy.

The audio is highly non-constant. I record 4 episodes of my LP, which all wielded different results that needed fixing in post. Weird thing is, all episodes had the same settings and microphone positions.

Does anybody have any idea that could be causing this? Surely audio shouldn’t be this tough? Seems like I am the only one with insane microphone troubles, haha.

I just want to turn on the computer and start recording: c