How do you know how much compression to use?

[BYTEME]

Well?
I almost hear no difference at all.
And I'm very confused with the threshold amount.

I'm using the FL Studio stock compression.
I did read up on how compression works.

The threshold is an imaginary line you set for the frequencies to never go above the line. (The threshold.)
The ratio is saying like.. If the signal frequencies go 2 or 4 db above the set threshold, it will be compressed down to the threshold.
The gain is like a volume knob but never goes above the threshold set. So it can make quiet frequencies louder.

I understand all that.

I just don't know exactly where the threshold starts or how much I should use if I want to compress my sub bass to stay ONLY a smidge below -12db but higher than -14db (the kick is at -12db, the snare is a little under or above -14db)

If I want my sub bass (sinewave) to stay only at -12db, how much should I compress it?
Because I notice on some notes it will touch way up to like -8db and higher up there.
I used an EQ and lowpassed 90hz-120hz to make sure the higher frequency notes are quieter.

What should the ratio be and what should the threshold be for a sine sub bass?

(EDIT: Sorry if I repeat the question a lot.)

(Another question: how can I see the whole signal in a spectrum with a db meter? What plugin would that be? I like the db meter, but I'd like to see a visual of the full note played and see how it next to a db meter to know which frequencies are going above -12db. )

[syrup]

Just turn every knob all the way to the right

[BYTEME]

Even the gain, attack, release, and knee type?

[fragments]

EDIT: Deleted my misinformation about compression ratios. Project EX kindly corrects me below.

But, to answer you question. I use my ears. Way too worried about numbers. Honestly riding the gain for a sine sub will work better than compression IMO, for the situation you are talking about. Also, unless you are doing a James Black type affair where the sub is a counter melody and there is enough space in the mix to actually notice, I'd keep you sine sub really simple...in a busy mix for a dance tune making the sub melodically complex has few benefits as it'll no one will be listening hard enough to notice.

[skimpi]

Compression isnt anything to do with frequencies it works on the whole audio. You are way to obsessed about number though mate, every post you do is like, on about how to make shit so precise, what exact level should something in the mix be at, what note a specific percussion hit has to land on in a bar. It doesnt really matter lol, aslong as nothing is clipping, and it sounds good and the sub isnt 20db louder than anything else then it should be fine lol.

why does your sub NEED to be below -12 and above -14? a sine wave is pretty dynamic-less so if you want to to be around -12 then lower the fader so that its around -12, if you get fluctuations between notes then maybe its not in mono and your synth is overlapping notes?

[mthrfnk]

Sounds like you focusing on "the correct numbers" way too much tbh...
If you're really bent on setting the volume of your sub to be constant, I'd try FL's Limiter to limit it to however many dB you want.
Although you could just ride your sub mixer channels fader manually if you want to be uber precise about the levels (which it sounds like you do.)


Also BlueCat FreqAnalyst might be what you need for monitoring - it's free spectrum analyser with freq. vs. dB plot.
http://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Pr ... eqAnalyst/

[Ongelegen]

Well first, I'm pretty sure you've got what the ratio is wrong. Pretty sure ratio tells the compressor how many -dB of gain reduction to compress from every -1dB the signal goes over the threshold. So, a setting 2:1 means that if the signal goes 2 -dB over the threshold the compressor will initiate -4dB of gain reduction.

So have you. A ratio of 2:1 will result in 1 dB of gain reduction with a input level that goes 2dB over the threshold.

[fragments]

Well first, I'm pretty sure you've got what the ratio is wrong. Pretty sure ratio tells the compressor how many -dB of gain reduction to compress from every -1dB the signal goes over the threshold. So, a setting 2:1 means that if the signal goes 2 -dB over the threshold the compressor will initiate -4dB of gain reduction.

So have you. A ratio of 2:1 will result in 1 dB of gain reduction with a input level that goes 2dB over the threshold.

I knew it was one of those. Thanks for fixing my mistake.

[FAARE FACED]

If you know what a compressor does,you should know that the threshold has to be between the peak and the lowest value of your sound. If it's not between these two values, compression is pointless because it would be as simple to move the volume fader.
I tend to set a slow attack for drums, to keep the transient from being attenuated.

I have no clue about the knee shape, and the ratio is just about "feel" more than knowledge.

[zakski]

http://media.soundonsound.com/sos/feb13 ... nrange.jpg

This is from February's Sound on Sound. There was an article on parallel compression that gives a good explanation of compression and how it works. I find it makes more sense when its in a diagram, or your compressor has a visual aspect to it (like with Ableton, until the upgrade).

[nowaysj]

I understand all that.

No, you don't.

[skimpi]

I understand all that.

No, you don't.

[JTreeZY]

Just turn every knob all the way to the right

Are you serious?

[FAARE FACED]

Just turn every knob all the way to the right

Are you serious?

Are you serious ?

[nowaysj]

Just turn every knob all the way to the right

Are you serious?

Are you serious ?

Are you serious?

[HellRais3r]

I just go by ear. If you go overboard with the threshold, attack, and release you can hear what's going on with what is being compressed. Try it and experiment.

[Genevieve]

I just played a sinewave at different pitches and it all evened out to the same. I also saw that you used an EQ on your sine and tadaa, that's the reason you have a fluctuation in volume in the first place (makes your higher notes sound way too quiet compared to the low ones).

Point being, YOU DO NOT EQ OR FILTER A PURE SINEWAVE. An EQ is basically a set of volume knobs for particular frequencies. A sinewave is 1 frequency.

You'd only be creating another problem that was created to fix another you caused in the first place. Get rid of that EQ stat. Also check your volume envelopes and how long your notes are playing for.. some notes may be turned off before they're at their loudest?

Experiment with compression in your free time outside of your tunes. If you don't know how to work it, it can do more harm than good in your tunes.

[wub]

If you don't know how to work it, it can do more harm than good in your tunes.

+1 on this for truth.

If you're 'applying' compression and not hearing any difference, I'd suggest removing it from your tunes until you understand it and can hear the difference a bit better.

[nowaysj]

How do you know how much salt to use?

[wub]

How do you know how much salt to use?

You experiment.

But if you put in a load of salt and couldn't taste the difference, I'd recommend laying off the salt for future dishes for health reasons


Damnit, now I'm hungry.