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Do dynamic range calculations, that'll help you learn how to use compressors.

Also, don't always feel the need to compress just because people say you should. Although I almost always bus compress my higher drums just to make then gel together better, I only normally compress synths I feel that they sound too "weak" through my speakers, ie if certain parts of the sound are sticking out more than others and the whole thing needs bringing up or down to the same level in order to make it sound good. Some synths on the other hand don't really need compressing to begin with and can actually sound more natural without it.

benjaminC wrote:http://news.beatport.com/blog/2008/09/2 ... mpression/

Threshold – how loud the signal has to be before compression is applied.
Ratio – how much compression is applied. For example, if the compression ratio is set for 6:1, the input signal will have to cross the threshold by 6 dB for the output level to increase by 1dB.
Attack – how quickly the compressor starts to work.
Release – how soon after the signal dips below the threshold the compressor stops.
Knee – sets how the compressor reacts to signals once the threshold is passed. Hard Knee settings mean it clamps the signal straight away, and Soft Knee means the compression kicks in more gently as the signal goes further past the threshold.
Make-Up Gain – allows you to boost the compressed signal. as compression often attenuates the signal significantly.
Output – allows you to boost or attenuate the level of the signal output from the compressor.

I should start going on Beatport haha. Didn't know they had tutorials/tips :p Thanks man.

@Fowles I've never thought of it like that. Thanks for writing all the useful info! Good stuff.

OP these are your best bet for compression settings

ehbrums1 wrote:OP these are your best bet for compression settings

Put one in the beginning of my effects chain and another at the end! Sounds amazing!

ehbrums1 wrote:OP these are your best bet for compression settings

compress it 6 times tnuc.
Hope you havent got that soft knee activated pussy

ehbrums1 wrote:OP these are your best bet for compression settings

Turn the release up. Mo release time, mo compression.

What is adapt release? I've never seen that before

Artie Fufkin wrote:

ehbrums1 wrote:OP these are your best bet for compression settings

Turn the release up. Mo release time, mo compression.

What is adapt release? I've never seen that before

you set the release to what you want for shorter peaks and then when you hit the adapt buttom it autmatically increases for longer peaks

ooh fancy

Not sure where exactly I saved this from but this should help you out op

tip on compressing :

put treshhold on maximum.. like -50db
ratio on 1:30
attack on 0
release 0

NOW start with adjusting the attack. till you got the attack you like. The little punchieness. Don't overdo it sometimes it doesnt take lots of ms.

Adjust the release till it sounds balanced. Probably you'll hear 'gated' kinda shit of your sample/midi info. Put the release in a setting you like, but remember till it sounds balanced and not overdone. It has to stand on its own and still have the power of it.

Put the setting of your ratio. Listen till it sounds natural and clean/correct compressed.

after that put down the treshhold so it sounds like non-compressed but its still working.

A compressor makes the quieter parts louder and the louder parts quieter. This results in louder instruments that dont clip or distort. It is also a nice thing to put on the final mix of your track again to bring your rms (average volume) of the whole track up without it distorting.

For bigger badder drums, i would recomend using a plug-in known as an enveloper. I use it all the time, say if you like the sound of a drum hit but you want it more punchy or more mellow. A combination of compression and enveloping is awesome.

Heres a question. Do you guys use eq before or after compression? I use eq before, and im interested in hearing your thoughts about this.

P.s try using a compression ratio of 2:1 and getting a good result, before going too crazy. Most of your desired compression is achievable with a 2:1 ratio.

Peace

1stfiest wrote:A compressor makes the quieter parts louder and the louder parts quieter. This results in louder instruments that dont clip or distort. It is also a nice thing to put on the final mix of your track again to bring your rms (average volume) of the whole track up without it distorting.

For bigger badder drums, i would recomend using a plug-in known as an enveloper. I use it all the time, say if you like the sound of a drum hit but you want it more punchy or more mellow. A combination of compression and enveloping is awesome.

Heres a question. Do you guys use eq before or after compression? I use eq before, and im interested in hearing your thoughts about this.

P.s try using a compression ratio of 2:1 and getting a good result, before going too crazy. Most of your desired compression is achievable with a 2:1 ratio.

Peace

It doesnt realymater about the EQ thing, just do what sounds good, but if you think about it, if you EQ after the compressor then like, you will have stuff triggering the compressor thats not really in the sound anymore. Like if you take the bass out, then it will still compress the bass, but wont be heard. I always EQ first thing though really. before any effects, and then after effects if it needs more I will

Actually, a compressor does NOT make the quieter parts louder, technically speaking. All it does is attenuate dynamics. Some compressors have an "auto-gain" feature in which is raises the OVERALL volume of the audio.

claudedefaren wrote:Actually, a compressor does NOT make the quieter parts louder, technically speaking. All it does is attenuate dynamics. Some compressors have an "auto-gain" feature in which is raises the OVERALL volume of the audio.

Your right it does attenuate the dynamic, but dynamics are volume and loudness and quietness. When you adjust the threshold parameter it will make loud peaks quieter. And when you adjust the makeup gain parameter it will make the quieter peaks louder, therefore decreasing dynamic range.

Quick tip, if your going for a heavy compression do it in bits.
As in don't completely crush the original signal but rather lightly compress the origin and maybe have a compressed parellel bus
and maybe lightly compress the final summed bus. A/b listening for improvment or clarity rather than compression or volume.

let's not forget that compression was invented to keep vocals all at a relatively similar level, not to squash the shit out of drums so you can have waveforms with uber attack.

That being said, I'm still a compression whore. It's a disease man.

It does matter if you EQ before or after compression. Generally better to EQ after compression unless you are trying to drive a certain frequency past the threshold. Using subtractive EQ techniques before compression is less effective as compression can reintroduce artifacts in a frequency range you may have cut.

Doing what sounds good is only useful advice if you know what you're doing.

Shorter attack is better for shaping drum transients.
Longer attack is better for vocals or sustained sounds or for a compression on an entire mix.
Having your release shorter than your attack is...
A ratio of 1:1 means no compression.
A ratio of infinity:1 means no sound will pass the threshold (AKA brickwall or limiting).
The dB level of your signal after compression should match the dB level of your signal with the compressor bypassed.
Increasing the input gain of a compressor will push the signal into the threshold creating more compression, whereas increasing the output gain increase the level of the signal POST compression.
You can do better than setting attack and release settings to AUTO. Listen to the compressed signal solo'd with click track or drum track and time the release to the beat to make compression more musical.

1stfiest wrote:

claudedefaren wrote:Actually, a compressor does NOT make the quieter parts louder, technically speaking. All it does is attenuate dynamics. Some compressors have an "auto-gain" feature in which is raises the OVERALL volume of the audio.

Your right it does attenuate the dynamic, but dynamics are volume and loudness and quietness. When you adjust the threshold parameter it will make loud peaks quieter. And when you adjust the makeup gain parameter it will make the quieter peaks louder, therefore decreasing dynamic range.

Hundo percent.
If you want a larger dynamic range, use an expander.

Having decent monitors/headphones can help you to actually hear how the different controls, such as attack and release, affect the sound. At least, it made a difference for me.

It does if you're listening.