Dubstepforum.com

Sometimes I find myself asking myself "Do I use too much compression?" I don't think I overcomress, but use compression too much. I put a compressor on quite literally everything and pull the threshold down a little and fuck with the attack and release. This might be a stupid question, but the only stupid question is one that isn't asked right? (within reason) so is it bad policy to compress EVERYTHING? btw I'm a textbook over-thinker.

I don't ever use compression except on my master. If I want my kick louder I just turn everything else down, etc. idk I just never found it super necessary on anything but my master to make it loud.

Maybe I'm just a compression addict. Do you do anything in place of compression? Like transient shaping or something?

Not a bad policy at all, unless you're compressing simply for the sake of compressing. You need to know what you're actually trying to accomplish with the compression. Compressing every channel and knowing what you're doing is gold. Same goes for limiting.

rareclub wrote:Not a bad policy at all, unless you're compressing simply for the sake of compressing. You need to know what you're actually trying to accomplish with the compression. Compressing every channel and knowing what you're doing is gold. Same goes for limiting.

Punch and dynamic control. I'll use It a lot on strings and samples where the tail does off too quick, beef it up a little. But everywhere I look I always hear people say " don't use too much compression" and then I'm like I use compression on it all

zosomagik wrote:Maybe I'm just a compression addict. Do you do anything in place of compression? Like transient shaping or something?

Nah the only things I put on my mixer tracks is eq reverb and delay. My drums could definetly be punchier and louder but I don't think they need to be. I've gone through a compression stage too and I got out of it because I just didn't think it was really helping anything. Maybe I wasn't using it right idk.

And I don't really make maximal music like heavy brostep, so I don't need to compress anything to make it stand out.

Oh, and I also really try to pick samples that work for the track. That helps me in terms of not having to do much to it.

Channel gaim faders. The orignal dynamics control. Usually a few busses and a bit on the master. Always really light and instages.

fragments wrote:Channel gaim faders. The orignal dynamics control. Usually a few busses and a bit on the master. Always really light and instages.

I have been using busses for parallel compression a lot lately. Any opinions on this vs. just dropping it straight on the channel?

Use it wherever you need it. Also keep in mind that not every compressor sounds the same, some are better some are worse. I recommend you getting Sonnox Dynamics vst. Best dynamic plugin out there, period.

Kick, snare, percussion (except cynbals), guitar and master obivusly.

Saying that you put compression on everything is like a chef saying that they put salt on everything. There's no point in compressing something unless it serves a purpose, it's a tool just like any other tool. Just as how a good chef would only add salt if they though it was needed, you should only use compression if you think it's needed.

The thing with compression is that there's dozens of uses for it. You can use it on individual hits to give them more snap or tail, use it on a bus to "glue" things, use it on your overall mix, use it to stop peaks, parallel compression etc. Whatever you use it for, you certainly wouldn't want to do it every single time, i.e adding more attack to the snare just because you did on your last tune.

ChadDub wrote:I don't ever use compression except on my master.

Isn't this like saying "I don't compress anything, except everything" ?

Simulant wrote:There's no point in compressing something unless it serves a purpose, it's a tool just like any other tool. Just as how a good chef would only add salt if they though it was needed, you should only use compression if you think it's needed.

Wonderfully put



Personally, I try and avoid compression whenever possible. If my samples and sound design is on point, then just concentrating on getting as hot a mixdown as I can is usually enough for me. The rare occasions I find myself using compression is very light on my percussion and/or drum bus if I've got a lot of weird elements that I want to bring together a bit more.

Maybe I'll challenge myself to make a tune only compressing the master

Just do you bro. If that's your music in your sig, I think your music is REALLY fricken cool

ChadDub wrote:Just do you bro. If that's your music in your sig, I think your music is REALLY fricken cool

It is, thanks man.

i put it on snails

I think that if it sounds good to your ears use it.
Compression is an important part of modern music, and depends on the sound you want to obtain.
As you said it's ultra useful to make delay and reversed tails get more sustain but aside that I prefer choosing what need compression and what doesn't need.
Parallel Compression on drums, Totally Yes! if you find your drums thin add some parallel compression but be careful mixing those in because it can get very flat and loose life/groove.

ChadDub wrote:Just do you bro. If that's your music in your sig, I think your music is REALLY fricken cool

Exactly. Use your ears. Does all your compression produce a good result for you? If it works for you, keep doing what whatever works. I could never get some of the sounds I achieve if I saved compression for only the master bus or percussion. (not to mention I don't ever compress the master bus, leave that for the mastering engineers).

I don't compress anything

hard limit EVERYTHING, screw dynamcs I just want bleeding ears!


Said Metallica's producer one day.

But seriosuly, I don't think it's bad practice at all, just as long as you're not pushing the actual compressors themselves too hard. It will give everything a uniform character (unless you're using a really transparent compressor) like as if every element of your track was recorded using the same desk.