routing question

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http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member Since: Nov 27, 2007

if i put compression at a ratio of 8:1 and -60dB with an attack of -0.1, on a drum bus, as an insert, i can hear the difference fine no problem.

when i do the same again using an fx channel, and then using the post fader slider on the drum bus to bring in only a bit of it (parallel comp) i can hardly notice it.

why would this be?
am i doing it right i guess is more the question.

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MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Apr 07, 2009 10:52 pm

I think your settings are - A little on the (really, really, really) "extreme" side.

You're hardly noticing it because you'd need to add hundreds of decibels of gain to a signal with those settings just to get it to be reasonably audible against the original signal.

If your original signal is -20dBFS, it'd take three hundred and twenty decibels of gain at that ratio to bring it back with those settings.

If you're playing with parallel compression maybe use something a little more reasonable... Like 1.1 or 1.2:1 @ *maybe* -40 for starters. 8:1 is what most would consider "very severe limiting" -- At such a low threshold, nothing is going to come out of it.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Apr 08, 2009 08:23 am

im following a parallel compression
tutorial.

but my point is its clearly noticable as an insert but not using the effects slider.

your not meant to hear bugger all of the drum mainly the crazy punch slightly behind the original.




MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Apr 08, 2009 09:10 am

It's not supposed to be noticeable. That's why it's being done in parallel with the original signal. The usual point is to add "weight" to the signal - not to make it sound extremely compressed.

I'm *assuming* (I know - That gets me in trouble) that those settings are for illustration and example - Probably not intended for the real world.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Apr 08, 2009 10:06 am

nope, was actually a tutorial with snipits of sound.

but what i said was, and what im getting at is, the inserted compression with those settings seem to be doing the intened.(but too much obviously)

but on comp on an effects channel, for parallel comp purposes, even when i turn the slider up full on my drums bus, isnt doing ****

hence the title of the thread "routing question"
i thought maybe the way im routing it was dodgey. but there aint no other way.

so i dunno why tis'nt working.
dont care anymore.

i will find other ways.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Apr 08, 2009 11:48 am

Hmmm, I create a bus track and use the sends from each drum channel I want pumped. Then you crank the send to 0db and make sure you have pre-fader selected. That is how it works for me.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Apr 08, 2009 11:55 am

Dynamics and filter effects are best used when 100% of the signal will be affected. They're intended to be used in an insert loop (where its always 100% wet) and not an aux or parallel loop (where the wet/dry mix is variable and might never be 100% wet). This is what you're finding out here.

Think about it: You apply compression to a signal. This means that the peaks are attenuated and the dynamic range is reduced. Now mix in an uncompressed version of that same signal, and it doesn't have the peaks tamed at all. You're going to hear the peaks from the uncompressed signal unless you completely get rid of that signal from the mix. It's basically going to cancel out the compressed version.

Same for EQ. Say you filter out a notch in your signal, say -3dB between 1Khz and 4Khz. Now mix in an unfiltered version of the same signal. Those frequencies are going to be heard because they're present in the unfiltered version of the signal. It's not until you get rid of the unfiltered signal that you're going to be able to hear the EQ changes from the filtered signal.

MM, what he's doing here with these more extreme compression setting is mixing in a compressed signal at low levels underneath the original. It's basically a special effect type of thing. Like you say, its to add weight to the signal.

I've heard of this being done on drums and vocals. Mix in a pretty hard compressed version of the same signal basically in the background. It adds the illusion of "beef". But you have to have pretty aggressive compression settings for this to be noticable due to the same mechanics I detailed above. You pretty much have to have "special effect" type of compression settings so it's really noticable. Then mix that in at low levels. Otherwise, like Deon is finding out, it isn't really audible.

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Apr 08, 2009 12:53 pm

On the pumping parallel comp article I read, it said shoot for around -18db reduction, if you are needing -60 to hit that I would think you need a little more volume on your track.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Apr 08, 2009 03:45 pm

18dB of reduction??!???!??!!??!??

WTF'n F!

Where is this article you speak of...?

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Apr 08, 2009 04:00 pm

Sorry, I meant to write ~8db. On average, my reduction is usually 6db with a max around 12db on really hard hits. Honestly, I don't like the effect on most musical types though.

I reduce by 18 if I don't want to hear someone anymore ;)

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Apr 08, 2009 04:57 pm

I think I have a built-in -18dB switch in my brain with the threshold set on my wife's voice when she starts talking about her side of the family...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 08, 2009 09:46 pm

OK, gotta clean the stuff off my screens again.

thanx MM!

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Apr 09, 2009 03:46 pm

Hehe, I tend to not pay attention during those chats as well. Bites me in the *** though when they show up at the door and my wife says "don't you remember me telling you they were coming?" :)

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