Compression Understanding
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Posted on Dec 15, 2007 10:03 am
mclir9
www.witchsmark.com
Member Since: Aug 13, 2006
First of all, Kudos to the Compression Bootcamp article. I loaded up a few tracks in Sonar and played a little bit using this article. I have a Behringer Composer MDX2600 compressor. I tried multiple tracks, Bass Track, Vocal Track, Kick Track... and I cannot distinctly get to the pumping of the Compressor. All I get at a certain point is a distinct louder volume when adjusting the Threshhold, no in between where a setting is louder then quiter by itself, I have to distinclty turn the knob to the next click when adjusting and then the volume is consistently the same, one click to the left=quiter, 1 click to the right = louder, no breathing or pumping. As far as visually I have a small LED meter that reads (- 0 +). The description in the Behringer manual reads
"These three LED's indicate whether the input signal is above or below the adjusted compressor threshold. The yellow LED(0) in the middle refers to the IKS "soft knee" range (if IKA is on)."
My question is how should these be lighting up, should I set the Threshhold till the + blinks red occasionally or not at all?? I would love to be able to hear the distinct pumping people are talking about, but I just don't get it, so I am hoping visually I can achieve something here.
THanks.
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Dec 16, 2007 03:48 am Quote:
My question is how should these be lighting up, should I set the Threshhold till the + blinks red occasionally or not at all??
yes, when the + lights up and that indicates that the compressor is working....watch the meter next to it to see how much it's working.....
as far as 'what's normal'...that really dependes on the context of the individual track you're compressing and what your goals are...
if it's constantly reading the same amount and not moving, you need to anjust your threshold and ratio....generally go for around -4db's of reduction for vocals...a bit more for bass, but if's constantly -15 or higher, you're squashing it too much...you want that reduction meter to move with the music (usually).
watch your input meter to give you an idea of where your threshold should be....
as for not being able to hear it, what are you listening through? shoot for small speakers at quiet volumes.
