compressor questions

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Bane of All Existence
Member Since: Mar 27, 2003

i understand what the ratio, threshold, and all that do, but i can't seem to relate how to put this all into practice. is there anywhere that i can find a nice tutorial on this? i'm going to take some recording classes, but i'd like to learn this stuff ASAP.

thanks!

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Maniacal Genius
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Apr 09, 2003 02:53 pm

MinkusMaz,

Here are a couple of articles to get you started.

www.homerecordingconnecti...story&id=84

www.homerecordingconnecti...story&id=13

These should clear up a few of the enigmas about compression for you. If you have any specific questions, just fire away.

Member
Since: Nov 21, 2002


Apr 09, 2003 03:54 pm

I could not understand the meaning of threshold, ratio, etc, until i saw a graphic compressor, giving me a visual idea of what turning the knob actually does. Still dont quite understand everything though.

Member
Since: Mar 26, 2003


Apr 09, 2003 04:04 pm

As a last resort, try carefully listening to the difference in the sound as you twist the knobs!


Maniacal Genius
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Apr 09, 2003 04:15 pm

Here's another article that I found pretty interesting. It's very basic, but I think gives a pretty good description of how to use a compressor to accomplish a couple of specific tasks.

www.prorec.com/prorec/art...625661000745390

Bane of All Existence
Member
Since: Mar 27, 2003


Apr 09, 2003 04:36 pm

this is great stuff...thanks!

Member
Since: Mar 26, 2003


Apr 10, 2003 12:32 am

While I was being a bit facetious, I think that listening the key to getting good sound. People can be easily governed by visual cues when what they should really be doing is _listening_ to the sound.

How does a short attack sound on this instrument?

What does a high compression ratio sound like?

Do I want it squashed, or just slightly limited?

Certainly reading up on compression can be very helpful, but don't forget to use your ears.

Bane of All Existence
Member
Since: Mar 27, 2003


Apr 10, 2003 03:53 am

yeah i hear that. i applied what i learned today with the LEDs on my rig and my ears to get a really good picture. now it sounds like a bass is coming out of those cabinets, but it is a hell of a lot more predictable :-)

i don't have attack on this. it's a carl martin compressor.

i appreciate all the help with this. thanks!

Member
Since: Dec 16, 2002


Apr 10, 2003 10:01 am

"As a last resort, try carefully listening to the difference in the sound as you twist the knobs!"

Hmmm, unfortunately its not alwaya obvious what's happening to the sound unless you turn the knob from one extreme to another, and compression normaly shouldn't be used in an extreme way (unless for special effects). I tried this approach on vocals with a new compressor i bought. Not easy actualy to try singing into a mic and twidling the knobs simultaneously!

In the end i noticed more subtle differences by recording a vocal with one setting, then another suggested setting, as recomended on one of these DGs FAQs. Still don't know exactly what each knob does (i forget you see) but using the idiot guides seems to work for me.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 10, 2003 10:06 am

Well, now thats true, but what you can do is record your vocals a few times with a few different compressor settings and play them back one at a time and see how each track sounds, and how they differ from each other...

Member
Since: Mar 20, 2003


Apr 10, 2003 04:34 pm

is there a way to record a track with little to no compression, then go back and compress with an outboard compressor during mixing? (for some reason i think not, but decided i would ask anyway.)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 10, 2003 05:35 pm

Ya, you can compress it after the fact, but it may not yeild the results you are looking for. If you choose to do that, you may want to at least run a limiter while recording to at least make sure you don't get any clipping during recording.

Member
Since: Mar 26, 2003


Apr 10, 2003 06:29 pm

It is much easier to compress after the fact than to "un-compress" if you used too much compression when tracking. I'm not a fan of too much compression while tracking, but some peak limiting can help keep the tracks from clipping.

With a computer, it is very simple to put a compressor plugin on the track and adjust to taste. With outboard gear, you just need to run it into a compressor on the insert or effects loop.

I think that you are always safer to go easy on the compression and add more later, rather than overcompress and end up with no dynamics.


Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Apr 10, 2003 08:19 pm

Wise words 12bass.

I am definatly in agreement, don't compress too heavily on the way in - try to keep the ratio's light (2:1 is good) and adjust the threshold so that you are not in danger of clipping (overloading the input).

Once the signal is in the computer, you can use Plugin's / FX loops to add the desired amount of compression - this way, if you change your mind, you can easily adjust paramaters, rather than being forced to re-record the performance.

jues.

Bane of All Existence
Member
Since: Mar 27, 2003


Apr 11, 2003 02:38 am

hey thanks again. just wanted to show you what i came up with. drums and bass. sometimes the click track comes in because i forgot to un-push the button to get the tape ins out of the mix, and you can hear the click track fade in where i set it to fade in after drums were tracked. i'm playing bass.

anyway:
64.147.14.11:801/chompies.mp3

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Apr 11, 2003 03:05 am

very interresting bass playing. i listened to the whole thing thru, lots of ear candy there. drums sounds nice. niether instruments are too "in your face" and that's a good thing. everythings kinda mellow and distant, save for the couple spots where the bass signal gets processed. strange sounds BTW. Is this just an experiment, or do you guys already have a whole song worked out? I'd like to see where this is going. Keep it up.

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