Hello all,

How many of you realy know how to use a Compressor?

Useing one is realy easy, the trick to it is to "Listen to your Music" and feel the flow of the mix.

Compressors are used to make the "sound punchy and in-your-face"
.Getting the punch out of a compressor is to let the Attacks through and setting the Release to elongate the sound.

Setting Fast attack times are going to reduce the punchiness of the signal,and slow release times are going to make the compressor pump out of time with the music.

So timing of the Attack & Release is Important.

To set the Compressor ( Assuming you have a constant meter in the song like the Snare. )

Mute out all the other tracks so you can work on the track.( in this case the snare drum.)

Start with the Slowest Attack and Fastest Release setting on the compressor.

Slowly turn the Attack Faster until you hear it dull in sound. ( the snare ) NOW STOP!

Adjust the Relase time so that after the snare hit,the volume is back to 90-100% by the next beat.

Sit back and listen to your mix in full mix.Make SMALL ADJUSTMENTS to the attack and release times if needed.

You want the Compressor to Breath in time with the song.

This will work on any Instrument....... Cool right?

Look at a Compressor as an Instrument in your sound.

But the Key to any mix is to LISTEN to your music and make SMALL ADJUSTMENTS.

And thats how you use a Compressor.

I hope this helps all of you in your mixing and recording.


Good Luck!!!!!!

Ken Sutton.

__________________
Ken Sutton
WaterFall Records. / SweetKenny Sound.
www.waterfallrecordings.com
www.sweetkenny.com

Hi Kenny,
Can you outline the differences between Hardware and software compressors. What is the best application for both? Thx Dae

Hi Ken

Michael here.

Don't forget the elaborate on the correct times to apply the 10:1 compression ratio that we spoke about last week.

We'll talk!

Michael Stevenson
mstevenson@waterfallrecordings.com
Michael Stevenson's Bio

Hi
Dae and Mike,

The difference between Outboard and Software is that the Outboard Compressor has a more warm sound to it,( if it is a Tube Compressor),and lets you make "Finer" adjustments to the compressor and it uses No CPU's like software.Software lets you Automate the compressor. ( good for Key points on the track )

The Software compressors have came along way in sound and settings,both are very good tools to use and you should use them if you have both.Like on Vocals and Bass,I use an Outboard compressor when I record into the Box ( PC... Mac. ) and use Both Software and Hardware when Mixing or Mastering.
But the Key to useing any and all is "Small Adjustments" to your tools,that and Listening to your mix.

What Mike is talking about is setting the compressor to a 10:1 ratio on Bass when Mixing your song.And is a very good point.The Bass is the Low Freq in a song and is the anchor to it,so you want it to have as little dynamic range as possible.Limiting the Bass by 3-6dbs ( depending on the song ) with a ratio of 10:1 ,20:1 or higher will get you this.

Any time the compression ratio is set to 10:1 or higher that is Limiting.

When you get ready to Mix your song the Very Frist thing you want is to have it as Loud as possible with out distorting it.

On each track raise the Gain up just to the point of distorting it,then the compressor don't work so hard.

In your chain of Dynamic's it should look like this for the Bass.

Frist Your Compressor then your Eq. what happens is if you do it the other way ( Eq then Compressor ) you lose your Top and Mids.so compress frist then Eq and your gonna hear it better.

I also like to compress everything just to keep it smooth and under control and to keep my dynamics.something like a 4:1 ratio on everything I do,and on Guitars I like a 8:1 ratio.On the Kick and snare I keep it alittle softer because on the snare it darkens up,I use the compressor for more of a control thing to keep it smooth.But on the Bass I go alittle harder to make it stand out and up front more.Remember the Compressor is a tool and a Effect,you just have to know how to use it.

Ken Sutton

__________________
Ken Sutton
WaterFall Records. / SweetKenny Sound.
www.waterfallrecordings.com
www.sweetkenny.com

Thx Kenny,
What you said will prove really helpful here real soon. since I am recording at home on my computer, I am trying to get the best sound possible. I know my setup has limitations, but I'd like to be able to travel at the threshold of those limitations. I have had friends that have recorded the tracks at home, then sent them out for mastering. I don't think getting studio quality mastering on a simple set up is possible, but I'm shooting for something in the mid level. Thx so much for the information!! Dae

Dae,

You can get that Big Sound in a small setup,and I'll Help you do it.

Mixing music is not that hard and you don't have to have alot of stuff, like plugin's to do it.

Remember Eq,compressors, reverb,ect..... are all tools and effects.just listen to old Motown,they didn't have what we have today but yet the music is Timeless,when Elvis was starting out Sam Phillips would Eq as it was recording and that is some of the Best sounding recordings from the 50's.

I'll post here in about a week or two on how to set up a mixing session and get the most out of your setup.

You will get the best out of your recording.
Until then.....

Good Luck!!!

Ken.....

__________________
Ken Sutton
WaterFall Records. / SweetKenny Sound.
www.waterfallrecordings.com
www.sweetkenny.com

Thank you Kenny!!
I know everyone here will appreciate the info, just as I do. I am learning much right now, and I love everything you have posted. It is like, you have this premonition of what I need when I need it...I look here and <poof>...there is your post..hahaha love it!!! Dae