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More on Compression

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his installment of lessons comes from an addendum to a forum posting made by Ken Sutton, who is a Moderator on Dae's site: Music X Spot

P.S.: Ken's references to outboard compressors means hardware compressors (as in a separate stand-alone unit that you physically plug or route into and out of). MS

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 using any and all is "small adjustments" to your tools, that, and listening to your mix.

"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

What Mike is talking about is setting the compressor to a 10:1 ratio on the bass when mixing your song and this 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 it is considered as limiting.

When you get ready to mix your song, the very first 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 and then the compressor won't work so hard.

In your chain of dynamics it should look like this for the bass:

First 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 first then EQ and your going to hear it better.

I also like to compress everything just to keep it smooth, 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 a little softer because it darkens up on the snare, I use the compressor for more of a control thing to keep it smooth. But on the bass I go a little harder to make it stand out and up front more. Remember the compressor is a tool and an effect; you just have to know how to use it.

Ken Sutton