Hi

I have two simple questions about compressors. When should compressor be applied to tracks in song? I understand what compressor does, but I have a problem understanding on which specific track should be applied (basically you can put compressor on everything in song )?

Is there a need to put multi band compressor on master buss (generally my mix sounds 100x better when I put Waves LinMB), or I'm mixing the wrong way?

Hi! There are tons of discussions about the use of compressors.
Here's a very short summary of the main tasks of compressors:

- coloring an instrument or instrument group or master (subtile use)
- Accentuate certain areas of an instrument (...like the attak of a kick drum)
- Reduce the dynamic range of an instrument (like vocals, so they have a constant level)
- Make a Drum Group "breathe" (the space between drum hits pops up and makes the drums more exciting)

There are many more tasks for compressors and you can use them on every instrument you want. You just have to listen and judge what the instrument needs. Every task has it's own compressor settings and you also can solve multiple tasks with only one compressor.




There's no need to use a multi band compressor, but if you like it, do it. It's all a matter of taste.

Thanks for reply MrMagneto! Yeah, that basically sums up all that I need to know!

For instance do you need a compressor for synths? Or maybe sidechaining synths with a compressor (say u have a two synths and one is a lot louder or has sharper sound than the other)?

In my opinion it's better to setup the synth character within the synth itself. I'd use a compressor in 2 cases.
1. to color the synth sound.
2. to bring up the reverb or delay





You usually use the sidechain compression to make a kick drum cut through the mix. If you use the kick drum as the trigger, you can make other instruments "duck" exactly to the time when the kick hits in. (typical example: eric prydz - call on me)

If you have some trouble with 2 synths, I think you better try to solve this without any compressor. There are many ways to re-arrange the synths patterns, so they don't clash, there are envelopement curves, there are Equalizers. Compressors would be the last solution here, I think. But hey, if you want to use compressors, there's nobody to hold you back!

There are mixers(famous people) that avoid compressors and don't use it much at all. I saw some interviews at Pensado's Place about this.

That you like compressor/limiter on master might be that ears react with louder is better sounding. But if mix is anywhere close to good, a master limiter would work maybe 2-3dB, or up to 5dB maybe. But if going for separate mastering stage afterwords you have to be careful how much you limit.

Maybe compare your own mixes with reference material you like. That makes you recalibrate your ears listening back and forth.

there is no right or wrong but I try to never use a multi band on a mix

I actually find compressors a very good sound design tool also, especially when coupled with EQ and other effects,

for example say if i have a percussive tom sound, i EQ the low end and whatever frequencies i don't want in it, then add a compressor with say -8db gain reduction, i find you can get a totally new sound which fits right in to my mixes

Just what i have found

Mike

Totally a compressor when used right can help change the sound of the music. And. Something to keep in mind is some music is just compressed more than others. I find a good compressor to be a very nice tool. Notice I said tool. Its a tool. Yes a old one that in theory is not needed but in practice really helps bring all the sounds together and help shape hoe things will fit together.

They also help in the loudness war, which I find really stupid because you mix a track with decent levels, but then you have to maximize the hell out of it to compete with commercial stuff and it ruins some of the dynamics

god I know. most of the times I am sent tracks to work on or even finished mixes to just master. 75% of the time The tracks are already prossesed with compression to hell eq boosts everywhere . and the final mixes sent to me. already have that pre mastering mastering done to em.
I spend more time trying to add dynamics back. but on my own stuff i try to keep things nice and dynamic. a compressor is a tool to be used. not a must have to make everything sound like a dull mess.

Hey, thanks for all the replies. Like I thought, music is about experimenting... try it and if it don't work remove it, or try different settings etc.

Maybe I'm going off topic, but since we started mastering topic, I have to ask. I noticed on my last song that my clap wasn't hitting hard as in some commercial song, and the sample I used is very good. When I finished song, it sounded dull, like it has no energy. Can compressor help to bring out energy of clap in a song (like you've been slapped in face ) or there is some other mixing technique?

it can be done many ways compression, eq a combo of both,maybe even a light ducking of whatever is getting in its way. but if you wana try compression try messing with the attack and release If you want the transient to hit hard back off on the attack so it wont squash it to fast. but at the same time you can make it pump and that can help it "stand out"
or you can even try just adjusting the volume of things.

Another use of a compressor, I don't think mentioned yet, is to glue together tracks on a bus. By making all the tracks react in a similar way due to the compression it seems to make the mind consider them as being together.

I think this was mentioned but not really talked about. yes super subtle light compression on the master bus usually done in the beginning of the mixing helps things have a similar feel and blend. it also stops the crazy peaks from really getting in the way

I rarely use compression on individual tracks these days. I do use light compression on the master, (Mastercomp) and one on the drum buss (BussPressor). But I add an uncompressed kick back in because I don't like the kicks compressed.