KVR Audio

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:32 am

CM magazine says that compression is absolutely crucial to getting a professional sound. Does everyone agree? I really never got into compression, and to be honest I really don't know how to work one (though I'll probably dick around with one all night tonight to teach myself). For all I know, compression could what's missing in my music. Is it really so necassary?

tee boy · Post by **tee boy** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:00 am

Chicane professes to never using compression in his mixers. They usually sound pretty 'pro' to me. I guess you have to do whatever works. I think you need compression, but I would base that decision on what i read in a magazine.

freeztar · Post by **freeztar** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:17 am

It depends on what type of music you are doing. If it's orchestral, or maybe a solo instrument with a lot of dynamics, then you probably would not want to use any compression. Whereas if you want to do dance music you would definitly want to use compression. The consensus for most music is that if you can hear the compression, you are using too much. Of course there are exceptions. You can use the compressor as an effect. For example, you can compress the heck out of a bass drum with the right filter settings and get that sucking bass sound that is used in so much electronica.
So, no it is not needed to get a "pro" sound, but it is as useful a tool as reverb.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:23 am

I'm speaking more of the DnB/Trance genres of electronic music.

tee boy · Post by **tee boy** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:38 am

It really depends on you and how you work. Many people, myself included, use compression a lot during mixing. But there are sooo many ways of using compression, so its a matter of experimentation. Dance music isnt likely to need much leveling, but it might benefit from the tight punch that compression can introduce (especially in the drums).

Just experiment with it, if it sounds better then you have your setting. That is if you feel compression is needed in the first place ofcourse!

jdg · Post by **jdg** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:08 am

compressors actually make it easier to mix as it can level out some cantankerous dynamics..

plus you can use them for need drum effects (good for drum and bass)

for example:

run two drum loops, one dry, one with compressor.

set the input gain high on the compressor, attack slow, release fastish, and compression ratio high, 8:1 or higher...

now mix the two loops together to taste, you get a really nice pumping effect under the main loop without it loosing it hit and impact.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:54 am

One thing that bothers me about tutorials on the subject is how people use the words "High" and "Low". I have NO compression experience (though in the past hour ive kinda got the hang of compression. I dont think I'll use it very often), so i have no idea what "high" and "low" is

xoxos · Post by **xoxos** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:33 pm

ime compressors are usually signal crappifiers.. eg. dbx 266xl

(where's that puking emoticon when you need it) - vocals, maybe if there's a dire need, otherwise i just compress my mix peaks with limitone.

M'Snah · Post by **M'Snah** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:50 pm

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:13 pm

so I'm not insane neglecting compression? Can effective eq'ing be just as good?

Ackelito · Post by **Ackelito** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 9:26 pm

I think compression is crucial to get a clean sound sometimes...

think of a sound that you want to come up more in the high frequency range but the low freqs are too dominant but you still need them for the sound character, you have tried to raise the filters but that only damages the sound, you have tried to boost the high frequencies but that does only make it sound odd....
so you try a compressor and voila there you got those frequencies where you want them...
of course you dont need compression on everything to make it sound pro! you need skills to make it sound pro.... just learn to use the tools you got, afterwards you can decide if you need it or not..

Anyway
i must say that jdg´s tip was great! layering is always something i overlook...

snooky · Post by **snooky** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 9:38 pm

Compression is VERY important and you should only use it seriously when you know how to...simple as that.

Compression is, fundamentally, an automatic level controll that will make it easier to mix just like stated here...you can see this for yourself if you look at a compressed vs an uncompressed waveform...the compressed one will have the highs squashed meaning you can set the overall level of the sound correctly and that the dynamics of the sound will stay in place and not jump in and out of the mix.

This means that if you use to much, the dynamics in the sound will be affected to much and the music will sound lifeless and not very natural...

Avoid using compression if you can...but use it if you have troubles with mixing volumes.

Also, creative compression will give you a very modern sound...overcompressing the bass/drums and then puttin a smooth pad ontop is a cool tip...sounds almost like autogating but much phatter.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:13 am

I spent most of last night teaching myself how to use compression, and I can see how it can be a very useful tool, but I think I would use it for getting cool sounds/effects rather than using it to improve a mix (for the most part. There are a few of my songs that I could improve by throwing a light compressor on top of the entire stereo mix). I've simply come too far without using them, and if I started using them, I would have to change the way i mix completely.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:15 am

HansM wrote:
Chase wrote:One thing that bothers me about tutorials on the subject is how people use the words "High" and "Low". I have NO compression experience (though in the past hour ive kinda got the hang of compression. I dont think I'll use it very often), so i have no idea what "high" and "low" is
Hi is much compression, Lo is little compression?

I meant more like when people where saying to have a "high" ratio, or "Slow" attack. To someone who has never used a compressor before, it would be confusing because they have no idea what the considered "high" or "slow" values are.

Spe3D · Post by **Spe3D** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 12:18 am

It depends on the compressor – my favoured at the moment by far is sonicformer – that is firggin magic

http://www.kvr-vst.com/get/973.html

Best regards,

Spe3d

:O)