Compression and the Strange Knobs
Nope, not a band name, just a desperate plea for someone to send me a good resource on how to figure out this thing called "Compression".
I know what it does, but I dont know how to use it. These are the types of things I am wondering about:
? Why do some kick drums sound loud but do not go into the red (meter), while others are tiny in comparison but are red the whole time ?
? How do I make it loud and pack the sound in tight ?
Maybe you understand, but if I need to give more info, I'm happy to! And thank you!
Compression and the Strange Knobs
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- KVRist
- 176 posts since 6 Feb, 2004 from nyc
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- KVRAF
- 10597 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Alberto Balsam
there's a GREAT tutorial on a certain technique of compression called "Cracking the Safe"
The only copy on the net I can find is posted at this forum:
http://www.totalrecallrecordings.co.uk/ ... c.php?t=13
The only copy on the net I can find is posted at this forum:
http://www.totalrecallrecordings.co.uk/ ... c.php?t=13
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- KVRAF
- 10597 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Alberto Balsam
To your first question about kicks, there are a few possibilities. First off, it might hold frequencies that you cant even hear, taking up space while not adding to the composition at all. Second, the kick might conatin too many frequencies (too much noise basically). Because of this, you will have to turn it up a lot for the "kicky" frequencies to be where you want them. This is often why EQ'ing and compression come hand-in-hand.
To your second question I recommend the tutorial I gave you. A lot of times your compositions may have loud, sharp peaks that dont add to your music or you might not even hear. That's why when you throw a compressor on a track and tune it accordingly, you wont hear a difference at first as you knob the threshold down, but you will see your db meters peaking lower. Since you will be eliminating these peaks, your track will sound louder when you're done and normalize it.
To your second question I recommend the tutorial I gave you. A lot of times your compositions may have loud, sharp peaks that dont add to your music or you might not even hear. That's why when you throw a compressor on a track and tune it accordingly, you wont hear a difference at first as you knob the threshold down, but you will see your db meters peaking lower. Since you will be eliminating these peaks, your track will sound louder when you're done and normalize it.
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- KVRer
- 5 posts since 1 Jul, 2005
Chase wrote:there's a GREAT tutorial on a certain technique of compression called "Cracking the Safe"
The only copy on the net I can find is posted at this forum:
http://www.totalrecallrecordings.co.uk/ ... c.php?t=13
That's some cool info!Peace!
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- KVRAF
- 10597 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Alberto Balsam
oh silly me it's coming up blank. I'll try to find another link.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 176 posts since 6 Feb, 2004 from nyc
Chase, thanks for the response.
Unfortunately the link doesnt work for me, but I'll try to figure it out.
What about this strange phenomenon: If I start with the threshhold at 1, the meters are green, so I turn the threshhold to 70 and the meters go back to red, but then I keep turning and they go back to green?!?
Is this just a bad compressor? (Reason 2.5)
Unfortunately the link doesnt work for me, but I'll try to figure it out.
What about this strange phenomenon: If I start with the threshhold at 1, the meters are green, so I turn the threshhold to 70 and the meters go back to red, but then I keep turning and they go back to green?!?
Is this just a bad compressor? (Reason 2.5)
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- KVRAF
- 10597 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Alberto Balsam
Ok the link doesnt work so I just pasted my copy of it.
Someone posted this at DOA which is odd because DOA sucks and this tutorial is golden for a beginner's starting point, methinks
Someone posted this at DOA which is odd because DOA sucks and this tutorial is golden for a beginner's starting point, methinks
It's Like Cracking a Safe
[MOD EDIT]
The "Cracking The Safe" tutorial has been removed because it is copyrighted material, the posting of which is obviously against KVR rules (the rules)!
It is in fact an entire section from the book "Mixing With Your Mind", visit www.mixingwithyourmind.com for more info.
[/MOD EDIT]
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- KVRAF
- 10597 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Alberto Balsam
What is the ratio at when you do this?jebudas wrote:What about this strange phenomenon: If I start with the threshhold at 1, the meters are green, so I turn the threshhold to 70 and the meters go back to red, but then I keep turning and they go back to green?!?
Reason is IMO packed with GREAT componants and I havent used it since reason 1.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 176 posts since 6 Feb, 2004 from nyc
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 176 posts since 6 Feb, 2004 from nyc
3:1, but hopefully I'll learn about it more now and I'll figure out the mystery.Chase wrote:What is the ratio at when you do this?
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- KVRAF
- 10597 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Alberto Balsam
that IS odd. If the ratio were lower than 1 (like 0.1:1 for instance) the peaks would get louder, but with a 3:1 ratioi dont see how that could happen.jebudas wrote:3:1, but hopefully I'll learn about it more now and I'll figure out the mystery.Chase wrote:What is the ratio at when you do this?