Now the first thing to do is to load up a good compressor. Now what makes a good compressor? One thing I have to recommend, is that it have a reduction meter accompanying it. Like so,
Now, there is a lot of confusing things to look at here, Threshold, ratio, attack, release...But what do they all do? Okay I will explain these, as you have probably heard a thousand times... Threshold - Is simply the point, you designate, in which the compressor will start working. An example, If you set it at -25db, then everything above that will be compressed. Ratio - Is simply how much will be compressed within the threshold limits. Example, if you have a 4:1 ratio, then out of every 4db's that pass the threshold point, only 1db's will be allowed through it. So if you have the threshold set to -25db and the audio is going to -10db and you have the 4:1 ratio set, then a little under 4 decibels will be allowed through it. Attack - Is simply when the compressor will kick in, a fast attack near 1 will be instant, an attack of 100 will take a bit longer. Release - Is simply when the compressor resets after it has kicked in. Now that the theory of compression is over, lets try to use it in real setting and let me give you a way to learn to use the compressor. Now note that using a compressor is very common in audio, and is often done wrong and abused when not needed. Now when should you use a compressor? Say you are recording a singer, they sing beautiful low parts during the verse, then explode in the chorus, or if they are even all over the loudness levels all the way through any part...These sound files are going to scream for compression. On the other hand, if you are only recording rap vocals, and you notice the levels are consistent throughout the track..These really don't need it. It wouldn't hurt to put some on it, but isn't necessarily required here. Okay, so my singer/audio is jumping all over the place! How do I start to use this compressor what do I start with and where? Okay so the first thing I recommend is setting everything to the minimum. Pull your threshold as low as it allows, set the ratio as high as it will go, set the attack and release as low as it will go, as such....
Now play the track, you will notice it sounds horribly distorted and mashed...This isn't the desired effect, but we can now begin to turn it into something magical and leveled. The first thing you want to start with is your threshold, now this is where the reduction meter will come in handy. Start pulling your threshold back up and keep an eye on your reduction meter. This is where your eyes will play a pivotal role in your audio. Now when you get accustomed to hearing this setting, you can ignore it, but for beginners, stick with the compressors with reduction meters. Now your goal is to have the compressor going in and out. You don't want to see the reduction meter in constant use, this is over compression, you also don't want to see the compressor kicking in and out. Trust your eyes here and watch for when the compressor is being initialized and making gains and constant reductions. This is your threshold point. Now that we have that set, lets move on to our attack and release. This is also the place where many people seem to neglect way too much. This is where you can also make that weak bass punch, and make that twangy guitar settle down. Now we want to listen and use our ears, and trust our own opinion here. Now we see that our compressor here has been set to 0.10. So listen first to the audio and hear how distorted it still is, for reference sake, pull the attack all the way to the max...
Okay now we can definitely hear a difference right? Notice how we've lost that distinct distortion sound? Aha, now we know the difference of Attack. low attacks such as 0.10 have more punch, higher setting such as 1000 have less punch. Simple right, so now just start at the lowest setting and start pulling the attack back until you are comfortable that you have enough punch and smoothness in the track. If still confused, start pulling back until you can no longer hear the distortion. Now the release, Start at the bottom again and listen to the track, now pull the release all the way up...
Hear how the release works? Lower settings such as 1, cause the compression to have more punch, where as a higher setting such as 10,000 smoothes it out more. Now where should my release be? Okay guys listen to the track and start at the lowest setting on release and start dialing it up until its smooth enough for your liking...Now don't pull it back too much or else your audio will take a loss. But even this is fixable as I will show you. Now for the last piece, the dreaded, most confusing compressor setting....The RATIO...Now I have heard many different ways on how to set this. I've heard of producers/engineers taking actual numbers and calculators to determine this number. From just using pre-made settings that came with the compressor...I'm going to show you an easy way, that will also train your ear as well. First we remember that we have it set to the max compression and we can still hear its effect...Now pull it all the way down...
Okay now we can hear the difference and see it in the output meters. This is where the meat and bones is in our compressor. The higher the ratio, the more compression we get, the lower the setting the less it works. Okay, but how do I set mine? Simple. Start at the highest compressor setting and start dialing it down until you find a level that is comfortable to your ear. One that pulls that high part down and still keeps it normal sounding. Example, if you still hear a distortion in the audio, dial it down. Watch your output meters as well to make sure the compressor is doing its job. If the audio is still not being compressed in those runaway high parts that called for the compression in the first place, dial the compressor up a bit. Now your audio may have lost some volume here, this is where a GOOD compressor comes in handy. On most compressors you will have a place for your make up gain....
Here it is simply labeled as Output. This is where you can turn up a little bit of the audio level you have lost. Now don't get crazy here, too much and your audio file will overpower its position. Congratulations, you have now learned how to master the all powerful compressors!! Thumbs up to you. Now remember guys, the key to great mixing is always going to be good compression and equalizer settings. Other effects are minimalistic at best. Now go out and practice and make us a hit guys. Guys I always appreciate you reading my blogs and learning something. Be sure to check on my page guys, I am a beat maker and love to hear feedback guys, so comment here subscribe, and check out my beats on my site...
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