Compresson - Part 2!

[adgemstudios]

I have a few questions about applying compression while recording rather than when mixing.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Apart from the fact you cant get rid of the compression once recorded!
Why do engineers do it?

x

[whomper]

Originally Posted by adgemstudios

I have a few questions about applying compression while recording rather than when mixing.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Apart from the fact you cant get rid of the compression once recorded!
Why do engineers do it?

x

too much dynamic range
can use more gain
to keep low end above the noise


help avoid clipping

[ryanoliver]

Whomper's right.

I'll give you an example:

You're recording a rock singer that will go form a whisper to a full on scream. You never know when he's gonna clip the meters so give yourself a safety net. This applies to just about anything that has a big dynamic range, for instance a snare drum. You need to juice it to capture all the ghosting but at any time that guy might crush it so hard it spikes.

[adgemstudios]

So technically your could capture a much louder snare, or anything for that matter, than if you were to record it dry?

Should you apply the same amount of compression as when your mixing?
For the snare Iv been knocking off about 3/4 db's then adding about the same in make up gain.

When you say you can then use more gain, do you mean use the make up gain on the compressor or the gain for the channel strip?

Also how would you know how to set the compressor?
Just get the guy to keep wacking the snare and set it up for a few dbs gr and set the gain?

x

[Bigduggieface]

I've been recording using computer-based DAW's for over 10 years (and ADATS and DA-88's before that).

Until recently, digital compression sucked! You couldn't compress more than 5-6 dB before the compressor distorted the sound. It sounded 'computery' or 'distorted'.

I soon realized that using a hardware compressor and setting it correctly while recording allowed me to get the general sound I'd want before the signal was converted to digital. This also allowed me to get a consistently loud level, effectively using your available bit-depth to its maximum.

Nowadays, all of this is changing. With 24+ bit-depth available, computer power getting cheaper & more powerful, and especially the impressive quality of software compressor technology recently, it could be argued that one does not need to use compression while recording. As long as you are watching the input meters with a hand on the preamp knob to avoid clipping.

In some cases, I still might set up the compressor at a high ratio and low threshold to catch the loudest peaks in order to avoid clipping the A/D converter. This is perhaps the most common use of compression / limiting while recording.

[adgemstudios]

So how would I go about setting it up?
Get the guy to keep playing the kit, set up the comp so iv got a few dbs of gr, but then do I use the make up gain on the compressor, or the gain on the channel strip?

Which would allow me to capture a more natural louder sound?

x

[drgamble]

One could write an entire book about compression. Basically, a compressor reduces the dynamic range ( the difference between loud sounds and quiet sounds). So how can you tell if you need compression? If you move the fader down to the point that the instrument is clearly too low mark that spot. Then move the fader up until it is clearly too loud and mark that spot. If there is a big difference between these levels (10 db or more), you probably need compression. As far as "natural sound" goes, this is more dictated by attack and release times. Longer times=more natural. Attack times can also be used to move instruments forward or backwards in the mix. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to compressors because every signal is unique. A lot of times, I will start out with presets. Sometimes these settings are somewhat ok, but more times than not these settings need quite a bit of refining. I will solo instruments to get the settings closer, but final adjustments are always made in the mix. That is a simplified explanation of compression and there are several different techniques that people use including parallel compression and using the side chain feature. This might be more confusing than when you started, but compression can be a very complex tool that takes time to develop the critical listening skills that one needs to properly set the compressor.

[String7th]

Ugh, you're right, one could write a book about compression alone.

If using while tracking I'd suggest setting it up more as a limiter than compressor. mic to preamp, then if the preamp has an insert (send/return), use that. Otherwise use the outputs of the preamp to the compressor, then out to your recording device.

To set up a limiter instead of compressor, the ratio wil be 10:1 or higher to the max it goes. Attack and release will be the fastest it can go. To set the threshold, have the drummer hit hard and fast (or have the singer sing a long loud note, or scream) and slowly drop the threshold so that the loudest hit or scream just barely activates the gain reduction by 2-3 db's. Then add a db or 2 of make up gain.

[willjrockstar]

I know this post is kind of old but yr a little confused about something here and id like to clear it up for you.

You said,
When you say you can then use more gain, do you mean use the make up gain on the compressor or the gain for the channel strip?



The makeup gain on a compressor only raises the compressed signal. So if yr using a wideband compressor, you are compressing the whole signal, so it doesnt matter whether you use the output fader or the makeup gain.

But if yr using a sidechain comp and compress yr guitar from the 400 to 600 hz range, then raising the makeup gain will only make the 400 to 600hz range of the signal louder. If you were to use the output fader then it would raise the level of the entire signal and the 400 to 600 hz range would seem comparatively quieter because its compressed.

Hope this helps.

[whomper]

Originally Posted by willjrockstar

I know this post is kind of old but yr a little confused about something here and id like to clear it up for you.
.

string7 and dargas confuse easily