I hate compressors!

[PeterPav]

Does anyone else think they're way over-used in modern music ?

[tacman7]

I love my compressors!!

The UAD compressors don't seem like compressors and I don't use them a lot on the stereo bus, more for individual color and subtle enhancements.
They can make things fit into a mix.

I read things like this before I bought a card but it has made a difference for me.

They do require judicious use though.

[Alarmist]

I'll just add, that it was true what AE's told me years ago, that compressors (I guess like all the other techniques) take a while to understand... and I'm certainly still learning. Techniques and equipment shouldn't be seen to have 'black and white' uses. A compressor doesn't have to just be used to bring audio levels together. Like tacman7 says, compressors can just add a pleasant subtle sound to audio. Also, don't jump in on one particular design/make, try some free plugins, or watch/listen to demos.

[Alarmist]

Sorry, yes, I guess you'd be right if a plugin was used..... not ideal. I'll call it a miss-type. Scrub that, and lets stick with outboard, pre etc!

[johncub]

Funny this should come up. About a month ago I bought a compressor limiter and have been fiddling with it at home and at band practices. Before I had one I was pretty sure I knew how they worked. Now I realize I have much to learn. It's a 2 channel number which I use one channel for my guitar and the other for my vocals.

Here's one thing I think I've learned but I'd like someone to confirm or deny:
When changing volume levels (say like from using it at home to going to band practice) the settings will not be the same to get a usable sound. I can have it sounding sweeter than candy at home but when we get set up for band practice and turn the volumes up I find my sound is cleaner and overall better without the settings I've chosen for my home set up. Not sure why this is, or for that matter even IF it is. It's just what I hear. Can anyone confirm or deny if this is real?

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by PeterPav

"Hate" is such a strong word I know. For some reason I dont trust a plug-in to work like an outboard comp unit. Doesn't the raw signal hit the AD converter before the plug-in? I just havent heard any "In the box" vocal sound I like. I cant imagine anything pro is done that way, but Thank You for your thoughtful reply.
Pete

Wait a minute,

First you were dissing compressors, and now you're defending them against plug-ins that you don't trust to work the same!

Have you read Brandon's articles:

Compressors: Shooting Down The Anti-Plugin Mentality

Don't Buy A Hardware Compressor...Unless

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by johncub

Here's one thing I think I've learned but I'd like someone to confirm or deny:
When changing volume levels (say like from using it at home to going to band practice) the settings will not be the same to get a usable sound. I can have it sounding sweeter than candy at home but when we get set up for band practice and turn the volumes up I find my sound is cleaner and overall better without the settings I've chosen for my home set up. Not sure why this is, or for that matter even IF it is. It's just what I hear. Can anyone confirm or deny if this is real?

As soon as the input gain changes, the whole effect of the settings change.

[MetalDave]

I find outboard compressors to be a great tool for recording vocals and sometimes bass guitar. If the signal is always going from too quiet to peaking in a matter of a split second it comes in handy to keep the signal from being distorted when it is captured on to a hard drive. You really don't want to over use compression as it totally kills any dynamics the band may be trying to produce. I believe I use them more on the limitting side rather than squash the sound so much. It's noise gates I hate!!!! And yes I have done several hate crimes against Gates.....Thats all I want to say about that!

[Electriclight]

Originally Posted by PeterPav

Yeah Dave, Isnt saying a virtual model of some compressor is the same as an outboard version, like saying virtual sex is the same as the real thing? LOL Yeah, I never use gates either, but they are good for some drum sounds. I totally agree that compression looses an instruments harmonics, they have too, unless you use a multi band version, but I've found they sound un-natural too. Picky, Picky,

I don't want to stifle any REAL dialogue... but a harmonic is just a different frequency mathematically related to another (primary) frequency. It would be pretty hard to single out and pick off harmonics. You would have to have a super computer and a really surgically sharp equalizer.

If you're just saying stuff for the sake of debating yourself, fine go at it. But I think you'ld have a hard time backing the claim about compressors losing harmonics. Compressors are a function of volume not frequencies. Even multiband compressors only filter into bands and then compress.

Likewise your comments about plugins don't hold water unless you are one of those guys that can only record on tape, only listens to LPs, and refuses to listen to anything on CDs, MP3s, or any digital formatted audio. There are TONS of professionally produced songs on the radio at this moment made with the help of software compressors. You don't have to like them, but please don't say it's not done or it's not possible.

[Cailyn]

Originally Posted by PeterPav

Yes there are thousands of compressors, but there are other ways to capture sound without using them, but it takes more time.

Huh? Compressors have nothing to do with capturing a sound unless you use it in the recording chain which generally makes no sense. The widely accepted practice is to record totally dry and then apply effects, including compression, during the mix. Compression is a very useful tool and I see no virtue in excluding them from the recording process in search of greater purity or whatever. The point is to make the best sounding music by any means possible.