Wave Recording - Compressing/Limiting

[CyberCat]

I am wondering if it is a good idea to use a compressor or a limiter to do a wave recording such as a vocal or guitar.

I am trying to prevent the levels from peaking/clipping.

[brandondrury]

I don't use a compressor to prevent peaking. That is done by being careful of preamp levels. I use a compressor when I want something to sound compressed or I want to bring up the quiet stuff.

I'm all for using a compressor, but it needs to be done for the right reasons.

Brandon

[CyberCat]

OK,

Thanks for the advice.

[TLTD]

I recorded one song where I used a compressor for the rythms and when there were harmony guitar parts. It was subtle, I don't even notice it but really noticed how much better it was when I looked at the tracks on the computer. Later on in the song, I did the harmony parts without the compressor and they sound good too. So it is a matter of what you want to do. But not using it when recording your track to begin with is probably better because you can chose not to appy compression to the track and experiment.
May I add that I am no expert but realized that all the time I used compression before I knew what each setting meant (and that means on a pedal or mixing a track), I overused it because I was listening for a drastic difference and not for stabilization.

[brandondrury]

I don't even notice it but really noticed how much better it was when I looked at the tracks on the computer.

Just for the record, no one ever really pays attention to how the waveform looks.

[TLTD]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Just for the record, no one ever really pays attention to how the waveform looks.

I meant that it wasn't as loud, because it's nice to have the option to turn it up without clipping silly hehe. Made me think about how I explain things around here hehe.

[brandondrury]

Made me think about how I explain things around here hehe.

Well don't get too self-conscious about it. In this particular case, this is just one of those deals where if a person is using their eyeballs too much, it's a red flag that they are going down the wrong path. (It's kind of like looking at a dude's arm covered in needle stabbings. Maybe it's nothing, maybe it's a BIG problem!)

Brandon

[TLTD]

That's an interesting point. Why am I trying to fix something that sounded ok but looked funny as a wav?

I actually went back to some of my original mixes before I started playing around with compressors and eqs again and I noticed how much nicer I like them by just turning the volume up. It really does help when you give advice and the way you state your guidelines. Identifying the problem before wasting a bunch of time on a mix that your ear says just needs a little volume, interesting idea.