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Compressor freaks, I need your help!

Hi peoplez,

I've been using Fruity for years now but unfortunately i'm up to that stage in music-making where I have to start using compressors.

I just have to face the music.


Now, I have a basic understanding of how these things work but not quite enough to know how to do what I need to do in my latest track.

I know that they can used to limit things to a certain decibel level but what I want to do is limit something without making it softer on the parts that are below the limiting DB level...

To put it quite plainly I want to make it so that it wont get louder than a certain level but at the same time it wont force it to be quieter when it doesnt have to.


so guys


what do i need to learn?

Read the tutorials. Start with THIS ONE

had a feeling i would get referred to a tutorial

*sigh*

alright, i'll give it a shot but im not likely to understand it.

"turning down the bassline makes the track lose its 'groove', but turning up the other instruments seems to swamp the mix with much the same results"...

wow, i know exactly what they are talking about!

quote:

Originally posted by meneedit wow, i know exactly what they are talking about!

I'm assuming that that isn't sarcasm. That being the case, I always try to give an answer that will be of some use to you. I posted those particular tutorials specifically because they were very straightforward and easy to understand. Hopefully they've supplied you with the information you needed, and if so, I'm glad to be of help. I've been fortunate enough to have some immensely knowledgeable mentors over many years in many areas of the music business. I look at helping others out as repaying those teachers. I don't know NEARLY as much as I'd like to, and there are many here who have vast amounts of information and experience that I lack. Whatever I do have, I'm more than happy to share.

yeah thats cool. It sorta helped.... thanks


I also found out why sometimes when I randomize Fruity compressor the very start of the pattern is loud, and the rest is soft.

anyways, to put it in its simplest form I was just after a way to stop peaks and make the waveform completely flat so that it cant dominate.

ok... here is my "fruity compressor" layman's term explanation... forget all the tutorials


before you insert the compressor, check the peak meter and put your mouse over about 1/4 of the peak meter's length below the peak of the sound... the highest point... Check the top left to see what dB it says... for ex.. (-10 dB)

Now insert the compressor... there are all these knobs... great.. wtf do i do... First set the threshold to wherever you think you want the sound to be squashed to... In this example, I'll say -10 dB... This is your "reference point" as i would say...

Now.. the ratio is how much you want to squish the sound... you can't compress the sound below the threshold because that is your "reference point"... Ok... so let's say the channel has something like this...

Note 1: -1 dB (9 dB above threshold)
Note 2: -7 dB (3 dB above threshold)
Note 3: 2 dB (12 dB above threshold)
Note 4: -4 dB (6 dB above threshold)

If you set the compressor to a 3:1 ratio (with a -10 dB threshold).. this is what is going to happen...

Note 1: -7 dB (3 dB above threshold)
Note 2: -9 dB (1 dB above threshold)
Note 3: -6 dB (4 dB above threshold)
Note 4: -8 dB (2 dB above threshold)

You see... before the notes were above the threshold by x decibels... but now, with the ratio of 3:1.. they are only above the threshold by x/3 decibels... (ratios of less than 1 will actually expand the sound to make it even louder)

ok.. now the attack and release... Basically, whenever the sound breaches the threshold... the attack will tell your comrpessor to wait a certain number of milliseconds before to have the compression to start working... a very low or 0 ms setting will cause it to act almost instantly... now the release is how long to hold the compression for...

In working practice, the shorter the attack and release the faster your compressor will work and the more compressed your sound will be and the "tighter" it will sound... (most cases good for kick/percussion, some basses, etc...)
the longer the attack and release time, will make the compression seem not as obvious and is generally better for overall mixes and pads and etc...

I'm not too sure how to explain the "type" in fruity compressor (called the knee) but in general, you want kicks and percs to be "harder" and the other less "tight" things to be "softer"

Finally.. the gain is just to increase the volume...

Also, one thing to note is that fruity compressor has a built in limiter... so it will never let the sound get past 0 dB... even if you want it to...

that's about it.. hope that helps!

Re: Compressor freaks, I need your help!

quote:

Originally posted by meneedit Hi peoplez, I've been using Fruity for years now but unfortunately i'm up to that stage in music-making where I have to start using compressors. I just have to face the music. Now, I have a basic understanding of how these things work but not quite enough to know how to do what I need to do in my latest track. I know that they can used to limit things to a certain decibel level but what I want to do is limit something without making it softer on the parts that are below the limiting DB level... To put it quite plainly I want to make it so that it wont get louder than a certain level but at the same time it wont force it to be quieter when it doesnt have to. so guys what do i need to learn?

Basically, if you know all the terms of a compressor and what they mean you can find it out for yourself.

If you just want the compressor to tame the parts that are too loud, it's just a matter of setting the threshold right. You set it that way that you don't see gain reduction on the parts you don't want to affect, and it starts to apply gain reduction on the parts you think are too loud. The ratio defines how much you'll tame those peaks. The attack and release will decide how fast he reacts, you'll have to experiment with those to get the result you're after.
If it's just for taming, you don't even need to use the make up gain (as you just push down peaks, and don't touch the lower levels).

There is no substitute for learning how to use a compressor properly and all the terms associated with it. If you decide to pick up a few suggestions here and there and just go with that, you will never reach the stage to having a professional sound needed for today's market. Read those tutorials, it'll be better for you in the long run.
Cheers

Re: Re: Compressor freaks, I need your help!

quote:

Originally posted by Dj Thy Basically, if you know all the terms of a compressor and what they mean you can find it out for yourself. If you just want the compressor to tame the parts that are too loud, it's just a matter of setting the threshold right. You set it that way that you don't see gain reduction on the parts you don't want to affect, and it starts to apply gain reduction on the parts you think are too loud. The ratio defines how much you'll tame those peaks. The attack and release will decide how fast he reacts, you'll have to experiment with those to get the result you're after. If it's just for taming, you don't even need to use the make up gain (as you just push down peaks, and don't touch the lower levels).

thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by kewlness ok... here is my "fruity compressor" layman's term explanation... forget all the tutorials before you insert the compressor, check the peak meter and put your mouse over about 1/4 of the peak meter's length below the peak of the sound... the highest point... Check the top left to see what dB it says... for ex.. (-10 dB) Now insert the compressor... there are all these knobs... great.. wtf do i do... First set the threshold to wherever you think you want the sound to be squashed to... In this example, I'll say -10 dB... This is your "reference point" as i would say... Now.. the ratio is how much you want to squish the sound... you can't compress the sound below the threshold because that is your "reference point"... Ok... so let's say the channel has something like this... Note 1: -1 dB (9 dB above threshold) Note 2: -7 dB (3 dB above threshold) Note 3: 2 dB (12 dB above threshold) Note 4: -4 dB (6 dB above threshold) If you set the compressor to a 3:1 ratio (with a -10 dB threshold).. this is what is going to happen... Note 1: -7 dB (3 dB above threshold) Note 2: -9 dB (1 dB above threshold) Note 3: -6 dB (4 dB above threshold) Note 4: -8 dB (2 dB above threshold) You see... before the notes were above the threshold by x decibels... but now, with the ratio of 3:1.. they are only above the threshold by x/3 decibels... (ratios of less than 1 will actually expand the sound to make it even louder) ok.. now the attack and release... Basically, whenever the sound breaches the threshold... the attack will tell your comrpessor to wait a certain number of milliseconds before to have the compression to start working... a very low or 0 ms setting will cause it to act almost instantly... now the release is how long to hold the compression for... In working practice, the shorter the attack and release the faster your compressor will work and the more compressed your sound will be and the "tighter" it will sound... (most cases good for kick/percussion, some basses, etc...) the longer the attack and release time, will make the compression seem not as obvious and is generally better for overall mixes and pads and etc... I'm not too sure how to explain the "type" in fruity compressor (called the knee) but in general, you want kicks and percs to be "harder" and the other less "tight" things to be "softer" Finally.. the gain is just to increase the volume... Also, one thing to note is that fruity compressor has a built in limiter... so it will never let the sound get past 0 dB... even if you want it to... that's about it.. hope that helps!

thanks!

Ok, I went home and gave it a shot..

thanks for everybodies help!

A compressor can produce a really cool sound!


I've got a couple more questions though.


1. Can a compresssor work in reverse to keep

something above a certain level?

2. I'm trying to set priorities...

(If I have a compressor in the master FX it

causes the drums to be held back by the synth

until the synth stops, then the drums return to

how they should be)

how can I make it so that the synth is dominated

by the drums?

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