Compression - TranceAddict Forums

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Posted by CrayC on Jun-01-2007 07:24:

Compression

Hi all

I understand in broad strokes what compression and why it's useful. I only record from sound modules (i.e. no guitars, vocals etc.) and keep them all turned up full (as close to line level as I can get them).

Now, with this set up, should I use compression at all? And should I use it on every track? And if I'm using it on everything, should I keep the same, or close to the same, threshold on everything, so that it's all under control and in the same (presumably resonably small?) range, then I can boost the sounds that need it later on with the faders?

Posted by echosystm on Jun-01-2007 07:37:

You dont understand compression mate

Compression isn't about gain (volume). Sure, compressors have a gain knob but thats not what you use them for. Compressors reduce the DYNAMIC of the sound.

The easiest way to explain what that means... is that it makes the quiet parts louder and the louder parts quieter. So, if you can imagine you have a loop with 1 loud high hat and one quiet high hat, compressing it would make the quiet high hat louder relative to the loud high hat.

Clear?

Whether or not you should use compression relies entirely on the sound you're using and IF you want to reduce the dynamics of it.

Posted by CrayC on Jun-01-2007 07:51:

Thanks for this.

But is "it makes the quiet parts louder and the louder parts quieter" not something to do with volume? (It sounds like it's at least related?)

Anyway, then my question really is, do you want all sounds to have the same dynamic? It seems to me, that might make it easier to control. If all tracks at at a similar level, i.e. they all vary within the same decibel range, then do they mix together better than if they are not. Is that not what compression does?

CrayC

Posted by CrayC on Jun-01-2007 08:25:

I'm really sorry, I'm not making myself clear on this at all.

Frist of all, I meant to start with "I think understand in broad strokes what compression and why it's useful"

Second of all, "it makes the quiet parts louder and the louder parts quieter" - is this first part not an expander rather than a compressor?

Lastly, and this is what I'm trying to sort out, "if you can imagine you have a loop with 1 loud high hat and one quiet high hat, compressing it would make the quiet high hat louder relative to the loud high hat"...

if the two high hats were recorded on two tracks, would putting the loud one through a compressor be a good idea to reduce the relative level between them, or would this be unnecessary? Could the relative difference not just be resolved by lowering the fader on the loud one? So really I'm aksing whether or not you need to reduce dynamics between different tracks with compression, or simply by adjusting the volume of the track?

Or have I just got the wrong end of the stick...

CracyC

Posted by echosystm on Jun-01-2007 08:31:

Theyre kind of related in that the level will change, but compression is not the same as gain. If you reduce the gain (volume) of a single audio file, the loud parts will go quieter at the same rate as the quiet parts.

Heres an example... Lets say we have a highat loop (wav file) with two high hats playing in it...

Original:
Loud Hat: -3db
Quiet Hat: -10db

Compressed:
Loud hat: -4db
Quiet hat: -8db

Increasing Gain/Volume:
Loud hat: 0db
Quiet hat: -7db

I don't know how else to make this easier to understand.

An example of where you use compression is on your master channel. You usually want to compress the entire mix to make it sound "tighter", in that any gaps in volume throughout the track are filled up somewhat. Another example is say... a vocal, if there are parts where the singer belts out a little too much, you can trim it back so it doesnt stick out like a sore thumb relative to the rest of his/her singing volume - the whole recording will conform to a closer volume range.

Posted by echosystm on Jun-01-2007 08:35:

An expander is the OPPOSITE of a compressor, it increases the dynamic

Posted by MaX_TrAnCeX on Jun-01-2007 16:26:

if you are comparing loud hats and quiet hats in a loop, would there still be a point in compressing one sound like a kick and why?

Posted by flutlicht junky on Jun-01-2007 16:41:

Compression is used to recuce the dynamic RANGE traditionally used in records where there can be a wide range or loud spikes e.g. vocals, drums. SYnths often have a more controlled output so compression is not for this as much (unless you have a lot of resonance then you can incur unusually loud parts alongside quieter parts.

Posted by MaX_TrAnCeX on Jun-01-2007 16:42:

would it make synths sound more powerful? should it even be used on them

Posted by DigiNut on Jun-01-2007 22:24:

quote:
Originally posted by MaX_TrAnCeX
would it make synths sound more powerful?