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compressor on the master channel? (pg. 3)
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| Vizay |
if you know 100% why you're doing something it's okay, do it any way you want. The problem pops up when people put a compressor on the master without knowing why and more importantly, without having a clue as to why the sound behaves in a different way (see the other thread here on the forums about audio pumping for a perfect example of what I mean).
I suggest you lot read the following article:
http://www.kvraudio.com/wiki/?id=A+...roach+to+mixing
it's not a fact in any way but he has some very valid points when it comes to mixing.
The concept is basicly in out. If you have clipping in your track you're in no way fixing the original problem by putting a compressor on the master track or simply lowering the master fader.
If you want a 100% perfect result you have to get to the source and fix the problem there! |
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| Vortex_SA |
| quote: | Originally posted by Vizay
a 100% perfect result |
non existent...
there is no perfect in art...
compressor is a nice tool... i for one like to crush and destroy my sounds, i just do, so i mash it all together and get what i want, i use the compressor on the master technique quite a lot, it helps me out when composing and mixing, as i tend to do stuff in a relatively low volume and cant always crank up the volume to hear those small sounds when composing... when i mix and "master" i usually do it in greater volume due to the nuances i should be worried about, but i see no wrong in putting a compressor on the master to get a "feel" of the final result... hack if i could compose with a ring modulator on the master I'd do it :) could be cool as hell... |
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| Vizay |
| no problem at all, but what you're talking about is the composition phase, I was talking about the mixing phase. Yes you can mix with a compressor/[insert any FX here] but the result will also be according to that then. |
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| Vortex_SA |
| quote: | Originally posted by Vizay
no problem at all, but what you're talking about is the composition phase, I was talking about the mixing phase. Yes you can mix with a compressor/[insert any FX here] but the result will also be according to that then. |
its just a matter of personal preference, that's all... |
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| Magnus |
| I get Electronic Musician magazine and 2 issues ago there was an article written by some top mastering engineer. In the article he says to put a compressor (he uses the Oxford Dynamics in the article) on the master out with very subtle settings. He says it helps to glue the track together a little. He went on to say to use a compressor on individual tracks as needed, use a compressor on the master out with very gentle settings, and use a compressor in post production mastering, saying it further adds gell to the mix. I don't have the issue in front of me but can find the month (I think it was December's issue) and the page numbers if anyone is interested. It was a pretty interesting article. |
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| Nemesis44 |
I put a compressor on the master buss before I start. I have got used to working this way and can achieve the results I want from this.
I agree totally with the statement that says this helps to gel the sounds together. Keep in mind that we are not talking extremes here.
I will also compress individual groups of sounds i.e. Bass and Drums etc. and sometimes add a limiter too to make the drum track seem more solid.
If the end result is what you wanted then any method is the right way.
When writing and mixing a track I always set out to try and produce it in such a way that it doesn’t need too much in the way of mastering.
What most mastering houses are out to avoid is when people compress the out of mix and then hand it to a sound engineer and expect them to work magic.
Cheers
Nem |
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| dannib |
| quote: | | What most mastering houses are out to avoid is when people compress the out of mix and then hand it to a sound engineer and expect them to work magic. |
Yes absolutely. this happens alot!. I just recently sat in on a mastering session and the engineer actually had to use an expander on the final mix! The guy who sent the mix had obviously just strapped an L2 on the 2-buss and smashed the hell out of the dynamics. This actually happens alot.
Mix buss compression is very different. Depending on the compressor, preferrably a dedicated buss compressor, you can really gel the sounds together without destroying any dynamics. |
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| wrzonance |
| quote: | Originally posted by derail
In terms of the original question - some great sounding songs and albums have been made using master bus compression (for example, on SSL mixing desks, which allegedly have a distinctive sound - I can't comment, I've never owned/ used one). Some experienced engineers have no problems working with the compression on, since they have 20, 30 years of experience working that way. |
To answer two questions. Yes the quad-comp on the SSL's sound fantastic. I've used an SSL 6000 several times. What a mixer!
But jesus you'd never START a mix that way. You might END a mix with some quad-comp doing light compression.
I think compression can best be equated to cooking. Pour some in, then boil it off for best results. In cooking that's called reducing, I believe.
Anyway, just thought I'd jump on the bandwagon: COMPRESSING MASTER CHANNEL AT THE BEGINNING OF A MIX IS BAD MKAY?. :whip: |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| Experienced producers might do a decent job mixing with compression on the master bus, but I still think it's an absolutely horrible tip to give in a tutorial to newbies who probably hardly know how compression even works, much less how to use it properly. |
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| Existo22 |
No disrespect towards anybody here that disagrees but Olav basoski is a very good house producer with a lot of quality releases under his belt.
Chances are he knows what he is talking about ;)
The idea behind this is simple. Do all your volume adjustments against the compressor setting so that the sound of the whole track does not change after you throw the master buss
compressor on the final mix. All your relative volume levels stay how you wanted them.
There is no right or wrong.
If He likes working this way and the end product sounds good and it sells than I say he is doing a good job. |
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| dannib |
| quote: | | it's an absolutely horrible tip to give in a tutorial to newbies who probably hardly know how compression even works, much less how to use it properly |
i actually agree somewhat. You should only be using these techniques if you know EXACTLY what you want to achieve. There is no point whatsoever in putting a compressor on the master buss just for the sake of it and because someone in a tutorial has told you to!
This technique shouldn't be forgotten though as it is a very powerfull tool. You will find a lot of house producers and many mixing engineers using this technique. |
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| cryophonik |
| I disagree. No puppies are going to be harmed by a newbie experimenting with a compressor on their master buss. Sometimes doing something "wrong" is best way to learn how not to do it. And, sometimes doing something "wrong" ends up being pure genius (although, not likely in this case). |
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