Whether you're new to music or you've composed masterpieces for years, odds are you've come across a compressor at some point in your adventures (or so I hope!). Every Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW as we popularly call them, has some form of compressor among its arsenal of plug-ins. The good news is that all compressors have very similar functions, once you've learned one you've learned them all!
So why have I chosen compression as the first topic in regards to keeping your music sounding amazing? Simply put, compression is the current sound of the music industry. Virtually everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in music is compressed these days. It is the single most important tool available for you to increase the quality of your mixes. With that being said, let's jump right into the world of Compression!
We've learned so far that compression is the most important tool you can utilize to increase mix quality. What does a compressor do anyways?
**A compressor.....compresses....the loud parts of your signal, allowing for increase in the overall volume level without reaching a peak point.
In layman's terms applying compression stabilizes your track and smooths out the loudest points in the signal to bring the overall level to a place where it's much easier to blend into your mix. The more compression applied, the more stabilized your track becomes.
So compress to the moon and back right? Wrong!
Too much compression can be a bad thing. Applying too much can make your sound stagnant and lose expression. For example, take a guitar solo from your favorite band and give it a listen. You might notice the best and most expressive sections of the solo may seem a bit louder, with a bit more feel. Odds are, there is less compression used on this part of the solo to really let the 'feels' come through. So be careful as you begin to experiment with compressors and remember, everything in moderation! Next we'll take an in-depth look at some of the main functions most compressors have to offer.
Pictured above is the stock compressor plug-in from Apple's Logic Pro 9 (I'm old-skool I know). This is a fantastic compressor in my opinion, and I haven't ever had the need to go out and download any fancy VST compression plug-ins. Some of the basic functions you'll find on any compressor are:
Threshold
Ratio
Attack/Release
Gain
Side Chain Function (we'll cover this one later)
First up: Threshold.
The threshold setting determines when your compression will start to take effect. On the above pictured setting, the threshold is set at -20.5dB. This means any signal within your track that is -20.5dB or higher will begin to be compressed. The lower this setting is, the more apparent and perceivable the compression becomes.
2. Ratio.
The ratio setting will determine how much compression is applied once your signal reaches the above threshold. In the pictured compressor, you can see the ratio is set to 4.6:1. This means that for every 4.6 db of sound running through the compressor, only 1db of gain comes out the other end. Keep in mind the compression only begins after the -20.5dB threshold!
3. Attack/Release.
This setting is pretty simple. The attack setting will determine how quickly your compression will take effect. Typically unless limiting (adding 10dB or more compression), a sweet spot for this setting is around 20-40%. The release will determine how quickly your compression loses effect.
4. Gain.
Remember when compressing we are bringing down the peak points of our signal to be more consistent with the lower parts of our signal. This means the overall level of our signal will decrease. The gain setting helps to compensate for the overall dB of your signal you lose through your compression.
These are the primary settings you'll find on all compressors near and far! The good news is: you're now a master compression artist!
Now that you're a master compressor, get out there and give it a try! After all you have nothing to lose...but everything to gain! It seems complicated at first, but you'll find compressing to be relatively simple. Start with more subtle compression settings, adding 1-3dB of compression to your signals and listen. Your ears don't lie, and you'll quickly notice how much of a perceivable difference you're making in your sounds. Remember to have fun with it and be creative, that's what music is all about anyways. Happy creation friends.
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