Your Mixing Secrets

[Appfro]

i still don't understand the compression. i'm going to toy w/ it though. i haven't looked for it yet, where is it/how do you use it in CEP?

[Appfro]

i found a compressor on my digitech pedal. i still don't know what i'm doing, but it has these settings...
attack
ratio
threshold
gain

what are some good settings for vocals?

[Kahn]

i still don't understand the compression. i'm going to toy w/ it though. i haven't looked for it yet, where is it/how do you use it in CEP?

my buddy who does all my recording knows about all this stuff. Ill ask him tomorrow, although he does use sony sound forge for mixing........ so i dont know if that will be any help to you.

[Appfro]

top

[CheersDtoT]

A compressor is universal. Those settings are "VERY" important. You must know one thing about compressors, they will either enhance or destroy your mix.
Threshold: This allows you to tell the compressor when to turn on by setting the db level. The comp. will turn on sooner at -20 then it will at -5.
Ratio: Allows you to set how much of a compressor you want signal/ratio. If it is at 2.5/1 that means for every 2.5 db the compressor compresses 1db.
Attack and Release: This allows you to tell the compressor how fast and how slow to compress the signal. A Compressor breathes, when it compresses it takes a breath in and when it releases it exhales.
Gain: Since you are "compressing" a signal this allows you to boost the output gain.

There really aren't any global settings for comps. You set a comp according to the vocal, guitar, drums, what ever. I'll tell you that a ratio I use offten for vocals is either 2.5/1 or 3.1/1...somtimes higher 4.1/1

[sunglassesatnight]

A compressor is universal. Those settings are "VERY" important. You must know one thing about compressors, they will either enhance or destroy your mix.
Threshold: This allows you to tell the compressor when to turn on by setting the db level. The comp. will turn on sooner at -20 then it will at -5.
Ratio: Allows you to set how much of a compressor you want signal/ratio. If it is at 2.5/1 that means for every 2.5 db the compressor compresses 1db.
Attack and Release: This allows you to tell the compressor how fast and how slow to compress the signal. A Compressor breathes, when it compresses it takes a breath in and when it releases it exhales.
Gain: Since you are "compressing" a signal this allows you to boost the output gain.

There really aren't any global settings for comps. You set a comp according to the vocal, guitar, drums, what ever. I'll tell you that a ratio I use offten for vocals is either 2.5/1 or 3.1/1...somtimes higher 4.1/1

Great post. Again.

[CheersDtoT]

Again?

[sunglassesatnight]

Again?

Just like all your other posts.

[Appfro]

A compressor is universal. Those settings are "VERY" important. You must know one thing about compressors, they will either enhance or destroy your mix.
Threshold: This allows you to tell the compressor when to turn on by setting the db level. The comp. will turn on sooner at -20 then it will at -5.
Ratio: Allows you to set how much of a compressor you want signal/ratio. If it is at 2.5/1 that means for every 2.5 db the compressor compresses 1db.
Attack and Release: This allows you to tell the compressor how fast and how slow to compress the signal. A Compressor breathes, when it compresses it takes a breath in and when it releases it exhales.
Gain: Since you are "compressing" a signal this allows you to boost the output gain.

There really aren't any global settings for comps. You set a comp according to the vocal, guitar, drums, what ever. I'll tell you that a ratio I use offten for vocals is either 2.5/1 or 3.1/1...somtimes higher 4.1/1

Great post. Again.

excellent post. what would be a pretty common setting for attack, gain, and threshold?

[CheersDtoT]

Well, like i said before it's all about what you are compressing. I'f I'm doing a screamer death rock band I set my thres. way back so i'm compressing them as soon as they start talking. My attack is the fastest I can make it, because I never know when they are going to take off. The gain I keep around 0...If I need some more juice I'll give it some gain, but I never crank the gain. It would be the opposite for an acoustic vocal. My thres. would give them some room, so I wasn't slamming them with a comp. My attack would be slightly slower so it's not so sudden, it easies into it. My gain would stay at 0. My gain usually stays at 0.

[AustinG]

http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

Probably the best site I found for home recording..

You'd probably want to consult;

http://www.tweakheadz.com/compressors.htm


Mitch, once you figure out compression it will give your recordings that "alive" feeling I'm talking about..

There really is no geneal preset.... Don't ever fall into thinking there is.. like someone else said up to, close your eyes and listen... You said you have a peddle with it right? Do this, hook your vocals up through it and just sing for a while playing with presets.. after a while you'll be able to hear the difference between the ratios...2:1 3:1 etc etc... do the same with the attack and release... singing loud and soft on both...

And yes, from what I can tell from reading and my short exp with it, it's probably the first insert you want to use..

It's just time man... the more time you spend with it the more the pieces will fall into place...