Compressor release times..

[jwnc]

Hi all,

I know this has been covered alot in the past but I was wondered how you guys decide on the release times using your compressors, especially on the master buss if you are doing. I understand the concept but love to know how others might be doing it. You can share indivdual instrument compression times, etc if you want to.. I would love to us a big list of helpfull hints on this. Maybe we can do it..

Ex. We can all share like \"to ge this kinda of sound try this ratio, att, rel, etc?

Jason

 

[Wayne]

I would simply advocate learning (through experimentation) the sound of attack and release. Combine that with some thought to the task at hand; How or what is it about the sound you want to shape, and what is the shape of what you're tackling. That helps me at least get in the ballpark, but it's surprising how wrong that can still be.

The shape of a snare hit Vs a bass note.
Trimming some peaks, emphasizing the after-ring, or smoothing the average?
Fast song, slow.
I'm game. Where would you like to go first?
Wayne

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

One of the only good rules of thumb in compression -

\"LOWer is SLOWer\"

 

[jwnc]

Well it was just the idea of sharing some basic ideas and personal discoveries.

Jason

 

[Wayne]

Well it was just the idea of sharing some basic ideas and personal discoveries.
Jason

It's still a good idea. But since it is a rather wide subject, how about you drive? :wink:
Wayne

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

I see his point, but to do this:

Ex. We can all share like \"to ge this kinda of sound try this ratio, att, rel, etc?

We would all need the EXACT same sound to start with. It's not like the setting that works for one kick drum is going to work for the next. And of course, those settings will also be dependent on the mix that the source is fitting into.

 

[Wayne]

Agreed, and I wouldn't expect to try to get into that fine of detail. Which is why if someone wanted to tackle this it should aim in some specific directions. Again, with the idea being that the person asking then has thought about what the need is (or which application) to get to the how and why.

 

[jwnc]

haha.. ok nevermind..

 

[rush909]

people can say whatever they like about WAVES, but I really love them... besides some great plugs, I have learned so much from them... for example I just got the SSL bundle and I was playing with it and tweaking a vocal with it... just for fun I tried one of their \"standard\" settings... I clicked on the \"vocal\" setting, and Bam, there came the vocal I was tweaking to the front of the mix! it was nice and big... It was quite unexpected since I never ever use presets thinking they will never work for me... these did, and forced me to dig deeper to find out what frequencies they pushed up to make the vocal jump out that way... so to make a long story short, start with some presets... WAVES (along with other companies) include presets that are tailored to certain applications... the SSL eq has guitar, drums, vox, backgrounds etc... and for their compression they have the same... so even though these presets are never perfect, they might be a good starting off point if you are looking for new ideas...

r.

 

[Staccato]

Hi all,

I know this has been covered alot in the past but I was wondered how you guys decide on the release times using your compressors, especially on the master buss if you are doing. I understand the concept but love to know how others might be doing it. You can share indivdual instrument compression times, etc if you want to.. I would love to us a big list of helpfull hints on this. Maybe we can do it..

Ex. We can all share like "to ge this kinda of sound try this ratio, att, rel, etc?

Jason

OK, here's one: to get a louder overal volume on your master bus, tend to shorten the release time.