I discussed how I process the stereo buss when mixing in
The Big Picture... Show — Stereo Buss Processing, as well as when I guest moderated here about a year ago. The plugs I use have stayed the same. The way I handle them has also stayed the same... with one exception, which has radically changed the way I mix.
At the time I said, "The only plug-in I 'mix through' is McDSP Analog Channel AC1, but I definitely
don't have the other plugs (RenComp, d2, Tape and Wide) across the buss when mixing. It can be very misleading to
mix into compressors and saturation plug-ins like DaD Tape, because as you're adding EQ and doing rides — for example, to boost dynamics at a transition — the Compressor and Tape will constantly be pushing
backwards against your changes, giving you a very inaccurate representation of what you're really doing. If you pull the plug-ins out, all of a sudden your mix will totally fall apart. It will have absolutely no power or punch."
Well, that is very true, but since I don't intend anybody other than myself to hear the mix without the compressor—what's the point? The great thing about engineering is the same problem can have so many solutions, and I've done a 180 on this. I've tried mixing through a compressor in the past, but never been satisfied with the results. About a year ago I decided to stick with it for a number of mixes, and every single mix I've done since then has been with this technique. To be clear,
I don't agree with the above paragraph. I currently prefer mixing
through a compressor from the beginning of the mix, and I highly recommend trying it.
If you're used to mixing without a compressor across the buss it takes some getting used to. The dynamics of the mix don't react the way you would normally expect them to, so you can't just try it once. You need to do a number of mixes so you can familiarize yourself this new limited dynamic response.
I've found it has a few advantages. One, it helps bring the mix together much quicker. Two, I find myself not needing as much compression on individual tracks to get the sound I want. Three, the mix requires less automation to bring out all the elements. Four, and most of all, mixing though a compressor changes the way I approach a mix. I'm able to get a very big + powerful sound very quickly with just the kick, snare, bass + hat. Then I just begin to fill the other instruments in around them.
To establish my starting levels for the mix, I first set my Kick + Snare level how I always have peaking @ -10 dB on the stereo buss meters (the highest green light on the PT meters) without the compressor, but from that point on the compressors goes in + never comes out. I use
RenComp set to Electro mode, character to Smooth, ARC off, Ratio = 2:1, Attack = 4, Release = approx. 250-300 (set about to 8th note).
With most of the music I've been mixing lately (rock or other aggressive styles) 4 dB of compression has been sounding really good. It may sound like a lot, previously when placing the compressor over buss towards the end I would hit it only 2 to 2.5 dB, but I also had more compression on the individual tracks. Since I now use less individual compression, it probably works out to about the same amount of overall, just a different way to apply it.
Mixing this way gives me a sound that's very different than the more controlled sound of individual compression, a lot of automation, and light compression on the bus. It really sounds much more exciting. Explosive. As if things are at the brink of popping through the speakers. I love it.
I should also say that this is in
no way considered mastering compression. Compression across the stereo bus while mixing is done all the time on most of the records you own. Whether inserted at the beginning or towards the end it's been a pretty standard technique for decades done by engineers all over the globe. If you need anymore proof, I have three letters: S - S - L.
So, how about you guys + gals? Have you tried mixing through a compressor? Which do you prefer? Mixing through or inserting the compressor after you're finished with most of the mix? And why?
(BTW—While writing this I tried to spell "buss" the same every time. When reading it over I noticed I used both spellings. Man, this is hopeless. ...of course, my OCD forced me to fix it so they were all the same. )