Compressor Anecdotes Please!

woods · 29th July 2003

Experiment is the wrong word. But, is there some way I can make a suggestion without crashing into things? I just feel there's a better view of things around here somewhere.

Would some of you folks mind relating a compression anecdote? Perhaps a time when you and a client were experimenting or perhaps one of the best (or worst) applications you were responsible for. A time when you had to persuade someone to use compression when they didn't want to (or vice versa). Include the gear and style of music and particular sound you were looking for and why?

Or a time when you had an opportunity to talk to a respected engineer about the topic of compression.

Woods

littledog · 29th July 2003

well, i could, but my stories about the aural exciter with big bottom are much more interesting...

Drumsound · 29th July 2003

I gave a clinic at a music store I was working at. One of the sales reps who does a lot of mobile recording did the clinic with me. He gave a great explanation of compression using the slat-wall that the guitars hang on. He used one row as noise floor and one much higher up as distortion. He used the example of a voice that goes from a whisper to a scream. He pointed out that the whisper would be below the noise floor, but if the gain was raised the scream would then go beyond the distortion point. He said to set the threshold to start two or three slats below the distortion. This was the gain of the track could be raised but when the vocal gets near the distortion level the compressor would kick in and bring the level down and keep it under the distortion level. This was the whisper is above the noise floor, and the scream is under the distortion point.

dBDave · 30th July 2003

OH MY GOD!
Does anyone out there remember Jeff Lynne and ELO!?!?
I was asked by Jeff to "put some compression" on a particular sound we were overdubbing. I put it through a good ol' 1176,
Jeff wasn't happy until the thing was completely maxed out (and sounded like shit)! Oh well what did I know!

kosi · 31st July 2003

The first time, I worked with an 1178, I didn't know that the Att / Rel knobs work the other way....

Someone had to tell me later

29th July 2003	#1
woods Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 299 Thread Starter	Compressor Anecdotes Please! Experiment is the wrong word. But, is there some way I can make a suggestion without crashing into things? I just feel there's a better view of things around here somewhere. Would some of you folks mind relating a compression anecdote? Perhaps a time when you and a client were experimenting or perhaps one of the best (or worst) applications you were responsible for. A time when you had to persuade someone to use compression when they didn't want to (or vice versa). Include the gear and style of music and particular sound you were looking for and why? Or a time when you had an opportunity to talk to a respected engineer about the topic of compression. Woods

29th July 2003	#3
Drumsound Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bloomington Il Posts: 5,032	I gave a clinic at a music store I was working at. One of the sales reps who does a lot of mobile recording did the clinic with me. He gave a great explanation of compression using the slat-wall that the guitars hang on. He used one row as noise floor and one much higher up as distortion. He used the example of a voice that goes from a whisper to a scream. He pointed out that the whisper would be below the noise floor, but if the gain was raised the scream would then go beyond the distortion point. He said to set the threshold to start two or three slats below the distortion. This was the gain of the track could be raised but when the vocal gets near the distortion level the compressor would kick in and bring the level down and keep it under the distortion level. This was the whisper is above the noise floor, and the scream is under the distortion point. __________________ Tony Oxide Lounge Recording See the Oxide Lounge! Follow me on TWITTER! WWJMD? Come see me on the Tape Op boards! It's only inches on the reel to reel

30th July 2003	#4
dBDave Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: L.A. Posts: 6	Gross use of Compression OH MY GOD! Does anyone out there remember Jeff Lynne and ELO!?!? I was asked by Jeff to "put some compression" on a particular sound we were overdubbing. I put it through a good ol' 1176, Jeff wasn't happy until the thing was completely maxed out (and sounded like shit)! Oh well what did I know!

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29th July 2003	#2
littledog Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Boston area Posts: 874	well, i could, but my stories about the aural exciter with big bottom are much more interesting...

31st July 2003	#5
kosi Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Berlin Posts: 935	The first time, I worked with an 1178, I didn't know that the Att / Rel knobs work the other way.... Someone had to tell me later