Riding gain Vocal track: pre fader or post fader compression?

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by Lorenzop

Hi
Just wander what you experienced guys have to say about this.

Intuitively, seems to me if you compress post fader, you run the risk of making compressor work harder than if it's sits pre fader?
Unless you actually do a lot/ most of the "compression" yourself on the fader by pulling down before hand right??

Conversly if a singer is "intimate" in style probably post fader is working harder if you end up "riding up" his mostly quiet bits??

So the real question: for loud, dynamic vocals, which approach would yield a more NATURAL sound?
I.e. how to avoid the overtly squashed compression with a dynamic singer??

I just automate it in Pro tools, then slap a couple of compressors on so I don't overburden one of them..

[bluejbill]

I always ride a fader into a compressor (or two) when I am tracking. I like to get a good average sound, and then turn down for loud parts.

It usually works pretty well, but you have to learn the tune.

[Lorenzop]

So if I understand correct, basically if riding, is it mostly turning down as opposed to gaining up? In order to avoid driving the comp too hard??

[ShadowAMD]

Originally Posted by Lorenzop

So if I understand correct, basically if riding, is it mostly turning down as opposed to gaining up? In order to avoid driving the comp too hard??

The whole point in it is to balance levels, turn down when needed and vice versa.

[stanmisner]

Originally Posted by Lorenzop

Hi
Just wander what you experienced guys have to say about this.

Intuitively, seems to me if you compress post fader, you run the risk of making compressor work harder than if it's sits pre fader?
Unless you actually do a lot/ most of the "compression" yourself on the fader by pulling down before hand right??

Conversly if a singer is "intimate" in style probably post fader is working harder if you end up "riding up" his mostly quiet bits??

So the real question: for loud, dynamic vocals, which approach would yield a more NATURAL sound?
I.e. how to avoid the overtly squashed compression with a dynamic singer??

When mixing, I do both. A general compression for vibe on the channel (pre fader) and then I set a stereo box buss compressor up and push the fader up and down into that. It may seem counter intuitive, but I feel that if set up right the compressor grabbing harder on louder parts helps with making the louder parts sound more natural and less pokey. I tend to like sounds that feel like they are pushing through something though.

[Rascal Audio]

On occasion I have automated into a compressor, but generally I just cut the vocal up and spread it over two or more tracks and then process sections differently, relative to dynamic level, timbre, etc., to create a more consistent overall final performance.

Joel