Understanding attack times in mastering theoretically

[fixitinthemix]

Here are some ideas. Please discuss with me if you can keep it on a theoretical level.

Lead melody dependency:

If the vocals of your song are generally leaning on the snare the attack of your master should try to focus in on the snare and you'd end up with fairly short attack times. 10-25 or something like that.

If the vocals of your song are generally leaning on the kick the attack of your master should try to focus in on the kick and you'd end up with longer attack times. 20-40 or something like that.

(This relationship is in part so because you want to glue the kick or snare with the vocals and in part so because a vocal that leans on the kick will call for a louder kick and a vocal that leans on the snare will call for a louder snare.)


Release dependency:

If you are working with a song... say a fast back beat where you want the release to be shorter (say 150 ms for example) You'd be destroying the clarity of the mix if the attack comes down under 20 ms seconds or so.. so shorter release times calls for longer attack times. On the other hand, a song that calls for longer release times will be better of with a somewhat shorter attack time. This is so because with a slow attack and slow release a good mix can easily loose energy.

[Ruairi]

In my experience those ideas make zero sense. Using rules like "If X = Y then apply Z processing" is a guaranteed way to end up in trouble.

For me the attack and release settings for mastering compression (IF compression is needed) are determined by a whole range of factors including

- Am I looking for invisible level control or more obvious glue?
- Are there peaky, troublesome transients like a nasty snare beat or a strident overly dynamic vocal?
- How does the compression work with the eq settings I want to (or need to) use? - Everything you do has an effect on everything else, mastering process choices are very interactive.
- A ton more.......

It is also impossible to talk about specific attack and release times because manufacturers all use different labeling systems and conventions on the their products. "20ms" on one compressor will not sound or react like "20ms" on the next.

Cheers,
Ruairi

[I.R.Baboon]

I dunno, this all makes about as much sense as trying to describe a dance in words:

First stick up you right arm and shake, as you bring down that arm, lift your left shoulder and wiggle your butt (but only in the horizontal plane), next open your eyes real wide like you saw a ghost, then jerk your left knee up and out to the side etc etc etc

[Surbitone]

The way to adjust attack times is by ear only I'm afraid

[Shy]

Such "theories" don't work in practice. Also, refer to this post.