Why so much compression?

[Dene]

I think the problem is the perception that compression is always necessary is what breeds over compressed projects...honestly a well mic-ed recording featuring stellar musicians on good instruments, passing through decent pre-amps with a decent recordist probably won't NEED compression at any stage. IF someone adds compression for effect it is their call.
Of course there are times when that "effect" is ALMOST a necessity, e.g. recording certain Bass guitars through a DI (the standard P-Bass comes to mind).

[echoRausch]

Originally Posted by Nonlinear

Why doesn't anyone simply record/play music the way it sounds live? Most people think live music sounds GREAT.

You should keep in mind that live music sounds like live music because it's usually played at very loud levels. A drumset itself is so loud almost nobody will reproduce that level at home. So you have to find a way that your record sounds good at MUCH lower levels too. And therefore compression often is a good tool.

[wado1942]

I will say, though, that Carol Kaye is probably the busiest studio bassist ever from the 60s till the 90s (and still works if she likes the particular project). You've heard her work on dozens, if not, hundreds of things. She pretty well always uses a P-bass, never a DI, never any EQ, almost never any compression.

[Dene]

Originally Posted by wado1942

I will say, though, that Carol Kaye is probably the busiest studio bassist ever from the 60s till the 90s (and still works if she likes the particular project). You've heard her work on dozens, if not, hundreds of things. She pretty well always uses a P-bass, never a DI, never any EQ, almost never any compression.

+1.
I prefer my bass that way as well though I can understand why some recordists and producers reach for the DI when the Bass player shows up.

[Scott003]

Originally Posted by wado1942

I will say, though, that Carol Kaye is probably the busiest studio bassist ever from the 60s till the 90s (and still works if she likes the particular project). You've heard her work on dozens, if not, hundreds of things. She pretty well always uses a P-bass, never a DI, never any EQ, almost never any compression.

Busiest or most prolific? Lol. I usually HAVE to compress busy bassists hahaha

[wado1942]

Originally Posted by Scott003

Busiest or most prolific? Lol. I usually HAVE to compress busy bassists hahaha

That depends on what you mean. She's done thousands of recordings and you've definitely heard a lot of them, though studio musicians are generally uncredited.

[Scott003]

Ha id define busy as playing an ass-ton of notes. No doubt

[fuse]

Originally Posted by claesbjo

compression is what makes music sound fat... people tend to like that.

Actually it's mostly the (auto)gain of the compression that makes it louder and is perceived as sounding better. If you listen to your average squashed pop song and use them as reference you gotta join that club to upset your old folks who were raised on vinyl.

[Scott003]

Originally Posted by fuse

Actually it's mostly the (auto)gain of the compression that makes it louder and is perceived as sounding better. If you listen to your average squashed pop song and use them as reference you gotta join that club to upset your old folks who were raised on vinyl.

But that's all relative, isn't it the increased rms of a compressed signal that makes it "louder?"