Compressor attack & Release times? (Tips & tricks thread)

[Seti808]

Say you got a fast rapper like twister, how would you guys set a compressor
to even his performance out and make it sit in a track real well?

Now say you got a slower rapper like 2 short, how would you set
a compressor for him?


I got my ideas, but I wanted to compare with you guys.
I have found most rappers benefit from compression. (duh)
Normally I will adjust the threshold until there is a few db's of reduction going on all the time and maybe 5 or 6 during the loudest spots, then I turn the attack down until I hear it dulling (usually somewhere around 15-35ms) the attack of the vocals - then back off just a little to let the attack through, next I would set the release at a starting point of 100ms then turn the knob either way until it sounds best. I have found that quicker releases make things seem more exciting.

I try to get the gain reduction needle to bounce in time with the track.

At times I like to use delay calculators to find my attack and release times and compressors that allow you to set the attack and release in milliseconds, experimenting with different delay calculated times always seems to work. I have found this to work pretty well most of the time allowing me to quickly dialing in compressor settings!


Another fun compression thing I do is use the uad-1 1176 in all buttons mode, with a slower attack around 11:00ish and the release all the way to the right (as fast as possible) with threshold hitting around 3- 7 db’s. This has made dull vocals cut and sound much more exciting.

I got an Alan smart C-2 and I was wondering if you guys have had good results
using it for rap vocals in auto release mode.

I'm not a compressor expert at all, but the above seems to work for me.

Tony B and E-cue please jump in!

[Methlab]

I do the same with attacks..just use my ears..I like faster release for for faster parts..many times I look at the compressor working and time it up with the beat too. that way i can get a longer release that will snap back to 0 for the next drum hit.

[dtrax]

Originally Posted by Seti808

then I turn the attack down until I hear it dulling (usually somewhere around 15-35ms) the attack of the vocals - then back off just a little to let the attack through

i'd check to see if there's something wrong with your compressor... 35ms is pretty slow for vocals IMO. i don't usually hear the highend get muted until around 5-10ms or so... (depends on the unit or plugin)

fwiw, on a 1176, i set the attack to about 5 and release in between 6-7. ratio at 4. and get the needle movin'... seems to work for most rap artists.

[con?one]

On the way in, I usually set it to an average of about 3db of compression (will go up as far as 10db for really plosive parts) with a fast attack. When I mix, I really don't use a lot of compression on the vox. At least not out of need, I try to normalize any words that really need to be tamed, and I use the automation (rather than gate) to fade in and out of silences. Then, if I need it to pop a lil more, I use waves L2 and adjust to taste. I feel this gives me a little more "natural" sounding vocal.