Vocal Compression

[Ectobeats]

Is it better to apply compression during mixdown or to use compression while tracking vocals??

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by Ectobeats

Is it better to apply compression during mixdown or to use compression while tracking vocals??

Sometimes both.

Sometimes none.

Let your ears,production,singer and song decide.

[PhonoquO]

a little compression goin in maybe 2-3 db of gain reduction usually helps things along. Go with fast attack, medium fast release with a ratio of around 2-3. This keeps the signal under control so ur less likely to get overs or surprises that could ruin a perfect take. If the performer knows what they are doing ie knows to pull back for louder passages, then u could get away with none.

[Igotsoul4u]

I usually do a half and half approach. When i track i always go with a medium attack and a fairly low ratio (4:1 at the absolute most) I set the threshold so that i get about a 3db gain reduction. I use a medium attack because I like to keep my transients available if i need em in the mix to help the vocal pop out. I always work with the idea that you can never uncompress. Obviously I use my ears and things will vary, but this is my intial go to setting when tracking. When i mix I will speed up the attack to taste and generally keep the same settings as when I am tracking. This formula has worked out nicely for me so far as I am never committing to some sort of final compression in the tracking process, but cleaning up some of the more massive peaks that will most definetly be knocked down in the mix anyway. It allows me to be more specific during the mix since all the really blatant dynamic variations have been taken care of during tracking.

[Ectobeats]

thanks

[quentinrittman]

Originally Posted by Ectobeats

thanks

if in doubt about what you're going to be after, it's always best to err on the sid eof caution, you can't recover it once it's been smacked down hard on the way in.

[chief]

You could always use an expander if it gets compressed too much.

Originally Posted by quentinrittman

if in doubt about what you're going to be after, it's always best to err on the sid eof caution, you can't recover it once it's been smacked down hard on the way in.

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by chief

You could always use an expander if it gets compressed too much.

You are joking... right ?

[DivineMusic]

Originally Posted by PapillonIrl

You are joking... right ?

LOL

[Elijah]

In that SOS interview, TLA said that when he encounters something that's been compressed too much during tracking, he compresses it more and then adds dynamics with automation. I love you, Tom.

[heathen]

Use it mostly but usually never more than 1.7-1 and only 1-3 db of gain reduction.In other words use it very gently when tracking,and use it gently on mixdown and you'll have no issues,using soft multiple stages of gain redution are better than doing it all at once unless that is the effect your after.

[Sirocco]

Originally Posted by chief

You could always use an expander if it gets compressed too much.

attaboy, chief, you tell 'em..