Compressors: Long Attack + Long Release = Glorified Noise Gate?

AlexLakis · 11th January 2007, 12:47 PM

I was playing around with some compressor settings on a bottom snare track about an hour ago (I know, I know...kid kept me up all night, couldn't fall back asleep.) As I was tweaking, I found myself moving to a longer attack time and a looong release time. Then it hit me why I was doing it. I wanted to get the initial transient of the snare in there (while still preserving some dynamics,) and a little bit of trail, but I didn't want to grab the bass drum hit bleed. Then it really hit me. What is the difference between doing this and using a noise gate? God, it's too early.

Any thoughts?

pan · 11th January 2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexLakis

What is the difference between doing this and using a noise gate? God, it's too early.

Any thoughts?

err... you could classify this as "pumping"? The bleed will become louder towards the next hit whereas a gate will just shut to silence before the next hit.

Depending on the timeconstants you can get a nice "groove" going on.

Try it also on an ambient or room mic or on a dedicated drum-subgroup...

Rufuss Sewell · 11th January 2007, 02:38 PM

Yeah, I've thought about that in the past. They're both just reducing the signal based on the input level. Just in opposite ways. And of course if you use one of them in a backwards way it kind of gets the effect of the other. Which is why a gate is also sometimes called an expander. It's kind of like on an EQ in that you would typically cut or boost. But sometimes to increase high end, you cut the lows and turn the whole track up.

AlexLakis · 11th January 2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan

err... you could classify this as "pumping"? The bleed will become louder towards the next hit whereas a gate will just shut to silence before the next hit.

Depending on the timeconstants you can get a nice "groove" going on.

Try it also on an ambient or room mic or on a dedicated drum-subgroup...

Yeah, I usually do this to an extreme for FOK mics (results in more drums and less cymbals, which I usually have enough of all ready.)

A gate would be more exact, but with enough fiddling, you could get a nice groove going on like you say, and you can get that color you might be after at the same time! Of course, I suppose gates can have "color" too, I just never really though about them that way.

stellar · 11th January 2007, 07:00 PM

the "difference" is that the release on the compressor will be time based, whereas the gate will not "release" until the threshold is crossed again. Also, the compressor will clamp down with a ratio, whearas the gate will just take everything down to zero. There are more differences.

Mike Caffrey · 11th January 2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexLakis

I was playing around with some compressor settings on a bottom snare track about an hour ago (I know, I know...kid kept me up all night, couldn't fall back asleep.) As I was tweaking, I found myself moving to a longer attack time and a looong release time. Then it hit me why I was doing it. I wanted to get the initial transient of the snare in there (while still preserving some dynamics,) and a little bit of trail, but I didn't want to grab the bass drum hit bleed. Then it really hit me. What is the difference between doing this and using a noise gate? God, it's too early.

Any thoughts?

What's the difference betwee that and a fader move? In a sense nothing. So in that sense, it's identical to a gate that's not set to close to a full mute.

If you wnat to get into the subtleties, the compressor may open fully and be open at the moment of the attack, where as the gat will be closed and the attack will open it.

The envolpe of the dynamic change will be different. Gates are usually much more of an on/off kind of thing, basically an infinitely hard knee. A compressor is usually softer with a smoother transition.

If you look at a plugin menu, you'll see they're all filed under dynamics processors.

AlexLakis · 11th January 2007, 07:50 PM

Thanks guys!

Yeah, I know the literal differences, I use both tools regularly, just trying to think outside the box early in the morning (key part of that sentence.) Ask, and you shall receive.

The difference between a compressor move and a fader move is the sound/harmonics/etc. that a piece of gear (compressor) will impart while performing it's duties. Of course, faders can have a sound too. Like those lovely VCAs on some SSLs. Their sound is...NOISY!

Blast9 · 11th January 2007, 11:30 PM

Isn't tah called levelling where the comp is evening out long term dynamic changes in level, and keeping it pretty constant

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11th January 2007, 12:47 PM	#1
AlexLakis Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/L.A. Posts: 3,612	Compressors: Long Attack + Long Release = Glorified Noise Gate? I was playing around with some compressor settings on a bottom snare track about an hour ago (I know, I know...kid kept me up all night, couldn't fall back asleep.) As I was tweaking, I found myself moving to a longer attack time and a looong release time. Then it hit me why I was doing it. I wanted to get the initial transient of the snare in there (while still preserving some dynamics,) and a little bit of trail, but I didn't want to grab the bass drum hit bleed. Then it really hit me. What is the difference between doing this and using a noise gate? God, it's too early. Any thoughts?

11th January 2007, 02:38 PM	#3
Rufuss Sewell Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,311	Yeah, I've thought about that in the past. They're both just reducing the signal based on the input level. Just in opposite ways. And of course if you use one of them in a backwards way it kind of gets the effect of the other. Which is why a gate is also sometimes called an expander. It's kind of like on an EQ in that you would typically cut or boost. But sometimes to increase high end, you cut the lows and turn the whole track up. __________________ FOR SALE: 32ch DAKING 1112 console Check the classifieds!!! www.MySpace.com/NebulostProductions

11th January 2007, 11:30 PM	#8
Blast9 Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: London Posts: 2,816	Isn't tah called levelling where the comp is evening out long term dynamic changes in level, and keeping it pretty constant __________________ :: my band is called protoangel My guitars: Atkin OM (sitka spruce top walnut back: sweet mids):: Atkin Small Jumbo (cedar top, rosewood back: big bottom, sparkly top):: Jap Tele with fat frets (rude and fat):: . My amps: 1973 Hiwatt DR504::Framus Dragon ... Latest purchases Kel Audio HM-2d TC Electronic Nova System, Chameleon Labs 7602 Digi 002 + PTLE, Addictive Drums

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11th January 2007, 07:00 PM	#5
stellar Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 588	the "difference" is that the release on the compressor will be time based, whereas the gate will not "release" until the threshold is crossed again. Also, the compressor will clamp down with a ratio, whearas the gate will just take everything down to zero. There are more differences.

11th January 2007, 07:50 PM	#7
AlexLakis Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/L.A. Posts: 3,612	Thanks guys! Yeah, I know the literal differences, I use both tools regularly, just trying to think outside the box early in the morning (key part of that sentence.) Ask, and you shall receive. The difference between a compressor move and a fader move is the sound/harmonics/etc. that a piece of gear (compressor) will impart while performing it's duties. Of course, faders can have a sound too. Like those lovely VCAs on some SSLs. Their sound is...NOISY!