Pre vs Post Master Fader Compression

Bang · 24th March 2005

Am I wrong to assume that patching in a compressor to the pre master fader inserts will sound different then patching the compressor POST master fader, given the same settings and same amount of gain reduction?
Thanks,

Steve
www.bangrecording.com
www.blacklinerock.com
here my mixes/band:
http://www.blacklinerock.com/music/A...NEROCK.COM.mp3
www.blacklinerock.com/music/WHY_SUMO.mp3

Snatchman · 24th March 2005

Well Bang... I've actually tried both ways. Both worked for me, but I like the post fader. Seems to me (IMHO) that the noise level was less and the levels seemed to "respond" better. Might be due to the fact that the post fader level is +4 going into the compressor ,which is +4. Where in the inserts are -2 and even if you go into the compressor at -10, seems to be a bit "odd"! Most compressors I've seen, has a "switch" for -10 or +4, not -2....

.! But all in all, it'll probably come down to the quality of the compressor!..

Musiclab · 24th March 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bang

Am I wrong to assume that patching in a compressor to the pre master fader inserts will sound different then patching the compressor POST master fader, given the same settings and same amount of gain reduction?
Thanks,

Steve
www.bangrecording.com
www.blacklinerock.com
here my mixes/band:
http://www.blacklinerock.com/music/A...NEROCK.COM.mp3
www.blacklinerock.com/music/WHY_SUMO.mp3

for one thing pulling the master fader down will change what the compressor sees. If you do a fade your levels will change as you pull the fader down.

wwittman · 24th March 2005

It shouldn't matter MUCH... but, if you patch it POST fader then it should be obvious that if you FADE at the end of the song you are effectively fading out of the compression (that is, lowering the input to the compressor and therefore getting less compression as the fade progresses).. so it essentially fights your fade.

syra · 24th March 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwittman

if you patch it POST fader then it should be obvious that if you FADE at the end of the song you are effectively fading out of the compression (that is, lowering the input to the compressor and therefore getting less compression as the fade progresses).. so it essentially fights your fade.

Thats why I never do my fades in PT's master channel...

Btw, I know you guys are talking about analog

wwittman · 24th March 2005

Doesn't matter analogue or digital... same concept.

A ProTools Master fader with a PLUG IN compressor? then the compressor acts as though it's pre-fade.
but if you're coming out of ProTools to an outboard hardware compressor, then it's the same as any other post fade insert.. the fade will affect the compressor.

maxim · 24th March 2005

there might be some sense in patching post fader, so that you can react to the sound before the compressor does, so it doesn't have to as much work

it's true though, that itb, everything is pre-fader, anyhow (that's true, isn't it?)

24th March 2005	#1
Bang Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,701 Thread Starter	Pre vs Post Master Fader Compression Am I wrong to assume that patching in a compressor to the pre master fader inserts will sound different then patching the compressor POST master fader, given the same settings and same amount of gain reduction? Thanks, Steve www.bangrecording.com www.blacklinerock.com here my mixes/band: http://www.blacklinerock.com/music/A...NEROCK.COM.mp3 www.blacklinerock.com/music/WHY_SUMO.mp3

24th March 2005	#2
Snatchman Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 3,320	Well Bang... I've actually tried both ways. Both worked for me, but I like the post fader. Seems to me (IMHO) that the noise level was less and the levels seemed to "respond" better. Might be due to the fact that the post fader level is +4 going into the compressor ,which is +4. Where in the inserts are -2 and even if you go into the compressor at -10, seems to be a bit "odd"! Most compressors I've seen, has a "switch" for -10 or +4, not -2.... .! But all in all, it'll probably come down to the quality of the compressor!.. __________________ Thanks for your time and ears!

24th March 2005	#4
wwittman Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York Posts: 2,262	It shouldn't matter MUCH... but, if you patch it POST fader then it should be obvious that if you FADE at the end of the song you are effectively fading out of the compression (that is, lowering the input to the compressor and therefore getting less compression as the fade progresses).. so it essentially fights your fade. __________________ William Wittman Producer/Engineer (Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, The Fixx, The Outfield...)

24th March 2005	#7
maxim Gear maniac Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 216	there might be some sense in patching post fader, so that you can react to the sound before the compressor does, so it doesn't have to as much work it's true though, that itb, everything is pre-fader, anyhow (that's true, isn't it?) __________________ cheers max sydney, oz "I find love the most important thing in the world. It’s much more important than songs or music or bicycles or cars or mansions. And so, I’ve always chosen to write about love." Harlan Howard

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