Compress Mix or Individual Tracks??

[ItzOmeezy]

Hey what's up y'all? As you can probably tell, I'm new to the board so be easy.

Ok now, I've been reading some short articles on compression theory, but one thing I want to know is:

Do you run the output of the entire mix thru the compressor or do you compress each track individually?

[T_R_S]

Both. It that a trick question?

[JonCraig]

nuke 'em all!

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by ItzOmeezy

Do you run the output of the entire mix thru the compressor or do you compress each track individually?

Yes and...


mults,splits,sub groupmixes and stereo parallels.

Basically anything.

[cdog]

I find if I start with a buss compressor knocking off 3-5 db I compress individual intruments way less... vocals always need a good bit of though

[claveslave]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

nuke 'em all!

[RoundBadge]

Just remember if you over do it and go crazy, you can make stuff sound small and shitty,thats the trick- ..slammin AND big
Use your ears ,don't go by some recomended settings and assume it's gonna work on everything.

[lawrence_o]

Originally Posted by ItzOmeezy

Hey what's up y'all? As you can probably tell, I'm new to the board so be easy.

Ok now, I've been reading some short articles on compression theory, but one thing I want to know is:

Do you run the output of the entire mix thru the compressor or do you compress each track individually?

Don't compress everything. just compress stuff that really peaks out of the entire track. For example, if you have a lead synth that really freaks out, compress it a little or if your drummer is really smashing those cymbals you could do that too. You will find that without too much compression your mixes is a lot more 'alive'. Of course, you might want to use your compressor as an effect e.g. if you really overcompress a snare or hi hat etc you can get some real cool effects. My experience is that when the individual parts in the mix are correctly compressed, the end compressor doesn't really make that much of a difference.


Regards

[ItzOmeezy]

Originally Posted by lawrence_o

Don't compress everything. just compress stuff that really peaks out of the entire track. For example, if you have a lead synth that really freaks out, compress it a little or if your drummer is really smashing those cymbals you could do that too. You will find that without too much compression your mixes is a lot more 'alive'. Of course, you might want to use your compressor as an effect e.g. if you really overcompress a snare or hi hat etc you can get some real cool effects. My experience is that when the individual parts in the mix are correctly compressed, the end compressor doesn't really make that much of a difference.


Regards

Cool. Sounds like some good info, but it sounds like I'm gonna need quite a few compressors.

Anybody know any low-end compressors with great quality for its price?

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by ItzOmeezy

Cool. Sounds like some good info, but it sounds like I'm gonna need quite a few compressors.

Anybody know any low-end compressors with great quality for its price?

Yup. Mxr dual limiter. They pop up occasionally, and cheap (around 100 bucks) and they are amazing. And VERY musical.

Most under-rated piece out there.

[lawrence_o]

Originally Posted by ItzOmeezy

Cool. Sounds like some good info, but it sounds like I'm gonna need quite a few compressors.

Anybody know any low-end compressors with great quality for its price?

Running Pro tools? => Waves platinum bundle comes with different type of compressors which can do both normal compression as create special effects.

Regards

[84K]

Squash On The 'Rocks'