Master Bus compression opinions.

[ProducerBoy]

... it's not all that necessary. I mean, I like it some of the time, but I'm finding I prefer my mixes without a bus comp more often than not. IMO, My mixes feel a little more "alive" without.

What do you guys think?

[Roc Mixwell]

With All due respect;

Does it really matter what [my, or our...or anyone's] opinion is, if that method works for you and gets you results? Would you change you're mind if I said you were wrong? I am only saying that all of this shit is subjective and a matter of taste and aesthetic. I think some songs don't need 2-buss compression [or any compression] and some songs do. Its just another tool to help get you where you want to be with the audio, but hell, if you are already there.....you don't need to go anywhere else.

[gregohb]

Originally Posted by ProducerBoy

... it's not all that necessary. I mean, I like it some of the time, but I'm finding I prefer my mixes without a bus comp more often than not. IMO, My mixes feel a little more "alive" without.

What do you guys think?

UA's precision buss compressor and PSP Vintage Warmer have a mix control too so you can dial in a little compression and blend with raw to your taste.

[RoundBadge]

Whatever works on the day



..

[mdjice]

I have been mixing to a bus cop lately and it's been great for pop/hip hop busy mixes.

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by Roc Mixwell

With All due respect;

Does it really matter what [my, or our...or anyone's] opinion is, if that method works for you and gets you results? Would you change you're mind if I said you were wrong? I am only saying that all of this shit is subjective and a matter of taste and aesthetic. I think some songs don't need 2-buss compression [or any compression] and some songs do. Its just another tool to help get you where you want to be with the audio, but hell, if you are already there.....you don't need to go anywhere else.

Guess it's just my sense of aesthetic. ; )
Or maybe it's a reaction from all the overcompression we're battered with in modern music. hmmmm...

[adisc]

Originally Posted by ProducerBoy

... it's not all that necessary. I mean, I like it some of the time, but I'm finding I prefer my mixes without a bus comp more often than not. IMO, My mixes feel a little more "alive" without.

What do you guys think?

Do u use samples or just your own recordings ? Also if u record flat and without compressor , u'll need for sure a bus . If u record with a lot of processing then u can say u need just "a little bit" of bus .

If u want huge tensions (impact , psychological or auxiliar palettes) , then u'll need the full option .

ps: tensions between tracks

[robot gigante]

Whatever the song needs... maybe nothing, maybe it gets smacked around a bit.

[DeepSpace]

It depends hugely on the content and on how it has been processed during tracking sand mixing. More comp earlier generally needs less comp later. Recordings of smooth, controlled, punchy players are often vibey and phat w/o much bus comp, but others will be thin and phlat and in need of help (while others will doubtless be beyond help...).

Fortunately your *ears* will tell you which is which.

[Overdrive]

I always mix into my SSL buss compressor but it is not always compressing...
In plugZilla days I mix into McDSP AC1 and ML4000 with some tweaks performed, that setup too not always compressing. It's a sound thing.

[The Reel Thing]

Originally Posted by ProducerBoy

IMO, My mixes feel a little more "alive" without.

What do you guys think?

compression is there to make things come alive.
if your mixes are more alive without a comp, either the comp setting is wrong or the mix doesn't need a comp.
but i've never ever had the occasion on which a Vari-Mu or an API 2500 or a 33609 wouldn't add a liveliness to the mix that wasn't there without it.

tom

analoghaus :: studio label verlag - home

[Beyersound]

Obviously whatever sounds good is best. I use a hardware 2 buss comp at all times. it's an opto, long attack time, and never compresses more than about a half db. Heard about that trick back in the 80s from Clearmountain, and was shown it in the late nineties again by a world class mastering engineer that I worked with(pair of EAR 660s). Don't like the sound of more extreme master buss compression.

[adisc]

Originally Posted by Beyersound

Obviously whatever sounds good is best. I use a hardware 2 buss comp at all times. it's an opto, long attack time, and never compresses more than about a half db. Heard about that trick back in the 80s from Clearmountain, and was shown it in the late nineties again by a world class mastering engineer that I worked with(pair of EAR 660s). Don't like the sound of more extreme master buss compression.

I use a lot of compression when the band sounds like two bands .
Or when I have a project with too many tracks .
Orchestra needs also a full compression .
Or anything is recorded very close by the microphone .

[T_R_S]

Manley Vari Mu or Neve 33609
Use an SSL if you want it kill all the top end and bottom end in your mix.

[mdoelger]

I used to put one in at the very beginning of the mix, and did like 3-4db. Somehow it always ended up there.
now i go for less buss compression, and try to work my mixes without.

I like the effect, when you really feel the mix and you think "wow sounds great" and then throw very slight compression on top of it, most of the time you feel the glue then.

so +1 for buss compression, but very little and at the end of the mix.

Most of the time my mixes are 24-30 tracks. Maybe with more tracks I'd use it from the beginning. Makes automation less painful.

Cheers

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by lunale

I used to put one in at the very beginning of the mix, and did like 3-4db. Somehow it always ended up there.
now i go for less buss compression, and try to work my mixes without.

I like the effect, when you really feel the mix and you think "wow sounds great" and then throw very slight compression on top of it, most of the time you feel the glue then.

so +1 for buss compression, but very little and at the end of the mix.

Most of the time my mixes are 24-30 tracks. Maybe with more tracks I'd use it from the beginning. Makes automation less painful.

Cheers

That's where I'm finding myself happiest. Just a very little, if any, bus compression. It's not a rule I have, just what's working for me right now. I really think it's just that I'm really put out with hearing squashed mixes/masters. Feels like the mix breathes with much less comp.