Why are you compressing?

[mattsplace]

Can u explain which are the reason for compressing?
1) DINAMIC REASON .....................?

[JD Latorre]

are we talking mixing or tracking?

In tracking I use compressors to make sure I don't hit the convertors too hard.

In mixing, I use compressors (all plugins) more often for the tone or color of the compressor, no so much for level control.

Of course if I owned high end hardware comps I might do things a little differently....

[joelpatterson]

The basic, overall reason is that real life has a dynamic range of something like 150 decibels, whereas the playback of recorded audio pretty much needs to operate within a range of about 30 decibels-- zero being the deafeningly loudest you can attain, and 30 dB down from that being pretty durn quiet.

So with compression, you can create the illusion of sound levels rising and falling in a "natural" way--and you'll know when it's done correctly by not being able to tell anything was done at all.

[ScumBum]

For an effect , give excitement to a kind boring sound,

[Jake Dempsey]

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

The basic, overall reason is that real life has a dynamic range of something like 150 decibels, whereas the playback of recorded audio pretty much needs to operate within a range of about 30 decibels-- zero being the deafeningly loudest you can attain, and 30 dB down from that being pretty durn quiet.

So with compression, you can create the illusion of sound levels rising and falling in a "natural" way--and you'll know when it's done correctly by not being able to tell anything was done at all.

This is actually a great explanation.

[kats]

1. Close mic'ing is unnaturally sensitive and dynamic. It sounds wrong on playback.

2. To balance dynamics between instruments so things aren't popping in and out all over the place.

3. For cool effects.

[camerondye]

Because they told me to...and I listened. Join my new cause:


Fathers
Understanding that
Compression
Kills


This madness needs to stop...please join me and Sallie Struthers and fight compression now...

[davedarling]

Originally Posted by mat1306

Can u explain which are the reason for compressing?

...because it would be a shame not to use all of these compressors that I spent good money on.

DD

[decibike]

because we can...
with an endless amount of compressor plugins on every channel.


I highly recommend reading Bob Katz; mastering audio. the man has so much to tell about the (ab)use of compression.

Camerondye, I'm with ya, compression is a great tool but often abused IMHO. I prefer a couple of db here and there (mainly vox and bass) But
in some cases I like to SMASH one of the tracks into oblivion, as an soundeffect (1176 in all buttons mode). Or use limiting in case there's an occasional annoying peak that I want to catch. In most cases I prefer no or little compression.

When mixing, I first try to get a nice balance just by moving the faders, panning and muting. And then use subtle eq and compression as problem fixers.

[EstateMatt]

Originally Posted by Jake Dempsey

This is actually a great explanation.

does that mean 32 bit recordings don't need compression?

[andychamp]

Because when I get it right, it sounds great.

[Never1]

I've fallen in love with the SSL Buss compressor on the mix buss and drum buss (minus oh's and room mics).

A mix I did today has almost 8db of compression at times, on the masterbuss and it's barely even noticeable. It just keeps everything glued together in a very pleasant way. If I were to just slap the thing on at the end of a mix, that would be a different story.

I compress things because it sounds good when done right.

[firby]

I use really macho heavy compression on a room mic to make it all booooosshhhhhh craaaaaaaannnnnnnnnkkkkkksssss boooooooshh craaaaaaaaanks"

That's pretty much what I use it for.

Regards.

[Alex Specht]

ON a live gig, so you dont have to worry about the crazy performers as much, or to taim a ridiculously loud guitar player who thinks that he is bonJovi.

[jchadstopherhuez]

it is the sound of rock and roll.

best,

jchristopherhughes

[Max The Dog]

I use it to make things sound bigger and fatter.

[lespaul666]

Either for an effect sometimes, keep a track level consistent, or to *ever so slightly* glue a mix together. I'm not a big fan of today's squashed mixes, and prefer a nice dynamic 1970's type result. It's more work, and it's worth it.

[theblue1]

I use compression on individual tracks for the same reason you do a facial close-up in a movie...

I use buss compression in relatively small doses -- mostly to augment gain-riding fader automation -- to help keep everything more or less squished into place in the mix.

[jeremy.c.]

to. make. it. all. fit. in!!!
srsly though, I like it often as an effect. In heavy music I use it for weight and clarity. I compress a lot less on "vibey stuff" and use it to pump trippy drum tracks. I also tend to stack gentle compression rather than use a single heavier compression. I like the feel better, not so heavy handed.

[DeadPoet]

I don't know why this pops in my head while reading this thread, but somewhat related:

My grandfather was a German flute player and recorded in the early days (I'm talking 30ies, 40ies).

He told me once they had to play symphonies several times in the studio so that they got tired and played with less dynamics - now THAT's compression



Compression helps me hide the fact that I'm not a good mixer.


Oh yeah, and I don't find it with the SSL comp, which says more about me than about the SSL Quad



Herwig

[Flying_Dutchman]

Compress if you want to arguement the attack or release of a signal
compress if you want to smash some signals and want to bring in
if you want to make sth loud and are ok with the tone, take a clean limiter

[Old Goat]

To tame that high note I sang loud to hit, but didn't lean back enough, or that overexhuberant strum skank.

[memphisindie]

Originally Posted by theblue1

I use compression on individual tracks for the same reason you do a facial close-up in a movie...

I use buss compression in relatively small doses -- mostly to augment gain-riding fader automation -- to help keep everything more or less squished into place in the mix.

Just make sure that you're not "all close ups" can you imagine a movie that's all close ups, in yer face? Irritating.

Be kind to the listener's ears, don't make them strain to hear unless it's appropriate and don't make them wince to get away either.
Some engineers mix like they have a grip on this. Some don't. They may actually have a grip, but, they don't use it much, because of pressure.
I'd like to compress that.

[Scott Cairns]

Originally Posted by olivia_nb

I also tend to stack gentle compression rather than use a single heavier compression. I like the feel better, not so heavy handed.

There's an article on bus compression in a recent SOS publication. They talk to a mix engineer and a mastering engineer. One of them (the ME I think) says the same thing about general compression ; his analogy is that its better to paint with lots of thin layers rather than one heavy handed one.

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by memphisindie

Just make sure that you're not "all close ups" can you imagine a movie that's all close ups, in yer face? Irritating.

Be kind to the listener's ears, don't make them strain to hear unless it's appropriate and don't make them wince to get away either.
Some engineers mix like they have a grip on this. Some don't. They may actually have a grip, but, they don't use it much, because of pressure.
I'd like to compress that.

That's why I kind of liked the close up analogy. (Of course, there are other reasons to compress individual instruments as others have pointed out -- I definitely sometimes use artfully set attack and release times and to help create punchier tracks and bring out edge at times.)

But like a movie with too many close-ups -- using too much compression on everything is, indeed, irritating.

[staudio]

I compress if it sounds better compressed. Sometimes for flavor, sometimes for dynamic control, sometimes for envelope shaping, sometimes for loudness, sometimes because it just seems like the right thing to do. Sometimes I don't compress.

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by Scott Cairns

There's an article on bus compression in a recent SOS publication. They talk to a mix engineer and a mastering engineer. One of them (the ME I think) says the same thing about general compression ; his analogy is that its better to paint with lots of thin layers rather than one heavy handed one.

oh! I'd like to read that, do you know which one? Thanks!

[FeatheredSerpent]

I hear that decompression can be a lot more dangerous tutt

[Mr.HOLMES]

The more I do it the more I compress just slightly.
Mostly I mix if it is not rock music without compression on single tracks.

In this case the tune turns out more naturally.

[memphisindie]

Originally Posted by theblue1

That's why I kind of liked the close up analogy. (Of course, there are other reasons to compress individual instruments as others have pointed out -- I definitely sometimes use artfully set attack and release times and to help create punchier tracks and bring out edge at times.)

But like a movie with too many close-ups -- using too much compression on everything is, indeed, irritating.

Yeah, it was an excellent analogy too.

I think I'm going to record and mix one with absolutely no compression anywhere on it on purpose, just to see if it could be passable. I don't use much usually, but, NONE would be interesting.
A "Could it be done?" type of thing.