Hoow are you compressing your toms...?

[Klauth]

For those of you who are compressing your toms, whether it be tracking or, mix down, do you prefer to compress individually or, in a group?

[PVAUDIO]

I always compress each tom differently. Generally each tom has it's own dynamic and has it's own role in the overall sound of the drum kit.

[bonnybilly]

Hey,

It may be that the compression or parallel compression on the drum bus is enough for the toms...it really depends on the music. If it's a pumping rock kinda thing then I would compress the toms individualy to go for a sort of larger than life sound. It also depends on how they are played.

[warhead]

Usually the drum buss is enough compression for me, but many times rather than individual toms I will create a stereo buss and send them all there. The biggest exception might be the floor time, as a longer release time many times makes more sense.

War

[RedWallStudio]

I don't compress individual toms either. If the drummer either has a weak (or strong) hit here and there, I may volume automate it. Otherwise, what War said is what I do too.

[TheArchitect]

Kick and snare get individual compressors if they need it and bussed to a group track. All toms are bussed to group track and compressed on the group track if they need it. Over heads and room mics go to their own group track as well. I rarely compress these tracks but will on the group track typically.

I prefer to use as much common processing as possible, IT helps with the cohesion of the entire kit IMO

[lildrummerboy70]

I tend to like parallel compression for the toms. I compress my drum buss, and sometimes have a parallel compression/saturation buss as well.

[Daedalus77]

Entirely genre-dependent. I've used all of the approaches listed above in one context or another.

[theblotted]

individual to squeeze the tone and color out. parallel to bring cohesiveness to the kit. clean VCA comp's like modded 166 are great for this. so's a Distressor, slow attack fast release.

[ToddF]

Individually when tracking if needed. I have found nothing to work as well on toms as the API 225L. It really just has the sound.
Peace Todd

[Dean Roddey]

I always like toms with that kind of spongey but punchy attack. It always seems to me that a fairly slow opto compressor on the toms (direct mics) bus works out really nicely for that, to let plenty of attack through but pull down on the after ring.

[Chaellus]

ill usually do indivual compression on toms during mixing during tracking if i am using compression its very gently

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

interesting question...I always have a lot of doubts when compressing toms. seems like i tend to do worst, compressing them. really brings up the noise, mud, cymbals, room. I usually end up not compressing them more than the drums bus is.

what kind of compressors do you usually throw at toms? how much GR and what settings usually work?

also, i guess its kind of imperative to gate them ( or clean them up in a daw)before compressing them, no?

[HOTC]

like war said normally on my tom buss i just add a compressor but it depends on the song really,I dont really like too much compression in general