Your settings for Parallel compression?

Methlab · 23rd August 2006, 04:49 PM

I read all the parallel comp threads, and I have been doing this trick for a while now in Cubase, but I want to try new settings and ideas..

I use the PSP mixpressor on the LA2A setting with my own tweaking..but I want to mess around with more comps and settings.

In cubase you can make an FX buss and put a comp on there and bus it in, but I notice that the effect is not very powerful when i do this. I think it must have to do with the pre and post settings, but I cant get it set right.

For example..from my drum buss, I will have the send from the FX bus into the drum bus at around -15db . I will put a rencomp on the bus ..ratio 10:1..slow attack, faster release time, very heavy compression of 12 db or more. But I don't hear a ton of the effect this way. I notice the meters on the FX buss register low volumes (around -20db) coming in.

So my questions are ...1. what software comps do you like to use (I am getting a little burnt on the PSP stuff). 2. What settings do you like to use on them (not just for drums..but vocals and guitars also) , 3. and if you are doing this in Cubase, how is your routing set up (pre/post fader?..stuff like that).

Im always into trying new techniques, because I get bored doing the same thing everytime.

Leo Badinella · 23rd August 2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Methlab

I read all the parallel comp threads, and I have been doing this trick for a while now in Cubase, but I want to try new settings and ideas..

I use the PSP mixpressor on the LA2A setting with my own tweaking..but I want to mess around with more comps and settings.

In cubase you can make an FX buss and put a comp on there and bus it in, but I notice that the effect is not very powerful when i do this. I think it must have to do with the pre and post settings, but I cant get it set right.

For example..from my drum buss, I will have the send from the FX bus into the drum bus at around -15db . I will put a rencomp on the bus ..ratio 10:1..slow attack, faster release time, very heavy compression of 12 db or more. But I don't hear a ton of the effect this way. I notice the meters on the FX buss register low volumes (around -20db) coming in.

So my questions are ...1. what software comps do you like to use (I am getting a little burnt on the PSP stuff). 2. What settings do you like to use on them (not just for drums..but vocals and guitars also) , 3. and if you are doing this in Cubase, how is your routing set up (pre/post fader?..stuff like that).

Im always into trying new techniques, because I get bored doing the same thing everytime.

Hey!

I son't use Cubase so I can't comment on the routing. But I like to use the UAD-1 1175 on the parallel compression bus. Other compressor I'm sure would work wonders as a parallel compressor is the Metric Halo Channelstrip but it has a minimum delay of 16 samples which makes it impossible to use for this purpose.

I've tried the PSPs for this but they don't seem to shine.

mtstudi@pacbell · 23rd August 2006, 06:34 PM

I have played around with parallel compression in Protools, but still have never been able to get it to act like an outboard on a console. Here is what I do and like typically:

Kik and Snare through DBX 165 at fast attack fast to medium release with infinite ratio (Parallel).
Then the entire kit on SSL FX 384 Stereo Bussed at Slower Attack and Auto release at 4:1 ratio (Not Parallel).

ITB you must put the compressor on kik and snare and the same compressor on a Stereo Aux on the rest of kit BYPASSED (to eliminate phase problems do to latency). I would gate your snares to eliminate accentuated Hi hats. I would experiment with a faster attack for your snare (to get a snap out of it). Then parallel compress kik separately with a medium to fast attack. I would not use the LA 2A. It is too slow. Either use UA1176 or Waves SSL.

Some engineers prefer a slower attack for parallel compression, I do not.

www.bluethumbproductions.com

Methlab · 23rd August 2006, 09:35 PM

ok..cool, I will try fast attack settings for sure. Once I figure out the best way to route, I think I will be good to go.

Id like to have one compressor set up to run in parallel for drums, vocals and guitars. Is this realistic, or do you use different settings for vocals then drums for example?

Brad McGowan · 24th August 2006, 07:09 AM

I use Cubase to do parallel drum bus compression all the time. Set your Aux Send pre-fader to the FX channel that has your compressor. Set the send level at 0 dB. This way the compressed FX channel is completely independent of the main drum mix channel. You are basically sending 100% of the drum mix to the FX channel. When you get a balance between the two that you like by adjusting the Drum fader relative to the FX fader, then link the two channels so that you don't mess up your relationship later.

Cubase takes care of all latency so don't worry about bypassing aux sends and other craziness.

Brad

Cojo · 24th August 2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

then link the two channels so that you don't mess up your relationship later.

...thanks for this reminder, I've totally forgot about linking channels!

/Cojo

Methlab · 24th August 2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

I use Cubase to do parallel drum bus compression all the time. Set your Aux Send pre-fader to the FX channel that has your compressor. Set the send level at 0 dB. This way the compressed FX channel is completely independent of the main drum mix channel. You are basically sending 100% of the drum mix to the FX channel. When you get a balance between the two that you like by adjusting the Drum fader relative to the FX fader, then link the two channels so that you don't mess up your relationship later.

Cubase takes care of all latency so don't worry about bypassing aux sends and other craziness.

Brad

Awesome..that is the routing info I needed...thank you.

Rednose · 24th August 2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

I use Cubase to do parallel drum bus compression all the time. Set your Aux Send pre-fader to the FX channel that has your compressor. Set the send level at 0 dB. This way the compressed FX channel is completely independent of the main drum mix channel. You are basically sending 100% of the drum mix to the FX channel. When you get a balance between the two that you like by adjusting the Drum fader relative to the FX fader, then link the two channels so that you don't mess up your relationship later.

Cubase takes care of all latency so don't worry about bypassing aux sends and other craziness.

Brad

Brad, I'm a bit confused. I get the part about sending the drums to an FX send with a compressor on it, but when you say "Drum fader", are you refering to an additional "Group" channel, or do you mean the individual drum channels, ie. kick, snare?
In other words, do I need two sends in Cubase (And FX and Group) to do Parrallel compression, or just one FX channel?
Thanks.

Methlab · 24th August 2006, 10:39 PM

He is referring to the drum subgroup that you want to compress.

my mistake was trying to control the balance of parallel comping to dry by using the aux sliders...instead I am now using the faders on the compressor's FX channel to balance it out.

lukejs · 24th August 2006, 10:56 PM

I just clone my vocal track, for example....and stick a compressor on it.. sometimes uad1 1176, sometimes a Fairchild, sometimes an LA 2A.. I then stick an EQ after the this compressor to bring back a little of the highs.. Then turn up the volume on the cloned track to your liking... As for ratio, I think 10 to 1 is pretty steep..... I always heard that the threashold should be pretty low so that the compressor is almost always working on gain reduction, but as far as ratio, I figure a lower one may work better.... Now..keep in mind that I learned almost all this stuff on Gearslutz, so take it with a grain of salt !!!

Faderjockey · 27th August 2006, 05:35 PM

In Cubase I do the F/X thing with 160Vu and distressor sometimes for kick/Snare and sometimes bass. Works great..

But something I noticed yesterday..I needed to parallel comp a vocal.. So I put a comp on a F/X ch. Then when I put the send on the vocal it changed the vocal sound.. So I muted the F/X channel.. Yet i was still hearing a change in the vocal. So I flipped between pre/post on the send didn't make a difference..mind you the F/X ch is muted.. So why is the tone on my vocal changing?

I turn off the send sounds fine..put it back on the vocal sounds like a really fast room is o it. Then when I unmute the F/X ch..there is a little delay. But doesn't do it to bass or drums....Weird.

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23rd August 2006, 04:49 PM	#1
Methlab Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orlando Posts: 2,418	Your settings for Parallel compression? I read all the parallel comp threads, and I have been doing this trick for a while now in Cubase, but I want to try new settings and ideas.. I use the PSP mixpressor on the LA2A setting with my own tweaking..but I want to mess around with more comps and settings. In cubase you can make an FX buss and put a comp on there and bus it in, but I notice that the effect is not very powerful when i do this. I think it must have to do with the pre and post settings, but I cant get it set right. For example..from my drum buss, I will have the send from the FX bus into the drum bus at around -15db . I will put a rencomp on the bus ..ratio 10:1..slow attack, faster release time, very heavy compression of 12 db or more. But I don't hear a ton of the effect this way. I notice the meters on the FX buss register low volumes (around -20db) coming in. So my questions are ...1. what software comps do you like to use (I am getting a little burnt on the PSP stuff). 2. What settings do you like to use on them (not just for drums..but vocals and guitars also) , 3. and if you are doing this in Cubase, how is your routing set up (pre/post fader?..stuff like that). Im always into trying new techniques, because I get bored doing the same thing everytime.

24th August 2006, 10:56 PM	#10
lukejs Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas Posts: 629	the easiest way to parallel compression .....is ... I just clone my vocal track, for example....and stick a compressor on it.. sometimes uad1 1176, sometimes a Fairchild, sometimes an LA 2A.. I then stick an EQ after the this compressor to bring back a little of the highs.. Then turn up the volume on the cloned track to your liking... As for ratio, I think 10 to 1 is pretty steep..... I always heard that the threashold should be pretty low so that the compressor is almost always working on gain reduction, but as far as ratio, I figure a lower one may work better.... Now..keep in mind that I learned almost all this stuff on Gearslutz, so take it with a grain of salt !!!

27th August 2006, 05:35 PM	#11
Faderjockey Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: B-more Posts: 939	In Cubase I do the F/X thing with 160Vu and distressor sometimes for kick/Snare and sometimes bass. Works great.. But something I noticed yesterday..I needed to parallel comp a vocal.. So I put a comp on a F/X ch. Then when I put the send on the vocal it changed the vocal sound.. So I muted the F/X channel.. Yet i was still hearing a change in the vocal. So I flipped between pre/post on the send didn't make a difference..mind you the F/X ch is muted.. So why is the tone on my vocal changing? I turn off the send sounds fine..put it back on the vocal sounds like a really fast room is o it. Then when I unmute the F/X ch..there is a little delay. But doesn't do it to bass or drums....Weird. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/bigbangstudios www.barberelectronics.com

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23rd August 2006, 06:34 PM	#3
mtstudi@pacbell Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 887	I have played around with parallel compression in Protools, but still have never been able to get it to act like an outboard on a console. Here is what I do and like typically: Kik and Snare through DBX 165 at fast attack fast to medium release with infinite ratio (Parallel). Then the entire kit on SSL FX 384 Stereo Bussed at Slower Attack and Auto release at 4:1 ratio (Not Parallel). ITB you must put the compressor on kik and snare and the same compressor on a Stereo Aux on the rest of kit BYPASSED (to eliminate phase problems do to latency). I would gate your snares to eliminate accentuated Hi hats. I would experiment with a faster attack for your snare (to get a snap out of it). Then parallel compress kik separately with a medium to fast attack. I would not use the LA 2A. It is too slow. Either use UA1176 or Waves SSL. Some engineers prefer a slower attack for parallel compression, I do not. www.bluethumbproductions.com

23rd August 2006, 09:35 PM	#4
Methlab Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orlando Posts: 2,418	ok..cool, I will try fast attack settings for sure. Once I figure out the best way to route, I think I will be good to go. Id like to have one compressor set up to run in parallel for drums, vocals and guitars. Is this realistic, or do you use different settings for vocals then drums for example?

24th August 2006, 07:09 AM	#5
Brad McGowan Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 3,019	I use Cubase to do parallel drum bus compression all the time. Set your Aux Send pre-fader to the FX channel that has your compressor. Set the send level at 0 dB. This way the compressed FX channel is completely independent of the main drum mix channel. You are basically sending 100% of the drum mix to the FX channel. When you get a balance between the two that you like by adjusting the Drum fader relative to the FX fader, then link the two channels so that you don't mess up your relationship later. Cubase takes care of all latency so don't worry about bypassing aux sends and other craziness. Brad

24th August 2006, 10:39 PM	#9
Methlab Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orlando Posts: 2,418	He is referring to the drum subgroup that you want to compress. my mistake was trying to control the balance of parallel comping to dry by using the aux sliders...instead I am now using the faders on the compressor's FX channel to balance it out.