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Compression - what is compression? :P
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legocorp
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
16
Posted : Oct 15, 2006 20:11
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I can't figure out how compressions works, what's the point of using it and what for. Can anyone help me?
I'm using the Tc native bundle and i don't understand the attack, release etc.. functions. By experience i can get to somewhere but im not sure of what im doing.
  Close your eyes and expand your conscienceness |
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orange
Fat Data
Started Topics :
154
Posts :
3918
Posted : Oct 15, 2006 20:50
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compression is the solution to everyone doesnt make a good production in hes tracks! 
no seriusly u must read alot before u understand the fundamentals of compresion!
unfortunately compresion is not easely perceived cos changes are not very audible! but its very usefull in drums specialy! but other sounds can bennefit of a good compresion!
read and try u will find ur way through the settings and what they do to ur sound!
orange
http://www.landmark-recordings.com/
http://soundcloud.com/kymamusic |
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D-Alien
Oxidelic
Started Topics :
51
Posts :
619
Posted : Oct 15, 2006 21:37
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compresion is applied usualy after some equalization was done. its to give more contrast and definition of the frequencies left after the equalization was applied. its like to give more "contrast" to your sound.
atack means how much time it takes the compresor to apply it over the sound (depends on the situation), release is how much it takes the compressor the free from compresing the sound. The treshold is the frontier from where the compresion begins and other functions like gain, knee etc also are present.
The compresor will bring to the superfice your sound, will make it a protagonist, but be carefull cuz its also the greatest enemy of the dynamics. too much compresion and no dynamics at all.. your sound will be potent but flat like a rotten can.... and disturbing for the ear. there are jsut tips and sugestions about using the compresion over every main element of the sounds in a track, percussions, kiks, bass, leads, samples almost anything can use a compresion in some form so that it gets better definition and presence... But u should star experimenting with some tutorials. just look in the net and start making some tutorials. like.. general compresion over a kick, bass, snares, leads.. etc.. later u'll find the inmense beauty of the Side-Chained Compression the Multiband compresion and so on..
Sound:
www.myspace.com/oxidelic
www.myspace.com/setanicmusic
Image:
www.antumbra-studio.com |
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HaKa
HaKa
Started Topics :
106
Posts :
269
Posted : Oct 15, 2006 22:35
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Oct 15, 2006 22:58
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Alot of blabla but no actual explanations.
So how does compression work?
Any signal with a level above the threshold will be "compressed" downwards in volume according to the ratio settings of the compressor.
Lets say you have the threshold set to -10 dB and a signal comes in at -5 dB. That means that the signal is 5 dB above the threshold. If you have your ratio set to to 2:1 it means that the volume of this signal will come through as 2.5 dB (5 dB / 2) above the threshold making it -7.5 dB. If the ratio is set to 4:1 it will come through as 1.25 dB (5 dB / 4 ) above the threshold or -8.75 dB.
The attack settings determines how fast the compressor reacts to signals above the threshold. So if you set the attack at 10 ms, it will take 10 ms for the compressor to fully compress the incoming signal once it passes the threshold.
The release setting determines how long it takes for the compression to stop having any effect. So if you have your release set to 100 ms, it will take 100 ms for the compressor to stop compressing after the signal has passed below the threshold.
The gain setting just sets how much gain is applied to the signal before it gets sent out of the compressor. Some compressors have auto-gain which automaticly gives more or less as much gain as the signal is being compressed.
The knee characteristic determines how "exact" the threshold setting is. With hard knee, the compressor only starts working when the signal passes the exact threshold value. A soft 6 dB knee means that the compressor will allready start compressing lightly 6 dB below the threshold. It will compress more and more as the signal gets closer to the threshold and compressor fully according to the ratio setting by the time the signal is actually at the exact threshold value.
That should get you started. Now experiment with different attack/release/threshold/ratio settings with different sounds and see what what happens. Thats the best way to learn IMO.  (And ignore the other comments here because they are not always true).
UnderTow |
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0v3rd0s3d
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
Posts :
660
Posted : Oct 15, 2006 23:08
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i dont know what does compression do to peoples mind lol i don't use it, only when i want something to be compressed... like a limiter?
else i just use the volume to adjust it the element i want..
here is a good link to understand what is compression and what kind of compression there is 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_level_compression
a littble bit of quoting:
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http://www.tribemagazine.com/board/showthread.php?t=31094
Threshold is where you want the compresion to be applied, if you want to kill some rogue spikes or transients in your final mix, you would bring the threshold down so that only those spikes are caught and compressed. So essentially anything above the threshhold will be compressed and anything below the threshold will be somewhat untouched.
Attack is how quickly the compression engages once the threshold is met.
Decay is how long it takes for the compression to disengage once the threshold is lost.
Ratio is considered like an 'amount' level, to add more increase the amount, but again this is only applied to peaks within the threshold range.
Different combinations of these options, mainly threshold and ratio can give you a million different results.. anything from a brick wall limiting effect to a slight boost in level on vocals.. compression is definitely a powerful tool.
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search here in the forum, in the old topics. very good information about this, and very clear !
stay well
http://myspace.com/overthedose |
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legocorp
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
16
Posted : Oct 16, 2006 00:43
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Right on! Thanks for the explanations. UnderTow you wrote what i wanted do read. Greetings to all of you.
Close your eyes and expand your conscienceness |
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energytick
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
52
Posted : Oct 16, 2006 04:03
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Important note:
When you compress a signal , u get a lower level compressed signal
Concider applying limiter to that result, lets say to return it to original volume, but with not much Atten. : what u get is a really nice compressed boosted signal !
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Oct 16, 2006 04:06
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Quote:
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On 2006-10-15 22:58, UnderTow wrote:
Alot of blabla but no actual explanations.
So how does compression work?
Any signal with a level above the threshold will be "compressed" downwards in volume according to the ratio settings of the compressor.
Lets say you have the threshold set to -10 dB and a signal comes in at -5 dB. That means that the signal is 5 dB above the threshold. If you have your ratio set to to 2:1 it means that the volume of this signal will come through as 2.5 dB (5 dB / 2) above the threshold making it -7.5 dB. If the ratio is set to 4:1 it will come through as 1.25 dB (5 dB / 4 ) above the threshold or -8.75 dB.
The attack settings determines how fast the compressor reacts to signals above the threshold. So if you set the attack at 10 ms, it will take 10 ms for the compressor to fully compress the incoming signal once it passes the threshold.
The release setting determines how long it takes for the compression to stop having any effect. So if you have your release set to 100 ms, it will take 100 ms for the compressor to stop compressing after the signal has passed below the threshold.
The gain setting just sets how much gain is applied to the signal before it gets sent out of the compressor. Some compressors have auto-gain which automaticly gives more or less as much gain as the signal is being compressed.
The knee characteristic determines how "exact" the threshold setting is. With hard knee, the compressor only starts working when the signal passes the exact threshold value. A soft 6 dB knee means that the compressor will allready start compressing lightly 6 dB below the threshold. It will compress more and more as the signal gets closer to the threshold and compressor fully according to the ratio setting by the time the signal is actually at the exact threshold value.
That should get you started. Now experiment with different attack/release/threshold/ratio settings with different sounds and see what what happens. Thats the best way to learn IMO. (And ignore the other comments here because they are not always true).
UnderTow
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Mastering - http://mastering.OOOD.net :: www.is.gd/mastering
OOOD 5th album 'You Think You Are' - www.is.gd/tobuyoood :: www.OOOD.net
www.facebook.com/OOOD.music :: www.soundcloud.com/oood
Contact for bookings/mastering - colin@oood.net |
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l337
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
55
Posts :
817
Posted : Oct 16, 2006 09:34
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Quote:
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On 2006-10-15 22:58, UnderTow wrote:
Alot of blabla but no actual explanations.
So how does compression work?
(edited)
UnderTow
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awesome explanation Undertow..... read alot of shit on isra about compression for far too long |
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Psynaesthesian
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
557
Posted : Oct 19, 2006 21:17
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Quote:
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On 2006-10-15 22:58, UnderTow wrote:
Alot of blabla but no actual explanations.
So how does compression work?
Any signal with a level above the threshold will be "compressed" downwards in volume according to the ratio settings of the compressor.
Lets say you have the threshold set to -10 dB and a signal comes in at -5 dB. That means that the signal is 5 dB above the threshold. If you have your ratio set to to 2:1 it means that the volume of this signal will come through as 2.5 dB (5 dB / 2) above the threshold making it -7.5 dB. If the ratio is set to 4:1 it will come through as 1.25 dB (5 dB / 4 ) above the threshold or -8.75 dB.
The attack settings determines how fast the compressor reacts to signals above the threshold. So if you set the attack at 10 ms, it will take 10 ms for the compressor to fully compress the incoming signal once it passes the threshold.
The release setting determines how long it takes for the compression to stop having any effect. So if you have your release set to 100 ms, it will take 100 ms for the compressor to stop compressing after the signal has passed below the threshold.
The gain setting just sets how much gain is applied to the signal before it gets sent out of the compressor. Some compressors have auto-gain which automaticly gives more or less as much gain as the signal is being compressed.
The knee characteristic determines how "exact" the threshold setting is. With hard knee, the compressor only starts working when the signal passes the exact threshold value. A soft 6 dB knee means that the compressor will allready start compressing lightly 6 dB below the threshold. It will compress more and more as the signal gets closer to the threshold and compressor fully according to the ratio setting by the time the signal is actually at the exact threshold value.
That should get you started. Now experiment with different attack/release/threshold/ratio settings with different sounds and see what what happens. Thats the best way to learn IMO. (And ignore the other comments here because they are not always true).
UnderTow
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WOWZER Dude ..... where were u when i was burned and broken?
Good One!!
B'om Shankara!!
"... b'om ..." |
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PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Oct 21, 2006 18:03
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what is the look ahead feature ? it seems to delay the incoming audio but why?i read it s to avoid transcient distortion but i dont understand well... help plz |
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Sound Surgeon
Crater / Mish-kah
Started Topics :
250
Posts :
2244
Posted : Oct 21, 2006 20:54
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Nice explanation Undertow
but the hard part in compression is not knowing the terms, but knowing how to use compression wisely
I suggest all of us READ as much as we can and learn new techniques from articles and documents
READ!
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
988
Posted : Oct 22, 2006 13:47
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If you buy any compressor you will get an explanation of what the parameters do. One of the things that really helped me to speed up the process of setting up a compressor's parameters was the sequence suggested in Mike Stavrou's book, "Mixing with your mind". I wrote it down in an old thread: http://forum.isratrance.com/viewtopic.php/topic/70493/forum/2
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paz
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
2
Posted : Oct 24, 2006 17:45
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Quote:
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On 2006-10-15 22:58, UnderTow wrote:
Lets say you have the threshold set to -10 dB and a signal comes in at -5 dB. That means that the signal is 5 dB above the threshold. If you have your ratio set to to 2:1 it means that the volume of this signal will come through as 2.5 dB (5 dB / 2) above the threshold making it -7.5 dB. If the ratio is set to 4:1 it will come through as 1.25 dB (5 dB / 4 ) above the threshold or -8.75 dB.
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Shouldn't it be -6.25 dB instead of -8.75 dB (5dB + 1.25 dB = 6.25 dB)? Will I get more dynamics with a 2:1 ratio then when I'd use a 1:4 ratio? And will I have more dynamics when the threshold is set at -15 dB instead of -10 dB? Just wondering if I got this compressor thing right... |
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