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COMPRESSION!!
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soulfood
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
875
Posted : Aug 29, 2008 05:20
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On 2008-08-14 17:04:45, Saii wrote:
Im having trouble understanding compressors...
i would like to understand how to compress things....
for example, how do you go about compressing a full on KbBb bass-line>? how do you start?
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You start by assuming you don't actually need compression to do this and get the bassline just the way you want it to the best of your ability via envoples, sampling and small edits.
Then to see if you can go fatter get your bass nice and loud. Then add a compressor and set the attack at about 35, ratio at 1.5 and release somewhere around 70-90. Then start moving the threshold up and down and you should then hear the tail of the kick getting quieter. Fiddle with these settings a little and you should be able to develop quite a good ear for compression... some nice basslines too!
That's how I figured it out anyway. |
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Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Aug 29, 2008 07:04
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Compression is used to bring loud tones down. Expansion is used to bring quiet tones up. I tend to compress when I want something to stand out a little more constant in a mix.
There are several ways to compress a bassline. One of the possibilities is to sidechain (duck) a bass to a kick, meaning whenever the kick comes, the bass gets ducked out from the mix. This can be very useful when your bass overlaps with the kick. It also gives you a nice pump. Try to set the attack as short as possible and adjust the release to a level where the kick is fully audible and the bass comes back in after ducking as soon as possible...
 Upavas - Here And Now (Sangoma Rec.) new EP out Oct.29th, get it here:
http://timecode.bandcamp.com
http://upavas.com
http://soundcloud.com/upavas-1/ |
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Aug 29, 2008 09:47
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Expansion is used to bring quiet tones up.
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???
I have never used expanders, but as far as I know, it works oposite to compressor, making souds, that are louder than treshold, even more loud. So it has nothing to do with bringing quiet tones up. Am I wrong?
http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
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fuzzikitten
Annunaki
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
603
Posted : Aug 30, 2008 06:29
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fuzzikitten
Annunaki
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
603
Posted : Aug 30, 2008 06:30
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On 2008-08-25 01:50, UnderTow wrote:
No offence but that sounds rather thin and closed in to me and although it is relatively loud, there is a lot of mid frequencies that just make me want to turn the volume down.
I would try and make the mix more balanced.
UnderTow
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should I compress the bass?
Equinox 2009 - http://www.touchsamadhi.com/events/2009/09/18/equinox-0 |
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Sep 4, 2008 11:31
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Quote:
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On 2008-08-30 06:30, fuzzikitten wrote:
should I compress the bass?
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Mainly try and get a better balance between those mid to high-mid-frequencies and the low-end. It will sound more ballsy and less tiring. 
UnderTow |
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Sep 4, 2008 11:37
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Here is a little insider story: Wouter (Zen Mechanics), after releasing a few tracks asked me how a compressor worked. In other words, he didn't use a single compressor on any of his earlier tracks but still got great results!
If anyone is interested, I have a suggestion: Try mixing an entire track with no use of compression and minimal or no EQ. In theory, you should be able to do a whole track only by using a hipass filter to remove low-end from tracks that have too much low/low-mid-frequencies for the mix.
This should train your ears to use LEVEL to fit things nicely in the mix rather than other tricks. Once you master this ability, everything else becomes really easy!
So how do you make an element that is too dull sound brighter? Put the hipass filter slightly higher and increase the overall LEVEL of the sounds. This uses minimal processing (keeps the sound clean) and achieves the same result as boosting the high-frequencies!
UnderTow
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Sep 4, 2008 11:46
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+1 Undertow
I would add: One decent synth, hardware or software, is enough to write a full track. Just read the manual and tweak it for several days.
http://soundcloud.com/aedem |
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Pertuse
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
22
Posted : Sep 5, 2008 15:03
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There are no rules - only ears & a good set of monitors |
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Medea
Aedem/Medea
Started Topics :
127
Posts :
1132
Posted : Sep 5, 2008 15:15
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klippel
Stereofeld
Started Topics :
91
Posts :
1153
Posted : Sep 5, 2008 16:02
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Quote:
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On 2008-09-04 11:37, UnderTow wrote:
If anyone is interested, I have a suggestion: Try mixing an entire track with no use of compression and minimal or no EQ. In theory, you should be able to do a whole track only by using a hipass filter to remove low-end from tracks that have too much low/low-mid-frequencies for the mix.
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ok, i see the point in only eqing gets you almost through a mix, BUT:
what would you do to sounds that change levels when modulated? nice acid-line. you teak and tweak.. low cutoff: almost not hearable. filters all open: screaming loud.
what would you do without compression?
except for level automation which is a pain in the ass to even out levels properly...
do i miss something?
cheers, tim |
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Sep 5, 2008 16:15
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I _would_ use level automation. It will give a much nicer cleaner sound.
This is where control surfaces come in handy. I have a crappy fader thing at home but I will usually use the knobs on the Virus to do easy level automation.
On a side note, I find that filter tweaking sounds best and most natural if the changes are relatively small. IMO, one of the reasons why softsynths can sound fake and plastic is because the filter is modulated too far. If it is a main lead, small but deliberate filter tweaks can have great effect and impact! Especially if the resonance is quite high and the sonic details are enhanced by saturation/distortion.
UnderTow |
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Fragletrollet
Fragletrollet
Started Topics :
111
Posts :
1748
Posted : May 20, 2009 14:35
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Kitnam
Mantik
Started Topics :
110
Posts :
1151
Posted : May 21, 2009 11:15
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mquirk1
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
63
Posts :
384
Posted : May 21, 2009 12:01
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a good tip i picked up for using the compressor with the bass, which i actually got from reading some article about how one of the top mix engineers mixes rock type stuff, is to to EQ the bass first with a big bump in the region around 40-50-60 hz, then put a heavy compressor on afterwards. gives a really good low end.. also cool when using rbass or something and a compressor after it |
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