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Invisible compression trick
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jul 2, 2004 10:57
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If you're mastering your tracks yourself you may want to add some compression on the final mix. Often, this is done with a compressor on the mixbuss that uses a ratio of about 1.1:1 and a treshold of about -20dB to -30dB. However, this technique can lead to lack of clarity in the final mix.
A while ago i read a book by Bob Katz, that described a very nifty technique which he calls 'invisible compression' that can also be used to make your mix louder and more powerful. This technique lets you add compression but is very gentle. The following is a description of the technique, which i found on the web somewhere:
This technique is designed to compress with minimal or no effect on transient peaks. Mix the source with a "parallel compressor" (which some people call a side compressor, but this term is confusing). The source must be delayed to match the delay of the parallel compressor and avoid comb-filter effects. To determine the delay, invert the polarity of the source or the output of the compressor, set the compressor's threshold to 0 dBFS and makeup gain to unity. Mix the two and adjust the delay for complete cancellation. This delay will usually be a few samples.
The parallel compressor should have a threshold of -50 dBFS (that's right!), a ratio of 2:1, the fastest attack that is possible, and a medium release, somewhere around 800 mS to start. Adding this to the (delay compensated) "dry" signal produces the upward compression. As the signal gets higher and higher, the parallel compressor is less and less in the circuit, until at levels above about -20 dBFS, the parallel compressor is at least 20 dB down. You can see how transients will be little affected by this more-transparent technique.
You adjust the amount of compression not by changing the settings on the parallel compressor, but rather by raising or lowering the output of the parallel compressor (or makeup gain), and listening by ear. You can also test with test tones how much the gain goes up at low levels to judge the amount of compression. It's so gentle and so natural that it is almost impossible to tell this compressor is in the signal path.
Enjoy ! |
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Amygdala
Amygdala
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
175
Posted : Jul 2, 2004 12:02
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Gee, you're quite the compressor aren't you  Thanks for the tip, I'll try it out!
- A |
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
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988
Posted : Jul 2, 2004 12:49
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Hehehe  And a side-chain smoker too ! Well... it's really just because i've spent some time lately trying to get my head around how to get the most from using compressors. Since compression is one of those effects that takes the most time to master, but can be essential to getting the sound you're after i thought: let's share some solutions instead of sharing problems and questions. After all, being a hippy is all about sharing...  |
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Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
Started Topics :
158
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5306
Posted : Jul 2, 2004 14:48
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Amygdala
Amygdala
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
175
Posted : Jul 2, 2004 15:05
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Boobytrip, that's an excellent attitude - after all we can think of ourselves electro-hippies, right?
It's good to dive into one specific area and master it completely. Lately I've been into amplitude modulation, but I have no really applicable results to share... Soundforge is and stays best
- A |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
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5380
Posted : Jul 2, 2004 20:57
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WAVELOGIX
Wavelogix
Started Topics :
136
Posts :
1214
Posted : Jul 3, 2004 19:15
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booby , the deal sounds great and i would really like to try it out ..
but mate , very honestly speaking ....
pls tell me how can i try this in cubase sx on the stereo mixdown of my trk using waves plugins ...
i hope u get wat im trying to say
P.L.U.R.
bye and take care ... |
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
988
Posted : Jul 5, 2004 12:42
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I get it You can do it by making the final mixdown of your track (preferably at 24 bits and 48 or 96 Khz) and import that into a new cubase project dedicated to mastering. Then you can create an fx-track with the compressor in it, and use an effects-send on the audiotrack containing your final mixdown to feed the compressor. |
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WAVELOGIX
Wavelogix
Started Topics :
136
Posts :
1214
Posted : Jul 5, 2004 13:38
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tht simpple ??? |
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