> Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 10:26:33 +0200 (CEST) > From: "Logic User Group" <logic@...> > Subject: Compressing main mix > > Hi all, > > Do you use compression on your main mix? What settings can I start with to > practice... what things should I keep in mind doin this? > I want to create more 'bounce' in my mixes by using overall-compression. [warning: I am opinionated about such things. It was either this or politics.] Short answer: Don't. Long answer: Don't...unless you think it's a good idea. If you're going to get the track professionally mastered, leave the final mix compression to the masterer. It's easy for them to compress your mix, and they usually have better tools for doing that than you do. It's impossible to uncompress an overcompressed mix, though. If you're submitting a track for a compilation, for a film, or whatever, the masterer will need to be able to make everything reasonably consistant, and if you and the 15 other people on the disc all compressing their mixes with different settings, it's not going to be consistant by a long shot. (having mastered a few comps now where some muttonhead has decided he's going to master his own stuff in sound forge to "save on mastering costs" I can say that a masterer will hold a scornful grudge with you for all eternity if you do that) The exceptions are, of course, if you're mastering your own stuff. Usually a no-no, but if you're just doing some one-offs to show off or to play a test-mix on different systems, or you happen to be one of those professional masterers, then it's acceptable. Another exception is if you're doing it for an effect - I've noted that certain species of house and techno rely on limiter-pumping to groove the track around the kick-drum. Daft Punk and Eric Prydz have made careers out of this effect, although for my money it's the kind of trick you can get away with once before your audience storms your studio with torches and pitchforks. Compressing instruments and instrument groups is in itself okay (provided you know what you're doing and don't overdo it - snare drums should not make your eardrums collapse). I've even been startlingly impressed with the quality of the L7 compressor and its presets - it's not especially warm but it's a fairly transparent and versatile tool. I expected it to be crap, like every other packaged compressor I've dealt with. For that final hey-I'm-gunna-master-it-myself-anyway sheen, if you really wanna go that route, a maximizing limiter is usually the way to go. Logic's AdLimiter is a decent tool (probably on par with Waves L1), otherwise there's a free FIR Multiband compressor from "SlimSlowSlider" which is much more surgical (and, when used improperly, can turn your mix to mud). A regular limiter can do that "pumping" thing I mentioned with the right release settings. Make sure, before you go and squash your track, that your track is in it's cleanest possible mix - good EQ, good compression, good levels, etc - because compressing/limiting it is going to make any problems very audible. I often find myself doing a little surgical EQ (god I love Firum) on various parts of a track before I ship it off to be mastered. Of course, what works for me may not for you, so YMMV. __________________________________________________________ Eric Oehler / wonko@... / www.nulldevice.com