Best Compressor?

[12Professors]

On cool edit pro 2.0 what is the best compressor to use? i've been going to 'dynamic processing' then "Vocalcomp,-24,+12db fast. thats what i've been using for hip hop/singing vocs but is there a better one? thanx, huck finn

[Spaztic]

In my experience it really depends on the track. If you eq correctly a compressor is rarely needed.

[Change of POETS]

I compress my vocals with the 4:1 setting in Dynamics Processing, then I EQ them. It seems to work better that way for me.

[goldfish]

My normal method is to do a hard limit to chop the very peaks off, then do a light compression of somthing like 10:1 , compressing at -6dB, or whatever is required for the track.. then another heavier pass at about 25:1 at perhaps -7dB, and repeat the process untill you are as compressed as you want. Make sure your attack/release times are nominal for the track.. you dont want any cymbal hits being cut off, or any pumping bass drums!

Usually for me I rarley need more than one or two passes on it, I like to keep my music nice and dynamic and natural sounding ... gives it a bit of space. Usually, I will do a bit of outboard compression on a kick drum mic and maybe snare drum mic if its required for that particular track. I *never* gate any mic on a drumkit.

[Change of POETS]

I'm not sure if I agree with that advice goldfish...

Multiple passes of compression aren't good for the file at all. You have to remember the rules of compression, and the fact that it's a multiplication of compression numbers, not an addition of them.

If I compress at 4:1, and it's not significant enough, then I run another 4:1 compression on it, I essentially just ran a 16:1 compression ratio on the file.

If you're running a 10:1 compression setting and then a 25:1 setting afterwords, you're actually compressing at 250:1 (unless my math is off... ) and that will slaughter your file.

I'd suggest adjusting your attack and delay settings to something much more substantial so you're only running compression once.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I could've sworn everything I've read on compression says it's multiplication and not addition... Anyone who can confirm that?

[goldfish]

I dont think that rules applies as the compression is being performed at a different level. I don't THINK so anyway. I didnt say anything about pre-post compression gain either... if i was gaining as much as i was compressing then you are right, it would completley muller it.

I would agree with you to adjust attack/decay though... but you need to remember that you want to compress the whole mix down without cutting off the peaks. If you did just the one pass of compression, if the attack was too fast, or the release was too slow, then you wouldnt compress enough, and cut off snare hits/cymbal hits.

I am open to anyone who wants to tell me I've been doing it wrong though