compression basics

[downonthestreet]

Currently, I'm transferring to digital format some of my old punk rock analogue recordings that are typical of the genre: Ramones' style wall-of-sound distorted guitar, simple thobbing bass, drums, vocal...all up loud. (That's as technical as I get - sorry!).

Some of the analogue recordings were compressed using the dreaded Alesis 3630 - which I actually found quite ok while I was using it - and these have transferred to CD loud and proud. However, the few songs that were not originally compressed are coming out softer and less bright and in-yer-face when on CD. So, I am going to try applying some compression in CEP to see if I can remedy this.

Thing is, I have no idea what would work best among the Dynamic Range presets for this style of relentlessly energetic music. "2:1 -20 fast drums" seems good, but is there some sort of compression setting/tweak/treatment that would really bring the best out of this sort of music that I would be better off using?

I've always sniffed my ignorant nose at theory, but I now find myself in need of it to understand how I can best apply the CEP Dynamic Range options. Can any kind soul help with a crash course of relevant explanations, or recommendations, please?

[Spaztic]

This link might help

Linky

[downonthestreet]

Spaztic - that's an excellent article. Thanks. Now to try to translate it practically using CEP's Dynamic Processing...

[sepsis311]

I must say, it's a very excellent article. I never thought of using a compressor to INCREASE dynamics. I used cool edit for years and years... however the one thing that made me switch to another program was it's dynamics processing. Although it's extremely powerful, it isnt too user friendly. I still use CEP for my own on the weekend with the line6 guitar port recordings though.