What exactly is compression and how do I use it?

[msilva9383]

Hey,

I've heard a lot about compression and I still don't know EXACTLY what it is. Can anyone help me out? Like giving a definition or maybe an article explaining it. Also, what is mastering exaclty? Is it just making your mix loud enough to put on cd? Because thats a problem I have with my songs is that theyre never loud enough or some parts are too loud and others aren't loud enough.

Thanks,
Matt

[zoetrope]

Start here --> http://www.studiocovers.com/articles3.htm

Let me know when you finish reading all that.

Done? Ok. Compression reduces the volume of the loudest parts of your song or track so that you can then normalize the track and bring up the overall average volume. Or something like that. Now read all those articles again.

[dobro]

Compression reduces loud peaks in your recorded tracks by a fixed ratio. You decide at what loudness level you want the compression to kick in - that's called the threshold. You decide how much compression you want to apply - that's called the ratio. A ratio of 2:1 means that as soon as a signal crosses that threshold you dialled in, for every 2 dB of gain, the compressor outputs only 1 db; if the ratio was 3:1, 3 dB of gain would output only 1 dB, and so on. Common ratios are between 2:1 and 4:1 - you don't want to compress stuff unless you have to - it's common to compress vocals, acoustic guitar, bass - the compression controls sudden volume peaks. You have to learn about attack and release times too, but that's another day.

One major result is that after compression, your track has less amplitude, less distance between the loudest and softest sound. One way that this is used by the crazed engineers of today's recording industry is that this 'squashed' track can then have its volume increased without danger of distortion, making the music louder overall.

Mastering is fine-tuning a mix, usually using EQ and compression and maybe some reverb, adjusting levels. It's final stage polishing. In the recording industry, it's done best by people with LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of experience and Very Expensive Equipment. You can try to master you own mixes, and it'll be a learning experience, but you won't come close to the pros.

[zip]

Originally posted by dobro
One way that this is used by the crazed engineers of today's recording industry is that this 'squashed' track can then have its volume increased without danger of distortion, making the music louder overall.

Uh oh.....Ed's favorite subject! Ed loves loud mixes...

To be honest dobro...."crazed" is just the right word. Overuse of compression during mastering just kills the dynamics of a good mix. Just my somewhat educated HO.

BTW...good description of compression.

Damn...I had another good link to Shailat's compression article...the one with examples...and it's gone!

PC has a mind of it's own.

zip >>

[Shailat]

www.geocities.com/shailat2000

[zip]

Shailat...thanks man...

bookmarked...again!

Ed,

I know bro...see the wink??

You have a cable modem Ed?? I'd like to send you an MP3 of what has to be the loudest...most compressed / squashed commercially mastered CD I have ever found! It's off the charts on my editor...you'd get a kick out of it! Right after you puked!!

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[Elle]

Dobro,

I agree about the mastering, I've finally have gotten to the point where I am asking myself what formatt my tracks have to be in if I want them professionally mastered?
I do not have and Adat. I could save each track as a wave file though.

Does anyone have any info on this topic?

Thanks!

[zip]

Elle...

The mastering house should be able to master .wav files burned to a CD. I believe they should conform to Red Book specs.

Do a search on Red Book and see what the requirements are.

Rememeber...don't use cheap discs... Burn as slowly as possible (1X or 2X) onto a high quality disc such as a Mitsui. This keeps your error rate down.

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[Elle]

Thanks for that info Zip >>

[zip]

No problem...

If you find some info on red book (a link) maybe post it back here. I need to know more about it anyway....

zip >>