Compression Settings.. Hip Hop

[TradeMark]

Can someone tell me some basic general compression settings. Either give your exact settings or a range. I know that everyone has their own style but I just want to get a feel of where I should be.
For instance.. on the kick drum, snare, hihats, baseline and for vocals...

Attack? Threshold? Knee? Release ... etc...

Thanks in advance.. !!

[Blue Bear Sound]

The only possible answer is........... "it depends!"

[TradeMark]

boo.. wasnt really what I was looking for.. but I guess I understand. Still I believe there are people out there that have some general settings that like to use on hip hop applications....

[plexi]

Originally posted by TradeMark
boo.. wasnt really what I was looking for.. but I guess I understand. Still I believe there are people out there that have some general settings that like to use on hip hop applications....

No really , it depends on the compressor in use, and how the dynamics of the artist works.....
But as a general rule avoid more than 3-6dB of gain reduction when tracking, then experiment when mixing. Set it up for heavy compression , then play with the attack and release until you have a "sound" you like, then adjust the threshold to taste....

[crosstudio]

it really does depend.

you wouldn't treat the hand clappy sounding snare on 'In the club' the same as the hard snare used on Mos Def's 'hip-hop'.

each instrument has different needs depending on how evenly it was played when recorded.

remember also there is a difference between compressing to make a recording less dynamic, and compressing for an effect.

clamping down on the tail of a guitar to give it a more staccato feel is an effect.