compressor setting for recording toms/snare

  • Thread starter Thread starter nickwarhead
  • Start date Start date
N

nickwarhead

New member
I need to find out what are the best compressor settings for recording drums, mainly toms and snare, and maybe the kick drum.
 
it varies alot. especially the threshhold level which should be set somewhere between the loudest and the softest peaks of the signal.

as for ratio, attack and release settings just mess around with the knobs and get a feel for them. i mostly move around a ratio of 4:1 and upwards for some heavier compression. it highly depends on you signal and drum.

one thing is for sure tho. the attack should be set at around 50ms. minimum is 30ms on drums. anything under 30 won't have any punch at all. my personal favourite release time on toms and snare is 200ms. some might say 500ms is even better tho.

that goes for close miced signals. OHs and summed drums will benifit from much slighter compression.
 
I need to find out what are the best compressor settings for recording drums, mainly toms and snare, and maybe the kick drum.
You need to use the settings that are going to work with the sounds you have to fit them into the mix you're working with.
visa said:
one thing is for sure tho. the attack should be (snip)
No, that is most definitely NOT "for sure" by any means. It's completely dependent on what he has vs. what he wants.
 
This all depends on why you are compressing the drums. Are you compessing for the sound of the compression or because the drummer has no control? There is no one way to do this, and it depends entirely on what has been recorded.
 
Back
Top