a couple compression ?'s

[Newbie dude]

1. I've heard you're supposed to compress vocals at the recording stage and compress a guitar after you've recorded it. Is this correct? What about bass?

2. Should I run the whole song through the compresor as well as compressing individual tracks?

 

[ndycus1]

1) the stage that you compress doesn't really make any difference (at least not one that i'm aware of). so, my advice to you would be to record everything without compression, because you don't seem to really understand it yet. i apologize if i'm wrong about that. i would suggest that you experiment with compression after you record and pay close attention to what it does to the sound. then, once you get a better grasp on that, you will have a better idea of what to do in the future.

2) again, find out what compression does to the sound and dynamics. but, compression or limiting to the final mix is something that's much more prominent in the mastering stage and is very useful to help increase the overall loudness of your tracks.

 

[Dogman]

I would try and not track with any effects that you don't need....you can't undo anything after it's recorded. That being said, I track with a small amount of compression on my vocals, as I don't sing well at all....
I use it to help tame peaks on the way in. That is just me. Just remember, once it's tracked that way, you can't undo it, so make sure that is what you want to do. And with guitar, what are you recording? Crunchy electric, or acoustic? I would still try and record as dry as possible, and use any processing later. If at all possible.