Am I deaf?

[nate_dennis]

Since I want desperately to learn and understand the tools of this trade I was snooping aroud the SOS website. They had this article (which isn't fully available) about compression. They were kind enough to post audio clips for comparisons. I am at work and not listening through anything "decent." But I have straind my head trying to hear the differences and I'm not able. What am I missing? Can I develop this or am I pretty much fucked? Thanks.

 

[ez_willis]

link fail.

 

[nate_dennis]

link fixed.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Well its a difference in dynamics...it might turn up the quietest things...and reduce the loudest things...but not effect the whole track.

 

[nate_dennis]

i understand the theory of compression, but .... when listening to these tracks back to back I wasn't able to hear a difference.

 

[nate_dennis]

i understand the theory of compression, but .... when listening to these tracks back to back I wasn't able to hear a difference.

I probably came off like a prick there. Sorry. I'm just frustrated with myself for not hearing any difference. Can anyone hear it? Thanks.

 

[darrin_h2000]

On all the best compressors you cant really hear the difference...cheap ones will leave artifacts...I have dbx 160s and they are amoung the best.

 

[ocnor]

i understand the theory of compression, but .... when listening to these tracks back to back I wasn't able to hear a difference.

I just listened with a pair of $5 headphones. The vocal compression was subtle but still audible. The compression on the snare, bass, and kick tracks was blatantly obvious. I don't understand how you were unable to hear a difference.

 

[noisewreck]

I am at work and not listening through anything "decent."

That might make it different, especially if you listen to it really quiet. Try listening on the headphones. Make several passes and each time concentrate on one element in the mix.

 

[ez_willis]

I just listened with a pair of $5 headphones. The vocal compression was subtle but still audible. The compression on the snare, bass, and kick tracks was blatantly obvious. I don't understand how you were unable to hear a difference.

he's obviously deaf. duh.

 

[nate_dennis]

I guess maybe I wasn't sure what I was listening for. Upon relistening I am able to better hear the differences. Though, some are less clear to me than others.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Like I said...unless its a cheap compressor the normal person who doesnt know what to listen for wont know much of a difference.

 

[noisewreck]

Like I said...unless its a cheap compressor the normal person who doesnt know what to listen for wont know much of a difference.

Not necessarily. There are compressors in all price ranges that may or may not be transparent. Also, the amount of compression, ratio, threshold, attack and release settings will have a profound impact on what happens, and whether you can "hear" the compressor or not.

 

[Tim Gillett]

With good use of compression you dont notice it. You notice it when it's not there as too harsh a change in dynamics, and poor balance between instruments.
Compression is a really basic component of modern recording. You need to be able to hear it, and hear the need for it when it's not there.

 

[Erockrazor]

I guess maybe I wasn't sure what I was listening for. Upon relistening I am able to better hear the differences. Though, some are less clear to me than others.

Try listening at louder volumes. ie."85 db". You can hear a lot more detail in the sounds and these uses of compression can be discerned more easily. Read the excerpts and concentrate on what theyre saying.

You could even save them and load them into your daw. This will allow you to actually visualize the wave change, maybe helping you understand the changes you could be hearing.

I just recently started mixing at louder volumes and I'm having a much better time mixing. I feel like I'm actually hearing more subtleties than ever before. It's a wonder I didn't start sooner.

 

[darrin_h2000]

Not necessarily. There are compressors in all price ranges that may or may not be transparent. Also, the amount of compression, ratio, threshold, attack and release settings will have a profound impact on what happens, and whether you can "hear" the compressor or not.

By cheap...I mean shitty...sorry if I wasnt clear...lol...theres some popular ones here that pump all day long...and if you are using it to squash stuff you arent using it right...unless you are Lady Gaga or something and that is what you want.

 

[kcearl]

Lady Gaga rawks

 

[Bristol Posse]

Also There's some pretty nasty artifacts from the mp3 data compression (unrelated to the audio signal compression being discussed) on those samples that make it hard to hear anything properly but there is some noticeable differences if you can get past the horrible mp3 bit rates

 

[NYMorningstar]

I just recently started mixing at louder volumes and I'm having a much better time mixing. I feel like I'm actually hearing more subtleties than ever before. It's a wonder I didn't start sooner.

Be careful of listening at the higher volumes for extended periods of time or you'll wake up some day and notice this peculiar ringing that doesn't go away

 

[bozmillar]

If you are starting out, I wouldn't worry about the whole deaf thing. The first time I heard compression, I didn't notice anything. This is party because it's subtle and partly because everything we hear on TV, Radio and movies are so drenched in compression that it sounds natural to us.

After you've dealt with it enough, you start to be able to pick out the subtle differences more and more. What one guy says is obvious, another person can't hear at all.

some people like single coil pickups, some like humbuckers, some can't tell the difference between a guitar and a banjo. it all depends on what you spend your mental energy trying to listen for.