can a compressor do this?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jagpunk
  • Start date Start date
J

jagpunk

New member
I have a song in which background "whoas" where improperly mixed and incredibly overbearing(almost twice as loud as anything). It was a live recording so we couldn't fix the levels while mixing down. Basically, I wanted to know if there was a way to limit the level of the background vocals to a point where they at least meet the level of the lead vocals.
 
High ratio 20:1, very fast attack, fast release.... start with threshold very high and begin to lower it until it clips off only the peaks you want to lop off - it will only be effective to a point. Setting the threshold too low will start to affect the rest of your mix, so it will be a bit of a compromise....

Bruce
 
The good old "board tape"...

Really jagpunk, there is little you can do to fix gross volume unbalances once a finale mix has been burned.

While Bruce has given you an example of how you might compress it to death help a bit, the problem with that approach is that you will be turning down EVERYTHING when the compression starts, which means that your relative volume within the mix will stay the same, it will all just be at a lower volume after compression.

Good Day!
 
Side-chain or multi-band, argle-bargle or foo-furrah?

Actually you can use the side-chain on a compressor to compress those pesky vox. Connect an EQ to the side-chain, find the frequency(s) of the backup vox, BOOST that frequency on the Side-chain EQ, and off you go.

Or you can use a multi-band compressor.

What you are asking is not impossible or even that difficult.

Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com
 
Re: The good old "board tape"...

Sound Cracker said:
Really jagpunk, there is little you can do to fix gross volume unbalances once a finale mix has been burned.

While Bruce has given you an example of how you might compress it to death help a bit, the problem with that approach is that you will be turning down EVERYTHING when the compression starts, which means that your relative volume within the mix will stay the same, it will all just be at a lower volume after compression.

Good Day!
Click to expand...
Er Sound Cracker, no...
That's not what I was describing at all, and I find it bizarre that you interpreted it that way.

Of course what I WAS describing was a LIMITER function which, as you know, will lop off the peaks above the threshold (which is why I told him to start with the threshold at maximum and work down...)

It will not "compress it to death" unless the threshold gets set too low... but thanks for "trying" to correct my advice as if this was all new to me! :p

It's immaterial anyways, 'cos Tom's solution is the best approach....

Bruce
 
I was going to post a long thing here, but realized that the orginal poster needs to clarify a couple things.

Do the background vocals and lead vocals happen at the same time?

Do you care that overall vocal to music mix get's changed?
 
Sound Cracker said:

Do the background vocals and lead vocals happen at the same time?

Do you care that overall vocal to music mix get's changed?
Click to expand...

Oh yeah!!! haha, if both vocals weren't happening at the same time, I wouldn't even need to post! That would be relatively easy to fix.

And as for the latter question, it depends. I mean, let's face it. I'm trying to get a listenable song here. Not necessarily a big project, but more of a promo.
 
Okay. I assumed this was the case from reading your post. I stand behind my initial post. Again, the other ideas will not work. You cannot "remix" the individual parts within a stereo mix. "Limit" all you want, the mix between the backup and lead vocal will still be proportionately mismatched. Also, trying to fix this problem in any way COULD be a detriment to the sound of all the other instruments. Whatever you apply to the mix to deal with that vocal problem will effect everything.

Good Day!
 
Ditto sound cracker - ooh I got my capitals wrong, hope it won't upset him :)

cheers
john
 
John Sayers said:
Ditto sound cracker - ooh I got my capitals wrong, hope it won't upset him :)

cheers
john
Click to expand...

Sorry, I think I missed something here?

Good Day!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top