Compress track in vs. compress post track

[stalemayte]

Good morning,


When dealing with an outboard compressor, what are the differences(in result) of compressing a track while tracking it, and compressing it after you've tracked it(via track bus).

I don't have an outboard compressor, so I can't experiment yet. (but I would like to now)

maybe an easier question would be: Which is more often practiced, and why?

thanks.

 

[silentman]

Compressor Question

Hi,

One reason to use an outboard compressor while tracking is to make sure that you don't get any digital clipping on your A to D's. You don't want to use too much because you don't want to lock yourself in on an over-compressed sound. If you end up not liking what you recorded in the first place you're screwed and you would have to, more than likely, record the track again. Another mild disadvantage, and I do mean mild, is that an outboard compressor is "reactive", not "proactive". What I mean by this is that it is reacting to a signal after it sees it (A/D conversion time + signal processing time) whereas software plugins have the ability to "look-ahead" and, therefore, don't induce any latency in the chain. This is, like I said, being very nit-picky. Ultimately, if you like the sound, record it, but keep in mind that you will be stuck with whatever you recorded onto your hard-drive. My bottom-line advice to you is to learn how to track at reasonable levels (for me this is -18db peaks) so that you don't have to wory about clipping. This will also leave you a lot more head-room in your mixdown and save you some headaches if you choose to have the track mastered.

Regards,
JV

P.S. Keep in mind that this is purely my opinion and that asking the questions you asked are like asking which way should you skin your cat.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

My bottom-line advice to you is to learn how to track at reasonable levels (for me this is -18db peaks) so that you don't have to wory about clipping. This will also leave you a lot more head-room in your mixdown and save you some headaches if you choose to have the track mastered.

I totally agree.

 

[jkokura]

When dealing with an outboard compressor, what are the differences(in result) of compressing a track while tracking it, and compressing it after you've tracked it(via track bus).
maybe an easier question would be: Which is more often practiced, and why?

Usually I've added compression later. If you record with Compression going in you're stuck with it later, and if you end up not liking it during mixing and need to change it you're gonna have to re-record your track.

That being said, there are certain times I have used compression going in - bass, Kick, snare, and vocals on very rare occaisions.

Jacob

 

[blazingstrings]

For some reason I use a hardware compressor when tracking.

I think its the old school four-tracker in me. But I like my results..........

-Blaze

 

[gmiller1122]

For some reason I use a hardware compressor when tracking.

I think its the old school four-tracker in me. But I like my results..........

-Blaze

This book suggests the same, to get the optimal level, but warns against over-compressing.

It's a cool book for the beginner, by the way!