compression during tracking

[grn]

how do you usually set your compression when tracking vocals, guitar (both acoustic and electric), bass, and drums... if you even set it at all. I know some people only compress their vocals during tracking and nothing else. secondly, do you record at a highest possible volume without clipping or somewhere safely in the middle? just curious as to what others do.

 

[endertheprophet]

compression

Needless to say the compression settings vary depending on styles / genres / engineers preferences, etc. but generally I will start at the following:

vocals: 3:1 (4:1 or higher on less talented singers)
acoustic guitar 4:1
electric guitar 4:1 (attack/release important here based on tempo/style)
bass 4:1 (8:1 on less consistent players, attack/release also important)
cymbals 2:1 or less
snare/toms/kick 4:1 (attack/release important again)

use fast attack on cymbals and vocals unless you are going for a 'strange' sounds

I generally leave around 6dB of headroom when tracking because one peak can really screw up a good take, and if you are recording at 16 bit or higher you really have a ton of resolution anyways and normalizing the track later will provide almost indistinguishable quality without the danger of ruining the track from clipping.

Just my take, once again depends on style of music and engineer prefs...

-Chris

 

[LRosario]

I never go beyond a 2:1 compression ratio on my incoming signal with the over easy botton set. That's if I even decide to use it, which would be 10% of the time.

In terms of levels, we're talking probably around the mid yellow. That's your nominal level, which gives you safe head room.


The main reasons you compress during recording range anywhere from making your signal as consistent as possible to keeping your signal from clipping. You'd make it easier on yourself by doing so, but it should be very light, cause once you have an over compressed track commited to tape, that's what you got to work with.