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bfoundation81
New member
which should i compress i only have 2 channels of compression on my compressor and wondering which 2 channels should i compress on the way in
kick,snare or overheads
kick,snare or overheads
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olfunk
New member
i personally would compress the kick and snare. then, you can get a good overhead sound, and gently bring up the kick and snare till it sounds sweet.
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Red Dog Studios
Member
yeah i would go with kick snare, because u need your overheads for your overall drum sound and u want it to sound natural and when you compress your kick and snare, you can mix those in with the over heads to get a snappy sounding snare and a thick kick with a good overall drum sound.
Sonixx
New member
remember to invert the kick mic...
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olfunk
New member
he said it better than meRed Dog Studios said:
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Pughbert
New member
on the way in? - i wouldn't compress any of them on the way in.
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xstatic
New member
This may sound harsh, but I believe it to be true and don't know of any other way of saying it. If you don't KNOW which ones to compress, than you should not compress any of them on the way in.
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jkokura
New member
xstatic said:
True, but there's no better way to learn than asking!
Try it out and see which you like more...experiment! Learn which is better for yourself...
Jacob
TuoKaerf
New member
As said above me, why not listen to each one with compression and see which one you like the best? None of us can tell you what to compress. I've done sessions before where I compressed one track, and very lightly at that. If you feel that the mix calls for it, use it. If not, you never "have" to use it.
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Docaroo
New member
I think you should try it out yourself... your personal set up will sound different to anyone elses and so only you are in a position to say what sounds best!
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In Tune Audio
New member
I want to reiterate the point made before, that if your not sure which to compress, don't compress on the way in. Wait until mixdown.
Having said that, when mixing, I would compress the kick and snare. Compressing overheads, just makes the drums sound really unnatural, especially the cymbals.
What I usually like to do, is route my drums out to a seperate bus and compress as a whole there. I'll even send out a very small amount of overheads, just to tame the levels.
Having said that, the best compression I've heard on drums, is a great drummer. The best drum recordings I've done, have needed no compression, because the drummer played at such a consistant level. Then you can add some compression and it won't just be working at taming the levels, but adding color and volume, and that's when a drum track will shine
Having said that, when mixing, I would compress the kick and snare. Compressing overheads, just makes the drums sound really unnatural, especially the cymbals.
What I usually like to do, is route my drums out to a seperate bus and compress as a whole there. I'll even send out a very small amount of overheads, just to tame the levels.
Having said that, the best compression I've heard on drums, is a great drummer. The best drum recordings I've done, have needed no compression, because the drummer played at such a consistant level. Then you can add some compression and it won't just be working at taming the levels, but adding color and volume, and that's when a drum track will shine
faderjockey
New member
Well...I wouldn't compress anything if you don't have to. I do not agree on not overheads. If you have a decent comp. Even an RNC you can put it on overheads..But I'm talking more like limiting then anything and I mean light.
Just to help with peaks..OH's tend to peak more. I posted in another thread about my drum pres. When I'm using colorfull stuff like Chandler TG2 or LDT-1 on kicks and snare...I can track and not have any trouble with peaks.. Once in a while the drummer has no control so I need a comp on the snare. Lost of times I'll throw a dbx160VU on or Distressor...But LIGHT!
Try your comp on OH's, Kick and snare..Find out what works best with you. But DO NOT OVER DO IT!!! You will be pissed come mix time. But Compressor's can really be part of the sound...But cheap comps squeezed hard...Will make your drums sound small...You'd be better off using nothing..Or doing it lightly and then using some plugs later like UAD..
Good luck.
Just to help with peaks..OH's tend to peak more. I posted in another thread about my drum pres. When I'm using colorfull stuff like Chandler TG2 or LDT-1 on kicks and snare...I can track and not have any trouble with peaks.. Once in a while the drummer has no control so I need a comp on the snare. Lost of times I'll throw a dbx160VU on or Distressor...But LIGHT!
Try your comp on OH's, Kick and snare..Find out what works best with you. But DO NOT OVER DO IT!!! You will be pissed come mix time. But Compressor's can really be part of the sound...But cheap comps squeezed hard...Will make your drums sound small...You'd be better off using nothing..Or doing it lightly and then using some plugs later like UAD..
Good luck.
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In Tune Audio
New member
faderjockey said:
Sorry, I'm probably reading it wrong, but did you say you limit overheads, but lightly? Limiting is a harder form of compression!
And second, what difference does the preamp your using make? A peak is a peak, a drummer playing louder or softer, no matter what preamp your using is still louder or softer
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olfunk
New member
xstatic said:
why the hell dyou think he'd ask if he knew?
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mjau
New member
olfunk said:
Great Frusciante quote in your signature line. I LOVE that album.
Some gentle comp on the kick and snare can help tame the peaks and avoid digital distortion (though you may want those peaks, since that's really why you're close mic'ing them anyway). If anything, compress lightly on the way in, and then compress more later if you want to.
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bfoundation81
New member
cool thats what ive been reading real light just to tame clips if needed but im gona try and stay at a reasonable level cause i dont have the best compressor (dbx262) and i dont wana push it or use much.......
any setings for example on comp????
any setings for example on comp????
faderjockey
New member
In Tune Audio said:
Yes...Sometimes I'll use a very fast limit..(sometimes) When you limit it's only grabbing the sent threshold. where compressing will be working most of the time.
Yes pre can change peaks..I don't see how you don't understand that. Try recording a snare with a faster pre like GML or something really clean and fast. Then try it with something like a 1272 or 1073 style...It's rounder and much slower sounding.. I can control my peaks on overheads most of the time..Not only by controlling the drummer but choice of Pre and mic...There is fast and slow mics.. If you use small condensers like AKG 391b they act fast..So tom hits are clearer and snappier. Then you try a large style..Blue Bottle, U48, AT4047 they all act much slower..Which makes toms sound rounder and not as snappy. A Royer R-121 over the drummers shoulder will fatten the kit up...And it responds slower...
When you track with all really clean pres...(which is fine for certain styles of music). But for me doing rock...the ronder pres are slower and meatier. So things do not scream out of it the same way as a pre that is desinged to be fast and accurate.
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In Tune Audio
New member
faderjockey said:
Sorry, I'm not trying to be argumentative, but a compressor only works when it passes the threshold as well. Limiting, is essentially just a compressor with a higher ratio.
Again sorry, I understand how mics and comps work on peaks, but this is the first I've ever heard of a pre doing that. I understand each pre is going to sound different, but I've never heard of it taming peaks.
Again sorry that I don't understand eveything you do!
Sonixx
New member
Please explain...faderjockey said:
faderjockey
New member
ok...It's not taming them. But the fact that a pre acts slower just helps on the peaks.. On analog it wasn't such a big deal. With digital of course it's faster. I'm not saying you can't clip your converter or get peaks...Anything to loud is to loud. But pres respond different.
Like I mix with a Folcrom...So if I have a cleaner faster pre on it and you print a mix you can see things respond faster. IF you take the same mix and put the Folcrom through Neve style it responds different again.
One not better then the other just different.
In Tune Audio.. I'm not arguing, I'm just stating my 2 cents on how pres respond. And yes I understand a compressor works on the threshold as well.. Which is what I use most of the time if needed. But there are times when a limiter works better and lighter then a compressor style. A 1178 in a limit style helps on certain drummers that really bash cymbals.. Most of the time I use nothing when I'm tracking.
Like I mix with a Folcrom...So if I have a cleaner faster pre on it and you print a mix you can see things respond faster. IF you take the same mix and put the Folcrom through Neve style it responds different again.
One not better then the other just different.
In Tune Audio.. I'm not arguing, I'm just stating my 2 cents on how pres respond. And yes I understand a compressor works on the threshold as well.. Which is what I use most of the time if needed. But there are times when a limiter works better and lighter then a compressor style. A 1178 in a limit style helps on certain drummers that really bash cymbals.. Most of the time I use nothing when I'm tracking.