compression setting question

[daav]

Been reading the Mixing Engineer's Handbook lately, from 1999, so i am not sure how out of date it might, be but i am finding it helpful. Anyway, when it is talkign about specific compression settings, it references a db level, like 4 db of compression is a little and 12 db would be a lot of comression, that sort of thing.
Just to verify, is this talking about setting the gain applied to the compressed signal, or to the threshold or what?

Similiarly, any want to offer examples of how they like to handle applying compression to particualr tracks (Bass, kick, snare, guitars, vocal, entire mix buss, etc)?

Thanks.
Daav

 

[boingoman]

Been reading the Mixing Engineer's Handbook lately, from 1999, so i am not sure how out of date it might, be but i am finding it helpful. Anyway, when it is talkign about specific compression settings, it references a db level, like 4 db of compression is a little and 12 db would be a lot of comression, that sort of thing.
Just to verify, is this talking about setting the gain applied to the compressed signal, or to the threshold or what?

That refers to the amount of gain reduction you see on the meters. In that context, it usually means setting the threshold so that amount of reduction is achieved, because by using the threshold, the amount of reduction is independent of the ratio. 4db of compression at 25:1 will sound very different than 4db of compression at 2:1.

I prefer this kind of language over specific threshold settings, as the threshold setting needed to get a specific amount of reduction depends on the strength of the input signal, which changes from source to source.

 

[daav]

Gotcha, thanks, in these cases where you might have a say, 6db reduction, would you typically add a good amount back as post-compression gain to keep the signal strong?

Daav.

 

[boingoman]

Gotcha, thanks, in these cases where you might have a say, 6db reduction, would you typically add a good amount back as post-compression gain to keep the signal strong?

Daav.

If you need to, or want to. It's not required. Gain can be made up in any number of places. If your insert is post gain but pre-fader on your mixer, you could make up a small amount of gain reduction simply by boosting your channel fader. And in the case of tracking, for instance, the compressor may be being used just to prevent clipping. In that case, you probably wouldn't need to use any makeup gain, or very little.

But yes, most of the time, people use enough makeup gain to bring the signal back to where it was peaking before compressing.

 

[daav]

Thanks, all that sounds like common sense to me, but it is nice to hear some outside reinforcement.

Daav