Compression Settings for Vocals

[K9SaVeLLi]

I've been playing around with my symetrix compressor for awhile now and trying to get some solid settings for ratio/attack/release but I am having trouble getting them dialed in the way I want them. Every now and again I set them and they sound pretty good...but then (like a dumbass) I change them and forget where they were set when the sounded really good. When I listen in my head phones when I'm doing vocal tracking...they might sound pretty good...but then after I record the vocals...they don't sound good. I want them to bring up the low levels (slightly) and limit the real high levels...just even everything out...ya know. Help me Please!!!
Thanks...

 

[crosstudio]

i almost always have the attack set as fast as possible when compressing vocals.

i also almost always set the release to match the speed of the song. if the song is a ballad, i'll set the release to a half-note, if its a mid-tempo song i'll set it to a 1/4 note ... etc. you just gotta learn how to set your release to match your BPMs.

for the ratio, i don't like to go any heavier than 4:1 for vocals, if i need heavy compression (i normally don't), i'd rather ease up on the ratio and set the threshold lower... like i'm doing mix compression rather than setting the ratio higher and really hearing that clamp down.

set it and forget it... just ain't gonna happen unless you are only recording your own vocals and you pretty much sing each song with the same fervor.

 

[tmix]

YEP

Good advice,
Really can't add to it, so I'll just second the notion!

 

[Fletcher]

It really depends on the compressor... with some you can have a 'heavier hand' than with others...

 

[volltreffer]

High!

Without wanting to diss crosstudio, I usually use slightly other compression settings:

I use higher attack settings, as I find that it leaves more power to the voice. As I usually do VERY heavy compression, I otherwise tend to get a very flat and dead sounding voice.

The slower attack makes an additional limiter necessary (which in fact is close to the attack settings of crosstudio - so in fact I use them, too) to tame plosives. Be VERY careful of the makeup gain staging and think about it twice in order to avoid headroom distortion problems...

A slow release may be very musical, I often use a VERY fast attack that brings breathing and everything very much to the foreground - just a matter of your personal taste.

You may use several compressor passes in order to get the sound you desire - usually while mixdown...

aXel

 

[crosstudio]

no diss at all.

i use your method (without the limiter) when i'm recording those whitney houston type ballad singers. the ones that go from a hum to a roar on every long note.

for the past year or so, i've tended to go into the track itself and tame the plosives by hand.

 

[Jack Real]

i almost always have the attack set as fast as possible when compressing vocals.

i also almost always set the release to match the speed of the song. if the song is a ballad, i'll set the release to a half-note, if its a mid-tempo song i'll set it to a 1/4 note ... etc. you just gotta learn how to set your release to match your BPMs.

Hi

I use a compressor and a pre-delayed reverb as the first pass to my voice processing. The pre-delayed reverb is set to match the tempo of the song so does this mean that the reverb should kick in when the compressor is easing out ? Do you use a pre-delayed reverb on your voices and if yes, how do you set it ?

Thanks,

Jack Real.

 

[struberg]

I use a compressor and a pre-delayed reverb as the first pass to my voice processing.

You should better record your voice dry without the reverb.

I mostly use very short attack, low ration (2.5:1)and low treshold while recording. While mixdown i apply another setting with longer attack time + additional effects.

 

[volltreffer]

A slow release may be very musical, I often use a VERY fast attack that brings breathing and everything very much to the foreground - just a matter of your personal taste.

I often use a VERY fast release... Stoopid me...

@crossstudio: Hey! No one ever compared my singing to Whitney... Maybe it's 'cause I do punk rock

aXel

 

[K9SaVeLLi]

Thanks for the info cross and volltreffer...i appreciate the responses.