Compression Settings.. Hip Hop

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TradeMark

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Can someone tell me some basic general compression settings. Either give your exact settings or a range. I know that everyone has their own style but I just want to get a feel of where I should be.
For instance.. on the kick drum, snare, hihats, baseline and for vocals...

Attack? Threshold? Knee? Release ... etc...

Thanks in advance.. !!
 
The only possible answer is........... "it depends!"
 
boo.. wasnt really what I was looking for.. but I guess I understand. Still I believe there are people out there that have some general settings that like to use on hip hop applications....
 
TradeMark said:
boo.. wasnt really what I was looking for.. but I guess I understand. Still I believe there are people out there that have some general settings that like to use on hip hop applications....

No really , it depends on the compressor in use, and how the dynamics of the artist works.....
But as a general rule avoid more than 3-6dB of gain reduction when tracking, then experiment when mixing. Set it up for heavy compression , then play with the attack and release until you have a "sound" you like, then adjust the threshold to taste....
 
it really does depend.

you wouldn't treat the hand clappy sounding snare on 'In the club' the same as the hard snare used on Mos Def's 'hip-hop'.

each instrument has different needs depending on how evenly it was played when recorded.

remember also there is a difference between compressing to make a recording less dynamic, and compressing for an effect.

clamping down on the tail of a guitar to give it a more staccato feel is an effect.
 
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