Compression settings

[Fender]

I was just wondering what are some good settings for compression for the following:

Bass
Drums (machine) they wouldn't need much eh?
guitar(s)
piano

and also the whole mix.

Thankyou.

Adam.

 

[Shailat]

I find this a very difficult question to answer becuse
any answer I'll give might be out of context to your music style,mix,sound etc....

But perhaps I can give you a STARTING point and you can experiment from there.

BASS - Set Ratio between 3:1 and 7:1 ( 4:1 is very commen )
====
Attack - fast but not to fast as to cut the attack of the note !. Try 20 ms to 40 ms

Release time - try ".5" seconds. Here you have to play with it. To slow - won't have enough time to turn signal back. To fast- compression will be to obvious

Threshold- 6dB of gain reduction

For thumping and slaping use a limiter with a 10:1 ratio and a fast setting. Threshold - set the gain reduction to register on the snaps and thumps.

PIANO
=====
I don't compress a piano if it's solo. For a rhythm section I use a ratio of around 3:1 with a medium -fast attack time, Threshold at 3-4dB gain reduction

Drums
=====
I don't use a drum machine so your better off asking sombody else.

GUITAR
======
Acoustic

3:1-6:1 ratio
Attack - slow for more pick sound fast for less pick ( and dull sound) try 20 ms
Release - between .5-2 seconds
Threshold - 3-7dB gain reduction

Electric
Ratio - try around 4:1-10:1
attack - 10-15 ms
Release .5 seconds
Threshold - 10dB of gain reduction

MIX
===
Keep the Ratio low from around 1.1 -2:1
attack around 3-10 ms
Release- .5 seconds
Threshold 30-40dB gain reduction

Hope this gets you started


[This message has been edited by Shailat (edited 01-03-2000).]