Compression? Tips etc.

[reco]

Hey guys I havent done any tracking or mixing for a while now.
I lost my mind the other day when I couldnt get a track to sound right.......
I know its compression thats the key cause Its getting better, but.

Does anyone know of a site or a link to a Chart of comon compression settings?
I'm looking for a jumping off place, or a chart that gives basic Ratio settings for guitars bass drums keys etc......
Thanks for any help!

-Rik

 

[The Green Hornet]

Yo Cheeta:]

If you get an RNC and set the dials at noon and adjust the gain to need, you will get a nice track depending on what you are tracking. I like this unit for vocals and for holding back music so as to avoid clipping.

Push the "super nice" button on the RNC and see how nice things come out.

Sounds like you just need to experiment a bit to get whatever you're after.

Green Hornet

 

[reco]

You've Helped Me Not
I Need a real bit of help here............. I'm a bit too busy to experiment and mess with stuff.
Please anyone with an answer?
-Rik

 

[Massive Master]

There are no real basic "starter" settings without hearing the track - preferably along with the rest of the mix. Any ratio given is dependent on too many variables - Not the least of which is the current level of the track. A track riding at -10 with a compression setting of -10 @ 5:1 isn't going to sound any different. Any attack or release setting is dependent on the tempo of the tune, the attack of the instrument or the effect you're looking for. An A&R on a 6" maple snare drum may be a lot different than a chrome piccolo snare.

That all being said, an awful lot of compressors I've worked with have an "everything at 12 o'clock" that's a good place to start in many situations...

 

[gordone]

I want to learn to play the guitar, just tell me where to put my fingers on the big long stick thing. I'm too busy to learn what I"m actually doing

You've Helped Me Not
I Need a real bit of help here............. I'm a bit too busy to experiment and mess with stuff.
Please anyone with an answer?
-Rik

 

[lpdeluxe]

Glad to help. Put the end of a finger (doesn't matter which) against a string and push down hard. Then add another finger and move it around until the two sound good together. Then add another! See how easy?


...I may have left something out

 

[Dave S.]

If you are "too busy to experiment" you shouldn't be trying to record. Just listen to music and be happy.

 

[The Green Hornet]

10/4 Dave.

Green Hornet

 

[mixsit]

Get a DBX (or other)with auto settings -on at least one occasion my 166xl worked as well or better in 'auto' than my efforts to dial it in.
Wayne

 

[reco]

Gee, You guys are funny!
For when I say I dont have time I dont have time! When you work 14 hours a day Like I do you dont have time to fool with crap that much, So dont talk!!

Number two! Dont talk guitar bro, I CAN PLAY! Better than Most!

So If none of you can HELP (since that is what we are hear to do), than drop the sarcastic BullShit.

Once Again I'm too busy for distractions!
Peace Out!

-R

 

[reco]

crap!

Better Yet!
DOnt bother, know wonder this place is full of Talentless Jerks!
I'm done with yall cause if ya had a good bone in yer bodys you would be cool.
But I guess you dont know the meaning of being NICE! Or GOOD!?!?!?!?
I've been Nice as I could !
The HR groop(Excluding those who have been cool in the past) sucks!

Ban me see if I Care!

-R

 

[fretmeister]

Whooaaa....
Check the websites of presonus, alesis, and other manufacturers and look at the guidelines in the manuals for their compressors. A good place to start. Then set your input gain and/or threshold until your getting 4 or 6 or 8 db of gain reduction on your meters, because that is what really matters. You will have to decide how much is enough.

 

[Massive Master]

Geez, reco - You're not making friends in this thread -

The simple answer, and we're really trying to be helpful, is that there IS NO SIMPLE ANSWER. What part don't you understand?

That's like asking how you should set your EQ. There's no way to tell without actually hearing the track (and usually along with the rest of the mix). None of us can do that from here.

As far as "not having time" to figure out something as basic - and at the same time quintessentially important as compression... I mean - If you were asking how to hook it up or what the controls do, you'd probably get a dozen people gladly jumping at the chance to fill you in on it.

But no, you've got to come here and ask a cryptic question, berate the first guy who tried to explain, then bitch out everyone for not helping you (when you can't be helped) when you could've gotten the right compressor settings yourself in 15 SECONDS if you knew what you were listening for.

I doubt it if you'll get banned, but I'm sure you wouldn't be missed if you were after this thread...

 

[EleKtriKaz]

WTF? This guy is nuts. Everyone was being pretty nice to him considering the stuff he was saying. I guess some people are just looking for a fight.

 

[geet73]

It might be a good thing to learn what you're doing with a compressor.

 

[guhlenn]

your mouth is as bad as your spelling. LMAO

 

[RD423]

Also you can ask for help and a starting point like I did and you have to tweak it because every persons voice is different so the settings would be different for each person what is he talking about I was working 12-14 hours a day and I would still put in a couple of hours in the studio after that just to get some work done. So it can be done he just doesn't have the desire or the will to work and learn

 

[volltreffer]

Number two! Dont talk guitar bro, I CAN PLAY! Better than Most!
-R

then: shut up 'n' play yer guitar...

I work as much as you tell you do - but if your too lazy to experiment then buy karaoke records and sing onto them... You really suck...

aXel

 

[Simman]

Gee, You guys are funny!
For when I say I dont have time I dont have time! When you work 14 hours a day Like I do you dont have time to fool with crap that much, So dont talk!!


-R

Let's see... If you work 14hrs that leaves you 10hrs.

4hrs sleep - sleep is over rated anyhow
2hrs to figure out what all those wires do
1hr to record
1hr to read the F'n manual that came with your compressor.

leaves you a whole two hours a day to get a life.


Dude: You have to take everything here with a grain of salt. People will help you if you ask the right questions. Don't be another one of thoses guys that asks "what's the best pre amp I can buy for $100.00". Invest the time in learning the craft if you really are interested. After all at the end of the day, you've really only invested in yourself and the quality of your music.

 

[turnitdown]

For when I say I dont have time I dont have time! When you work 14 hours a day Like I do you dont have time to fool with crap that much, So dont talk!!

Sorry... I HAD to chime in here....

When I got my first compressor, I pretty much had it figured out in 15 minutes by *TWISTING THE KNOBS AND SEEING WHAT THEY DO!!!!*

THEN, I read the manual...

Bottom line is this... if you "don't have the time" to read the manual, or even just try to figure out how to use possibly one of the most common, important pieces of gear in the recording field, maybe you should try a "faster" hobby... Like flying small planes.... or better yet, skydiving....

Seriously dude, asking that question is like asking what chords to play, or how long your intro should be.... or what to have for dinner.... you get the idea...

As far as I can tell, you got some pretty good answers here. (my response excluded...)

Jeezzz.... just something about this thread that set me off abit...