compressor for mastering

[MicahJon]

I think that I need/want to compress my tracks before putting them to tape but, I'm not sure. I've read throught he old threads but I still have questions.

I write/program techno music and my mixes don't fit together right. The low end (kick drum)either dominates everything or gets lost in the mix. I want the low end to be distinct but not dominate.

Is compressing the entire track what I want?

What compressor should I look into? (I'm on a budget.)

Micah

 

[bvaleria]

Hmmm... sounds like mixing problem more than some to fix via the mastering process.......... you may want to take another crack at a re-mix before you throw money at a what may well be the wrong approach to a solution (ie, throwing a compressor at it!)

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound

 

[Jon X]

I agree that it sounds like what you are talking about should be approached more in the mixing stage instead of mastering. From that, if you do end up compressing something I would start with just compressing the kick track since that is what you think is having the consistency problems in the mix. Just my guess though. Also, is a software compressor an option for how you have the tracks recorded? It would at least give you an idea if compression is what you need, and a plugin would probably be cheaper than buying new hardware to start with. You might even be able to find a free trial of something to download.

 

[MicahJon]

I have a 'live' midi setup. There is no hard disk recording or multitracking going on. The sequencer kicks out the midi stream and the keyboards and moduals react.

I think that you are right in saying that my problem is fundementally a mixing problem. Could you give me some hints on how I might iprove my mixing?

Usually I set the kick level then adjust everything else to the level of the kick. But, I can't seem to find the ballance point between a kick with some music behind it and music with a kick somewhere in the background.

Perhaps I'm asking for too much. Any suggestions?

 

[crosstudio]

midi interpolate/compress

since you are using midi, compress the midi. each note in midi has a velocity. if you compress the dynamic range of your midi notes, you effectively compress the instrument. for instance if the velocity of your midi notes ranges from 40-127 and you adjust the notes to fall between 80-127, you've compressed it.

remember also, that when the bass and kick play in unison you have more energy focused in the bottom range which can overpower your mix.

once you've successfully performed the above midi compression, and set your volume accordingly when mixing, EQ the bass and kick so that their peak frequencies are not the same.

another thing that i've heard done (i've never done this) is to slightly duck the bass using the kick as a sidechain. again, i've never done that but another studio dude i know does.

 

[MicahJon]

I think that EQ may be the answer. This makes sense. I usually try and increase the low end by turning up the bass or EQing up the low end which is when the kick disappears from the mix.

I have one parametric EQ. I'll try it out and see what happens.

With this in mind should I look into some parametric EQs?

What are some decent brands and models?