compressor on mixdown?

[lascalaboy]

if you've already run a compressor on some tracks, should you, or do you need to runa compressor on the mix down?

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

It depends on whether the track's dynamics still need some control to sit properly in the mix...........

 

[BrettB]

it all depends on your stile of music. If you haven't compressed the shit out of your tracks, often a little peak reduction gives you more options with the master. And off course, when you really want to make your master loud ad constant, hard limiting is the way.

 

[Simman]

If you are going to send your mix to a mastering house, I would say don't compress or procees your 2 track mixdown. Give the ME a mix that is well balanced and let him/her take care of copresssion if it is necessary.

 

[masteringhouse]

if you've already run a compressor on some tracks, should you, or do you need to runa compressor on the mix down?

I would advise not to, especially if you do not have a top of the line compressor.

Try not to introduce variations that will be difficult to undo during the mixing stage that you would like to have the most control over when mastering. For example EQing the main bus, compression, limiting, stereo expansion, etc.

The only exception that I can think of (and there's at least one exception to every "rule") is that you have a few transients that are causing overs if mixing to digital. In this case you should try to fix the issue with the track that is causing it first, but a little bit of limiting on the main bus might be OK too if not overdone.

An alternative is to create 2 mixes, one with processing to get a feel for something that will be close to the mastered version, and one without. The mastering engineer can then get an idea of what you want to shoot for, but still have a virgin copy to work from.

 

[Massive Master]

I have no problem with putting compression on a mix if it needs it. A little bit (1-3dB) of compression in a mix can be just what the doctor ordered to glue it all together.

HOWEVER - Yes, draw the line at some point around what the mix needs - Don't compress for the sheer sake of volume. Leave that for mastering, whether you're doing it yourself or your sending it out.

If you need to hear it *louder* during mixdown, turn the monitors up.

 

[Cloneboy Studio]

Compression is like a spice--a little bit goes a long way. The odd thing about compression is when it is being used most efficiently 90% of the time you can *barely* hear it's effects. Unless you are squashing something on purpose that is!

 

[jtienhaara]

Hi all.

My first post here... Great site!

I used to mix without any compression across the mix bus (though often a fair bit across the 8 buses).

These days I'm mixing from the start through a mix bus compressor. (It happens to be an RNC in "really nice" mode.) Not only does it "glue" the mix together nicely, but I don't have to squish the crap out of the individual tracks + buses quite so much.

It's definitely a matter of taste, but I do recommend trying it sometime.

Cheers,

Johann Tienhaara
Victoria, B.C., Canada

 

[Farview]

If you don't know when to use it, don't. you can always put it on later, but you can't (easily) take it away. No matter what someone is trying to sell you, there is no magic box or set method that gives you professional sound.

 

[Teacher]

A Couple of the top mixers mix thru a bus compressor I.e charles dye and he uses all plugins McDSP Analog channel and Waves RCL, if your using PC maybe try something like magneto then rcl who knows..but if your getting it professionally mastered you should give the ME both compressed and uncompressed if your still unsure which sounds better.

 

[Son of Mixerman]

if you've already run a compressor on some tracks, should you, or do you need to runa compressor on the mix down?

If your asking the question then I'd say it doesn't really matter. From a technical to taste standpoint I can't hear what you hear and so I certainly can't figure out what your expectations are. Experiment with bus compression after you've figured out compression at the track. Track compression will change the dynamics of the bus so its a give and take between the two. Before you start handing mixes off to a mastering engineer you have to have a decent grasp at the mix or any advice or feedback from the ME will be pointless. You have to understand what your doing and why your doing it. All of this comes from experimenting and making some mistakes. Remember mixing has "some" standards but a whole lot more subjectivity.

Twist some knobs and do some damage.

Do you like what you hear?

SoMm