Digital compressor

[Jack Real]

Hi

I'm using a Lexicon MPX550 to compress my voice (2:1, attack 4 ms and release 4ms) and i noticed that the transients like pops and click are passing right through the compressor so they appear louder after the compression stage. When I'm using an analog compressor like the Boss CS3, it does not do that as it compresses also the transients. I'm trying to reduce the pops and clicks to the minimum when I'm singing but I would like to know if it's normal that a digital compressor does not catch this.

BTW, 4 ms is the fastest attack time for the compressor on the Lexicon.

Thanks,

Jack Real.

 

[xfinsterx]

sounds like you may need to drop your theshold a bit more.
Or up the ratio just a tad or both.

 

[Jack Real]

sounds like you may need to drop your theshold a bit more.
Or up the ratio just a tad or both.

Hi

The threshold is already low (-29 dB) so i guess I need to increase the ratio to 3:1 and play with the threshold, attack and release time.

Thanks,

Jack Real.

 

[giraffe]

i'm not sure that this will solve your problem but....
4ms attack seems a bit extreme to me, try it at like 30ms or more
i never attack vox that fast.

if thare is a hard/soft knee option, opt for the soft.
good luck

 

[Jack Real]

i'm not sure that this will solve your problem but....
4ms attack seems a bit extreme to me, try it at like 30ms or more
i never attack vox that fast.

if thare is a hard/soft knee option, opt for the soft.
good luck

Hi

What are your other settings; ratio, threshold and release ?

Thanks,

Jack Real.

 

[giraffe]

first let me say, maby don't start at 30 and go up (on second thought)
try starting at like 15 and go up

here's a basic set for you to TRY, noteing that it could be completly wrong, but maby it'll help.

3/1
25ms attack
100ms release? (i'm toatally guessing here)
-20 threasholod (once again, this is all little more than a guess)
soft knee if you have the option.

i like lots of compression on vox, even up to 12db (is that lots???)
but you need to get it thare with a kiss.

keep in mind i don't claim to be the expert.

 

[Jack Real]

first let me say, maby don't start at 30 and go up (on second thought)
try starting at like 15 and go up

here's a basic set for you to TRY, noteing that it could be completly wrong, but maby it'll help.

3/1
25ms attack
100ms release? (i'm toatally guessing here)
-20 threasholod (once again, this is all little more than a guess)
soft knee if you have the option.

i like lots of compression on vox, even up to 12db (is that lots???)
but you need to get it thare with a kiss.

keep in mind i don't claim to be the expert.

Hi

Thanks, that will give me an idea. I will also use the recommendations of sonusman in his article in the "mixing/mastering" section. I will try these settings and see if this can solve the problem.

Thanks,

Jack Real.

 

[giraffe]

Hi

Thanks, that will give me an idea. I will also use the recommendations of sonusman in his article in the "mixing/mastering" section. I will try these settings and see if this can solve the problem.

Thanks,

Jack Real.

go with the sousman thread

 

[alevy]

i have a question im a hip hop artist from new orelans and im going throught the blues with compression i think have the attack release and threshold all of that stuff down but i have some issues with make up gain i think im applying too much but i cant really tell cuz i crank up my monitors because i live with my parents and i get home late at night. these are my settings attack 44 ms release 278 ms threshold -21 ratio 5.7 my make up gain is 9.4
my gain reduction meter reads between -3 and and -6 and and for peeks it goes to -8 is it to much compression from what i read on here you are supposed to compress a little bit more then normal for rap music im compressing with the waves ren compressor. any feedback is deeply appreciated thank you.
why im posting..i know im writing this in the wrong place but i want to learn how to mix music through school and internship anything. by any means necessary i want to learn how to mixdown proffesionally i know its going to take a while to learn everything. so what im trying to say is do you guys know anybody in neworleans any schools or anything that can help me towards my goal thank you

 

[xstatic]

Sounds a little excessive with the make up gain, but the only thing that matters is how it sounds.

 

[Jack Real]

i have a question im a hip hop artist from new orelans and im going throught the blues with compression i think have the attack release and threshold all of that stuff down but i have some issues with make up gain i think im applying too much but i cant really tell cuz i crank up my monitors because i live with my parents and i get home late at night. these are my settings attack 44 ms release 278 ms threshold -21 ratio 5.7 my make up gain is 9.4
my gain reduction meter reads between -3 and and -6 and and for peeks it goes to -8 is it to much compression from what i read on here you are supposed to compress a little bit more then normal for rap music im compressing with the waves ren compressor. any feedback is deeply appreciated thank you.
why im posting..i know im writing this in the wrong place but i want to learn how to mix music through school and internship anything. by any means necessary i want to learn how to mixdown proffesionally i know its going to take a while to learn everything. so what im trying to say is do you guys know anybody in neworleans any schools or anything that can help me towards my goal thank you

Hi alevy

It looks like a lot of compression to me be maybe it's o.k. for rap ? My setting is now:

Threshold: -20 dB, ratio : 2:1, attack 16ms, release: 60 ms.

Do you have an MP3 of your music so we can hear the compression on the voice ?

/Jack Real.

 

[alevy]

im new to this how exactly do i post a mp3? and what genre of music do you do?

 

[alevy]

how do you guys feel about the presonus eureka and a tlm-103 mic. i think i need a new preamp. i have it going into a echo mia sound card

 

[Jack Real]

im new to this how exactly do i post a mp3? and what genre of music do you do?

Hi

You can subscribe to "NoWhereRadio" or "SoundClick", they are free and you can post mp3 once you are registered.

/Jack Real.

 

[ecktronic]

Yeah I set my attack to about 5-10ms.
I would re-record though so you dont have clicks and pops.

 

[Rick Shepherd]

You might consider the RNC preamp with a mic such as a Soundelux U195, Peluso 2247, Gefell M930, or AT4060. In my recordings link below I used the Peluso 2247 for vocals.

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I would re-record though so you dont have clicks and pops.

Agreed. Unless you are making a recording of that sound effects guy from the Police Story movies, you shouldn't have clicks and pops on a vocal track.

Make yourself a pop filter out of a wire coat hanger and some old panty hose.

In the meantime, if you can't re-track the vocals, try knocking down the click and pop transients in the editor before you apply compression.

G.

 

[LeeRosario]

One thing I'm curious about...


Are you clipping your compressor? Do you see any red lights turning on? Alot of times that's left unchecked in digital plug-ins. I've even seen pro level guys that completely ignore that. I would say a couple db of headroom at most and that's instantly taken care of.

Also, you can actually redraw waveforms (draw out clicks) if you have the editor to do so, but I suppose the easiest way is to use pop/click removal plug-ins.

You can go with longer attack and release times with vocals, setting those too short can actually add clicks and pops. I would even go as far as matching your release times to the bpm of the song, but I don't wanna confuse you.


Other than that, the best thing is to record a good clean track, but all the advice still works assuming that your track isn't horribly clipping, crackling, poping, etc.