Limiter release?

[ecktronic]

Ok i understand attack for compressors and limiters, but i aint too sure about release.
Attack is the time it takes for the compressor to start to compress once the wave reaches the chosen threshold.
So is release the time it takes to stop compressing once it falls below the chosen threshold, or is it the amount of time it compresses for?
I really should know all this but its just one of those things i didnt really bother with!!
As an example for a kick drum compression i would typically use an attack of about 2ms or less and a release of about 100ms. Does this sound right? Quick attack and slow release?

 

[xstatic]

Release is the amount of time it takes the compressor to return to a state of non compression after the signal falls below the threshold. 100 ms is not actually all that long of a release time. Release times really depend a lot on the source material and how much you are actually compressing.

 

[ecktronic]

Cheers xstatic. It also depends on how fast the kick drum is being played doesnt it? So 100ms is maybe too fast a release for a kick drum?

 

[chessrock]

You generally want a little longer of a release time for bass and/or kick. Bass-heavy material can distort with too quick of a release time.

 

[xstatic]

I don't see how the speed of the kick drum beats would mandate a change in realease time per say. 100ms should not distort anything for a release time. If it does you might want to look into a different compressor. On of the biggest things is to watch for "pumping" or "breathing".

 

[ecktronic]

Cheers. So for a kick drum would these compression settings be cool? (roughly)
attack 10ms
release 100ms

 

[mixsit]

As an example for a kick drum compression i would typically use an attack of about 2ms or less and a release of about 100ms. Does this sound right? Quick attack and slow release?

As well as tempo, it depends as much on which part of a given instrument's envelope you want to go where. It helps sometimes to think of the shape and duration of the sound, and what you want to reduce or expose more of.
Lets say if the kick lasts about 200 ms, 2x100ms (big)might expose the tail ring (generally, kinda, sorta', maybe...
Examples?
Wayne

 

[giraffe]

that is how you can use a compressor to change the sound of something.

am i cramming the attack into the tail (dynamically)?

am i letting the attack pass and compressing the body of the note????

etc.....

better people than me will chime in i'm sure.

well, i guess they already have.

 

[ecktronic]

mmmm ok. I just want to know what rough settings will control a kick drums volume.
Ive been using 2ms and 100ms and it seems fine, but i could get better results if i really tried more attack release times i suppose.