Mixing Stereo Recording

[Seafroggys]

Last night I took my stereo zoom recorder and recorded a friend's gig. Have never really done stereo 'mixing' before. I know I'm gonna gently knudge a bit of EQ here and there, but what ideas about compression? More than likely what I was picking up on the mains was already compressed to some degree, but there is a large dynamic difference between loud and soft sections.

I'm not looking for 'how-to' per se, but what sort of techniques do you guys use?

 

[Massive Master]

but there is a large dynamic difference between loud and soft sections

That was probably the point.

That said -- No one can tell you what to do in a case like this -- Start by learning the tools and the answer will be automatic.

 

[grimtraveller]

Hiya Froggys. How've you been ? Long time no hear.

 

[jaynm26]

No one way to set a comp, can you be more specific?

 

[Bobbsy]

I do a fair bit of X-Y and M-S stereo recording and, frankly don't do anything special in terms of compression other than make sure I use a stereo compressor with both sides linked to be identical. In terms of all the normal compressor settings, I work the same way I would with a mono file.

 

[mixsit]

.. but there is a large dynamic difference between loud and soft sections.

I'm not looking for 'how-to' per se, but what sort of techniques do you guys use?

Without hearing it.. but to say possibly a combo of compression and fader rides- i.e. automation envelopes.
One path might be start with a compression that fits and sounds good for the loudest sections. Optimized for this roll though it may in fact not be suitable (let alone be enough level difference) for the task of correcting the sections that need to be raised-

In other words you might not necessarily want to do it all from the top down. Raise the quite parts up. (and here.. consider the option of fader rides or gain rides before (into) the compressor.
(Or both..