New to CEP Compressing help!

[Dig]

Just started using CEP and have a couple of questions. With regard to compression, oh I am new to digital recording also and just bought a Delta 44 on recs from this site, when should I apply it?

Also can anyone recommend best settings for compressing 4 piece band playing swing music with vocalist?

Thanks for the help

 

[dobro]

Okay, a coupla things for a start.

You use compression as and when required, which is not as often and not as much as loads of people think. Loads of people think you *have* to compress lots of tracks and mixes, but it ain't true.

Second, the settings you use will depend on the material you've got and the sound you want. But I'd say that less compression rather than more is a good approach. Ratios like 2:1 or 3:1 are pretty gentle, and won't bend things out of shape too much.

Finally, Cool's compressor is not easy to understand or use. If you've got some money, check out plugins by Waves or Sonic Timeworks. If you're poor, check out compression plugins by Ultrafunk or Fasoft. They're all easier to figure out than
Cool's compressor, which increases your chances of getting what you want in the mix.

 

[Dig]

Hey Thanks Dobro

That was a good and concise. You are right I have had people tell me that compression is needed everywhere.

I will check out the ones you mentioned.

Just getting into DAE and bought a Delta 44 last night but as I read though the posts on this board there are as many ideas on the best card, sound, etc as there are people.

Well we will see.

Dig

 

[dobro]

I don't have a Delta card, but based on reports, it's a really good card. Plus, Cool Edit is a really good program, so I think you're set for some good recording.

BTW, iIf you get into overdubbing in a big way with that swing band, pay lots of attention to how you save your various tracks - Cool can get really confused about which tracks are actually in the session when you start deleting tracks and replacing them with other tracks.

 

[charon17]

Hard Limiting

If you want to shave off some peak without loosing to much volume or dynamics, try the hard limiter set to a shave rate about -8 to - 14db (depending on the average amplitude of the waveform your "shaving" and leave the db boost at 0.. this in effect allows you to boost the volume with out crowing your head room with them peakfreens...


just my two sense..

charon