ReaComp question

[Atkron205]

I am very new to Reaper. I have been playing around with ReaComp on a vocal track. I have tried a couple of the presets and see the dry is always set to zero which drops the level of the track. naturally I can get it back up by increasing the dry setting. Would it be better to create a buss for the comp and set it to full wet? Lost here. Thanks

 

[bouldersoundguy]

That's what compressors do: reduce the gain (proportional to the signal level). That's why they're equipped with output gain control, often called make up gain. It's not the dry output being off that drops the gain, it's the compression.

Traditionally hardware compressors didn't have any sort of mix control because 99.9% of the time they were used purely as a series effect. Parallel compression was not done that often, and when it was the parallel routing could be done in the mixer.

So, either use the output gain of the compressor to compensate for the gain reduction, or do what I sometimes do: set the level of the track in the mix so the quiet parts are right and then compress the louder parts into place.

 

[ashcat_lt]

...or turn on "Automatic Gain Compensation". Parallel compression works well in some situations, but it's not always appropriate or desirable.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

...or turn on "Automatic Gain Compensation".

That would work, but aside from mastering limiters I find that feature annoying and always keep it off.

 

[TimOBrien]

First learn what you're doing:

Compression Made Easy

 

[Atkron205]

First learn what you're doing:

Compression Made Easy

Thanks!

 

[Atkron205]

First learn what you're doing:

Compression Made Easy

Thanks!