Should I compress the song as a whole?

[elenore19]

I'm not sure if I should even bother at all. The songs sound pretty good as it is, I just wonder if compressing might make it even tighter sounding at all.

I will be mastering it myself. And by mastering, I basically mean making all the songs the same level and such.


Thanks for your brilliant insight.

 

[Massive Master]

I hate to say something as obvious and mundane as "try it" but you might want to - just... you know...

Try it.

 

[Rokket]

You may find when you do that, there are certain tracks that will blare out at you, and you will have to do some adjusting.

If you are just trying to get it louder, there are better ways to do that.

 

[aviv]

Gentle Compression mate, You seen the Waves SSL G Bus Compressor Plugin?

 

[LogicDeLuxe]

The songs sound pretty good as it is, I just wonder if compressing might make it even tighter sounding at all.

There sure is nothing wrong in trying, but make sure to compare the compressed one with the unprocessed version at the same loudness, ie. using replaygain or just match RMS levels. If you're still not sure, do some ABX.
It is very important that the compressed version is at the same loudness when comparing to make any useful decision.

 

[jmorris]

I dont think any of us can comment on what the needs without hearing it..sample?

 

[elenore19]

Alright, yeah, I'm not sure why I didn't try it out first. Hmm.

I'll definitely try it out. But I'll put the uncompressed versions up on the internet sometime soon when I find time.

Thanks for the input guys. I still wonder what I was thinking, I knew I should've just tried it, ha. Just blanked I suppose.

 

[mixsit]

... If you're still not sure, do some ABX.
It is very important that the compressed version is at the same loudness when comparing to make any useful decision.

Not say this is not true advice -it is. On the other hand I get a kick out of it in ref to the whole loudness' thing-
' Yep, we do the direct comparison, equal volume. Relatively speaking, the Smashtered one sucks. Right. We'll go with that. '

 

[Daisy]

Thanks for your brilliant insight.

Don't mention it.

 

[legionserial]

Alright, yeah, I'm not sure why I didn't try it out first. Hmm.

I'll definitely try it out. But I'll put the uncompressed versions up on the internet sometime soon when I find time.

Thanks for the input guys. I still wonder what I was thinking, I knew I should've just tried it, ha. Just blanked I suppose.

Sometimes it's better to ask stuff in the event that everyone gives you a definate negative, to save yourself wasting time.

 

[LogicDeLuxe]

Sometimes it's better to ask stuff in the event that everyone gives you a definate negative, to save yourself wasting time.

Absolutely. Especially with compressor questions, since inappropriate compression is probably the most common fault in bad mastering. Yet it can be useful when used wisely.