Tried some compreesion on the master...

[RAMI]

Hey,

I never put anything on my master mix other than a limiter for some volume. But I've been reading a few threads lately with people talking about putting a compressor before the limiter. I hesitated for a long time to do this, but I figured I'd finally try it.

Funny that I could barely hear a difference in sound or any reduction, but with the compressor, the song averages about -12.5. But without the compressor it averages about -11.0. So, the compressor is definitely "taming" in some way.

I guess the mix sounds more "glued" together, but I'm hoping those of you with better ears for this can tell me if it's pumping too much or choking the mix too much.

I used the WAVES Rcomp.

Attack 20ms

Release 100ms.

You don't have to listen to the whole tune. I just want to know if the compressor is too noticeable, or doing something bad.

Thanx.

 

[Greg_L]

Put up an non-compressed but limited version - like you usually do - for an A/B.

I'm not hearing anything wrong with this, and really it doesn't sound any different than your usual mixes.

 

[antichef]

I don't hear any compression artifacts with my imitation-gold-plated ears. Sounds good!

 

[RAMI]

Put up an non-compressed but limited version - like you usually do - for an A/B.

I'm not hearing anything wrong with this, and really it doesn't sound any different than your usual mixes.

OK/ Here's the un-compressed mix.

I might be detecting a little more punch to the compressed mix, but I'm not sure.

I only got the compressor to give me about 2-3db of reduction. I'm scared to put more...hold me.

 

[Greg_L]

OK/ Here's the un-compressed mix.

I might be detecting a little more punch to the compressed mix, but I'm not sure.

I only got the compressor to give me about 2-3db of reduction. I'm scared to put more...hold me.

The compressed mix has flattened your drums some. I can hear it in the kick and snare. They lack body compared to the uncompressed mix. But the compression also kind of tightened up the bass and guitars. It's a give and take for me. I like the drums of the uncompressed mix better, but I think I like everything else of the compressed mix.

Meh, if it's all the same to you, I'd say don't compress before limiting. Maybe compress the guitars and bass as a group track in the mix before you kick it out for final limiting.

For what it's worth, I never pre-compress my mixes before limiting.

 

[guitar zero]

I actually prefer the compressed mix. Everything sounds tighter to me, more glued down. I don't think I would have noticed the change in the drums that Greg pointed out, if he hadn't. But overall, I think the compressed mix sounds the best.

 

[dintymoore]

I like the tune (good one! ) and the singing/playing is spot on. Clean and tight.

I like the compressed one a hair better, not drastically (actually I'd like more to mash it into an analog mush a bit) except as Greg pointed out the kick gets buried...

Even when I'm just playing piano, I have a multi band compressor on my stereo outs, a TC Electronics Finalizer. So all along when I'm mixing I'm hearing that.

 

[RAMI]

Hey Zero and Dinty,

Thanx for taking the time to make the comparison. I also "think" I prefer the compressed version. I just wasn't sure if I was playing with my own head and only imagining a difference or not.

I'll keep the compressor on and play with attack times, etc. It seems to send a more controlled signal to the ,imiter.

 

[RAMI]

The compressed mix has flattened your drums some. I can hear it in the kick and snare. They lack body compared to the uncompressed mix. But the compression also kind of tightened up the bass and guitars. It's a give and take for me. I like the drums of the uncompressed mix better, but I think I like everything else of the compressed mix.

Meh, if it's all the same to you, I'd say don't compress before limiting. Maybe compress the guitars and bass as a group track in the mix before you kick it out for final limiting.

For what it's worth, I never pre-compress my mixes before limiting.

OK it's good to know you don't compress your mixes before the limiter and still get the final result you get.

I can go either way on it, too. But, like I said, might be my imagination, but I think I hear a slightly more coherent mix with it on. I also hear what it's doing with the drums, though, so I'll keep experimenting with attack/release times, etc...

Thanx The Greganator.

 

[RAMI]

Does anyone have any suggestions for good plug-in compressors that are good for putting on the whole mix, if there are some that are better for mixes as opposed to individual instruments? I have the CLassic Compressor by Kaujerhaus, but found it to be very UN-transparent on the whole mix, though I do like it on some individual instruments. I used the Waves Rcomp for this song.

 

[Greg_L]

Does anyone have any suggestions for good plug-in compressors that are good for putting on the whole mix, if there are some that are better for mixes as opposed to individual instruments? I have the CLassic Compressor by Kaujerhaus, but found it to be very UN-transparent on the whole mix, though I do like it on some individual instruments. I used the Waves Rcomp for this song.

Try the Density MkII. I don't know how it would work on a stereo mix, but I like how it treats the drums. Be gentle with it though.

 

[RAMI]

Try the Density MkII. I don't know how it would work on a stereo mix, but I like how it treats the drums. Be gentle with it though.

Yeah, I started using it on my drums recently. I really like it. Didn't think of trying it on the mix. But, yeah, seems like the kind of plug-in I'd have to take it easy with.

 

[rayc]

My hearing isn't good enough.
Both sound good but I like your drums #1 in all your songs so prefer the uncompressed mix.
I've moved from being an unskilled compression addict to an unskilled rare user of compression.
I don't speak from a point of expertise or as someone who pulls together great mixes so from a listeners position I like it uncompressed.
I also trust Greg's ears - I'd suggest you follow his suggestion regarding the group compression of all bar the drums before limiting.

 

[Greg_L]

The Modern series from Antress sound pretty decent too.

 

[RAMI]

I also trust Greg's ears - I'd suggest you follow his suggestion regarding the group compression of all bar the drums before limiting.

Yeah, that's what I'll do if I find that it helps everything but hurts the drums, after experimenting with different attack/release time. Either way, I'll learn something in the end.

 

[TripleM]

I listened to both mixes and I really didn't find too much of a difference between. The added compressor didn't add any unwanted artifacts, but it didn't seem to make it perceptively louder either.

As far as another compressor to try. I've never used it this way before, but you might try Reaper's standalone compressor with a real quick attack setting.

 

[RAMI]

I listened to both mixes and I really didn't find too much of a difference between. The added compressor didn't add any unwanted artifacts, but it didn't seem to make it perceptively louder either.

As far as another compressor to try. I've never used it this way before, but you might try Reaper's standalone compressor with a real quick attack setting.

Cool, I'll try REAPER's ReComp, I think it's called. I think I called it up but didn't end up trying it because I like compressors that show me how much gain reduction is occurring, and I don't think ReComp does that.

As fr as making it louder, I'm not using the compressor for that. I use the limiter for volume. I even left the make-up gain at 0 on the compressor, so it made it lower, if anything. But then I used the limiter to get the volume I wanted.

 

[guitar zero]

Does anyone have any suggestions for good plug-in compressors that are good for putting on the whole mix, if there are some that are better for mixes as opposed to individual instruments? I have the CLassic Compressor by Kaujerhaus, but found it to be very UN-transparent on the whole mix, though I do like it on some individual instruments. I used the Waves Rcomp for this song.

Check Out Paul Frindles Dynamic Spectrum Mapper plug. It's an amazing plug for the mix. You can watch a video of it here: http://www.vimeo.com/2365432

Has a free 21 day demo. It takes a few days to wrap your head around what this plug does and can do.

 

[klutzee]

I already had the 1st version still in itunes...was easy for me to a/b!!!
To be honest...I agree with Greg L...There was a nice ring or resonance on the snare that I noticed was not as noticable on the second...but some nice punch on the 2nd...I miss that snare ring though!!!
Cool song!!!!

 

[RAMI]

Check Out Paul Frindles Dynamic Spectrum Mapper plug. It's an amazing plug for the mix. You can watch a video of it here: http://www.vimeo.com/2365432

Has a free 21 day demo. It takes a few days to wrap your head around what this plug does and can do.

Cool video. Almost a "too good to be true" presentation, though. But I enjoyed it. I'll probably get the demo.

I already had the 1st version still in itunes

So I'm assuming the cheque's in the mail?

To be honest...I agree with Greg L...There was a nice ring or resonance on the snare that I noticed was not as noticable on the second...but some nice punch on the 2nd...I miss that snare ring though!!!
Cool song!!!!

Yeah, the drums seem to be effected in a "not bad, but not great" way. Everything else seems to be affected in a good way. Tough choice. Thanx Klutzee.