Using Compression on Drums

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wireneck
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Wireneck

Wireneck

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I keep hearing from different people about how it is really important to use compression on drum tracks. I mainly use my compressor to limit vocals and I can't say that i am well versed at using a compressor. I was wondering if anyone knows any good starting points for setting the compression on the different drums (Kick, snare, toms). What should my ratio be set at? and should i use hard or soft knee?
Should compression be applied to the overhead mic? By the way im recording metal/hard rock drums if that helps any. Any ideas or info on this would be helpful.
 
This is a very subjective question....

All I can say is: experiment, experiment, experiment!
 
Sorry, I realize that recording is an artform and that there is no SET way to do it but I would suspect that there are some general compression settings that are tried and tested and are known to help produce a good drum sound.
Im just trying to better my recordings. Learning what to do with compression is a new Exploration for me but I don't know where to start. Thanks
 
Compressors can be used for so many different purposes, a lot will depend on what is needed on a specific track or song.

You can use it for limiting (taming a few high peaks here and there so that you can raise the overall volume), leveling or evening out a performance (making those snare backbeats sound consistent all the way through the song) or just making certain parts sit differently in the mix.

You can also compress a submix of the entire drum kit. Do a search on compression around here for some good tips. I'd like to help more, but I'm running out of gas...
 
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