what is the first knob you usually use when compressing.

  • Thread starter Thread starter alevy
  • Start date Start date
*ahem*

well, i have a software compressor, and this probably isn't the best way to do it, but i do most of my parameter tweaking just looking at the graphic on the compressor:

http://www.cakewalk.com/images/SONAR3/fxcompressor.jpg

i watch the little dot move up and down (the level of the track) and adjust threshold, ratio, and the knee accordingly. I usually set attack and release just based on what instrument i'm compressing.

i do listen to it at some point!!!
 
I tried but now I'm just back peddling. The whole concept is silly.

The real question is hiding somewhere. :p
 
I adjust the threshold first. Thats what kicks the compression in and by adjusting it I can vary how often it comes on. Then radio is next. Then I adjust the attack and release.
 
rory said:
I adjust the threshold first. Thats what kicks the compression in and by adjusting it I can vary how often it comes on. Then radio is next. Then I adjust the attack and release.
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Yeah, but what if your ratio is at 1:1? You can adjust the threshold all you want, it won't change anything...And vice versa if the threshold is way higher than the signal coming in and you're adjusting the ratio, etc...

It's the old chicken and the egg thing...
 
dgatwood said:
I try to avoid touching my knob when compressing. It makes other people in the room uncomfortable. :D.
Click to expand...

I had a band of Blink by numbers punks in once & turned round from my desk to be faced with four lads with their jeans round their ankles :confused:

What the...................I've since seen them on stage & a further WHAT THE

boys are mad

ANYHOO

I've got some nice presets for various things that I'll start with as a guide & tweek accordingly. I like a fast attack & long release over a final mix of a drum kit but have found the threshold has to be knocked right back to stop the pumping unless of course we want a good ol bit of (in my opinion horrible) dance music pumping

My brain cell still works................................just
Slidey
 
On the flip side Rami, if you adjust the ratio and your threshold isn't getting touched, it doesn't do a thing. He said, what do you touch first. I adjust threshold because it is the trigger. You then adjust the ratio accordingly. Unless you automatically have a set ratio that you use everytime, then you probably hit that first.
 
rory said:
On the flip side Rami, if you adjust the ratio and your threshold isn't getting touched, it doesn't do a thing. He said, what do you touch first. I adjust threshold because it is the trigger. You then adjust the ratio accordingly. Unless you automatically have a set ratio that you use everytime, then you probably hit that first.
Click to expand...

I realise the flip side, I even mentioned that. But my point about hitting the threshold first is that it won't affect anything if your ration is set to 1:1. So, the point is, nobody can say what the first knob they always touch is because it depends on where other knobs are at the time. If you see that your ratio button is at 1:1, then you WON'T touch your threshold first because it will never the trigger the compressor...

Basically, there is no answer to this question and I think it's just the 155th different way the original poster is trying to get people to tell him how to set his compressor...Something he can ask another 50 ways, until he realises that he should be using his ears...But he's been told that over and over again and still insists on asking the same question 75 different ways.
 
I have a tendency to set the A&R first - I can tell what those are going to be by the sound. Then the ratio. Again, I'm going to have an idea of what I want that to be before I even decide which compressor I'm going to use. Finally the threshold to set the level of gain reduction and the make-up if it's even necessary.
 
Threshold. Then ratio. Then a combination of everything while listening.
 
Agent47 said:
Threshold. Then ratio. Then a combination of everything while listening.
Click to expand...

SNAP (& of course four letters is just to shorttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
 
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