Audio Recording

Professional Audio Mixing is basically two steps: EQ and Compression. Different instruments require different compression scenario. To those that do not know what is compression, it is all about controlling the peaks of recorded signal.

The easiest way to understand how compression can be useful to a mix is vocals. Vocalist even professionals have tendency to sing very loud in some portions of the song. Now without compression, this vocal track could be very annoying. Compression sets balance by automatically compressing signals when it reaches a certain level.

Some Basic Introduction about Audio Compression

It is important that by applying the suggested settings in this tutorial; you know how a compressor works. As well as its parameters like the threshold, compression ratio, attack time and release time.

If you would like to know more about this audio compression related terminologies, you can refer to the following very useful tutorials:

a.) Dynamic Range Compression basic tutorial for beginners- illustrates the most basic function of a compressor in handling input audio signals.

b.) How Compressor attack and release works – illustrates the technical details behind the compressor attack and release time.

c.) AA 1.5 Compressor Tutorial: Implement Dynamics Processing -an example tutorial on the use of compressor basics on Adobe Audition 1.5. Concepts on this tutorial can be applied to any digital audio workstation software.

My major rules in compression is simple, compression takes away signals and sound quality. It is a fact, that if overdo it will drastically reduce the power of the sound. Now let me give you my tips on compressing common instruments in audio tracks.

Compressing vocals in the mix

I use the presets of Sony Wave hammer-Voice settings. This plugin is available in Sony Creative Sound Forge 10. If you have this installed in your computer, since this a Direct X plug-in, it can also be added to Adobe Audition or other DAW that accepts Direct X plug-in.

The characteristics of these compression settings are this:

Attack time- 5 ms
Release time- 50ms
Threshold- -10dB
Compression ratio – 5:1

Take note that attack time is very short, it is because vocals is highly transient in nature, the notes of the vocal is very short, so to capture effective compression in vocals, one must set to short attack time. The release time is a bit slow. It is because when a vocalist sings loud portions of the song, it will tend to last a longer time also. It is an odd song to have a very short loud portion of the vocals. Threshold of the compressor is the level of the signal at which compression starts. For vocals, I need it to set to -10dB because more than -10 dB in vocals is already very dominant in mix. The compression ratio is 5:1; this means a five times reduction in the signal when it reaches -10dB or above. Now that’s a bit compression to lower the volume of the loud peaks.

Of course, if you do not have a wave Hammer compressor then you can use any compressor (even free compressor, make sure though it sounds good) in your DAW mixing software. Then start with the settings provided previously (threshold, compression ratio, etc).

The above setting is not a one-fit-all solution for all vocal mixing. You still need to use your ears to do some adjustments. The common scenario is to have a threshold set too high or too low for the vocals you are currently mixing. So start adjusting the threshold first before the other settings such as compression ratio, attack and release time.

Currently today, I am mixing vocals using Waves C4 plugin. It is currently a very reliable plugin and takes away a lot of guesswork in the adjustment of threshold, ratio, etc.

My favorite setting is using the C4 Pop vocal preset as shown in the screenshot below:

You can read more about this plugin in this tutorial: Vocal effects processing tips and techniques using Waves plugin

Compressing guitar in the mix

For acoustic and clean electric guitars, I use Sony wave hammer Guitar presets. The compression settings are:

Threshold: -20dB
Ratio: 5.0 is to 1
Attack time: 15ms
Release time: 15ms

The threshold is lower in volume compared to the vocals, the primary reason is that guitars need to sound a bit lower than vocals in the mix or else it will dominate the vocals. Compressing at -20dB ensures that any strong level above it will be suppressed five times to control the volume and not being too loud. Guitar sounds are not sharp transients in nature unlike vocals, kick and snare. It will have a sustaining and delaying sound. So a medium set attack and release time is good.

Below are some very recommended tutorials relating to mixing and compressing guitar elements:

How to compress lead guitar in the mix

Guitar EQ mixing for rock, pop and country

Tips in mixing electric guitars using double tracking technique

Compressing bass guitar the mix

Bass guitar sounds needs to be compressed to provide a steady beat backbone to the song. This is very important in modern rock and pop tracks. And because of this, I use Sony wave hammer Bass guitar presets with the following settings:

Threshold= -20dB
Ratio: 6 is to 1
Attack time: 40ms
Release time: 80ms

The main concept of creating a big bass sound is slow attack and fast release. This is because since bass are not super fast transient it needs to develop it’s level first then set compressor to attack the signal and release it immediately, the effect is a loud sounding bass. Compression settings is a bit higher than guitar and vocals, because bass needs to be more uniform in sound to provide a steady beat. You can also read this additional resources on mixing bass guitar.

Compressing kick drum in the mix

I do not compress kick drum in the mix because I want to sound real, alive and not compressed. Compressing kick drums in my experience, takes away its deep bass sound so I do not like idea of compressing it.

You can read this additional resources on kick drum EQ settings and compression tips.

Compressing snare drums

Snare drums needs compression, so to compress snare I use these settings :

Attack: 20ms
Release: 40ms
Threshold: -12dB
Compression ratio: 5:1

Snare needs to sound natural even though it is sharp transient in nature I prefer to compress snare with a slower attack time and faster release. This will give a full snare and powerful sound. Compressing with too fast attack time can flatten a sound and will make to sound dull.

You can read the following snare drum related compression and mixing tips:

Snare Compression- How the Drum Sound Changes with Different Settings

Snare Drum EQ, Compression and Panning Mixing Tips

Content last updated on February 4, 2012