Music Production Learning

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Compression

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Uses

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  • normalize vocal audio to stand out better in the mix (and feel natural)
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  • maintain sustain and reverb, especially on guitars and the like
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General

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  • make sure audio gain is set well
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  • don’t compress on solo (need to see where it fits in the mix)
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  • usually good to EQ and de-ess before compression
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  • try closing your eyes and try not to let visual cues on the UI be your only guide
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Ratio

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  • gentle ratio good for rounding out generally varying audio volume
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  • strong ratio good for clamping a few rare volume jumps
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Attack

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  • maintain transients
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Release

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  • want the compressor to open back up and recover at the ends of phrases and words
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 - can see this visually as the compression slowly lets back up
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  • faster release when trying to have a sustain so the compression backs off and the output gain is left
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Reverb

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