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● Distortion: This can creep in when your compressor’s release time is set too fast. To
resolve this issue, slow down the release time.
● Distracting Dynamics: Sidechain compression will punch holes in sounds. This can
sometimes sound unmusical and pull listeners away from important focal points in your
mix. If you hear this, try:
○ Backing off on the ratio or threshold to make the effect less aggressive
○ Slowing down the release time, so the compression sounds more subtle
○ Ditching sidechain compression and using another tool instead (like EQ)
Helpful tips:
When sending a track to a bus for sidechain compression, enable the “pre-fader”
control on the track’s send. This way, the level going into the sidechain
compressor will not change when you adjust the track’s volume within the mix.
Too many mixers get caught up in choosing compressors solely for the color or character they
add. They hear their favorite mixer gush over a certain compressor’s warm, analog sound, and
they think that this is all they should focus on.
Remember that a compressor’s main purpose is to do one (or both) of the following things:
And if you’re just starting out, don’t worry about color or character at all. Find one compressor
that gives you independent control over the attack, release, ratio, and threshold (your DAW’s
stock compressor is a great place to start). M aster the theory behind compression, and then
start exploring analog emulations and more “colorful” alternatives.
3. Be Skeptical Of Presets
While presets can provide useful starting points, they can just as often work against what you’re
trying to achieve. You’re better off learning how to get what you want out of a compressor. Then
you can determine the settings that work best for each individual scenario, instead of relying on
presets that may take you in the wrong direction.
When you solo a track, you remove all the context you need to make the right decisions.
Remember—mixing is all about making a group of sounds blend together as a cohesive unit. It
doesn’t matter how each track sounds by itself, because the end listener is never going to hear
the individual tracks.
Don’t make adjustments to your compressors while tracks are in solo. Instead, make them while
all the tracks are playing together.
When you do this, you’ll often find you apply much more compression than you would in solo. If
you solo the track, it might sound over-compressed. Don’t worry about this. If the track sounds
great in context with the rest of the mix, that’s all that matters.
5. Do No Harm
Ever wonder how many times you’ve compressed a track and made it sound w
orse?
Doctors have a guiding principle called “do no harm.” As mixers, we should follow this principle
too.
Don’t forget to compare the compressed track with the original. This is the only way to make
sure you’re actually improving a track.
But just remember—if your compressor is making the track louder, it will always sound better.
But Jason—compressors turn things down, right? So how can a compressed track sound louder
than the original?
Below is a screenshot of the Logic 9’s compressor default preset. This is the preset that loads
up automatically when you open the compressor, before you do anything.
What does this mean? If you put this compressor on any track, don’t change a thing, and then
bypass it, there’s a good chance you’ll think the “compressed” version sounds better. In fact, it
hasn’t been compressed at all. It’s just 4 dB louder!
To make a fair comparison, it’s absolutely crucial to level match the compressed and
uncompressed sounds. The best way to do to this is by ear.
Flip the bypass switch on and off, and adjust the compressor’s output gain until there’s no
difference in level between the two signals.
Then, with the track playing, toggle between the original and compressed sound. You can even
close your eyes, click the button a bunch of times, and then compare to make this a true blind
test.
Which really sounds better? Follow this advice, and you’ll never be fooled again.
1. S
onnox’s Oxford Dynamics
3. M
cDSP’s 6030 Ultimate Compressor
The 6030 features 10 (yes…10!) compressor modules in a single interface! The modules range
from emulations of studio classics like the 1176 and LA-2A, to custom creations like the FRG
444 and iComp. The 1176 and LA-2A are spot on, and a bit more hi-fi than those in Waves’ CLA
Classic Compressors bundle. Also, nothing beats the Over EZ on drums!
4. FabFilter’s Pro-MB