Compressors Attack and Make Up Gain.

[matt1230]

I have been digging quite deep into the theory behind compressors and using them on my audio signals. One thing i was wondering and i presume this could possibly vary between compressors is the attack and make up settings.

If you run a snare drum for example through the compressor and set the compressor up so that the first 30ms of the snare can pass through by the attack time. The compressor will begin sqaushing the signal after this 30ms providing the thresold is set low enough.

My question is does the make up of the compressor rasise the volume of the squashed signal therefore making the signal after the attack time louder or does it raise everything in volume including the signal during the attack time.

Also does the realease setting return the compressor to the volume of the orginal signal or the new volume after make up gain.

I may be being stupid here but these answers will help me understand more about compressors and how to use them to my advantage so any help here will be greatly appreciated!

[0fps]

In most compressors, make up gain stage is placed at the output.

[matt1230]

I understand that the make up gain is the last stage in the compressors chain. Does however increasing the the make up increase the transients aswell as the compressed signal or does it only increase the compressed signal therefore allowing any singal before the set attack time through the compressor completely unaffected.

[luddy]

normally the makeup gain is just a fixed, constant gain. it is exactly as if you turned Makeup off, set the makeup gain to 0, and put a utility plug immediately after the compressor and set a gain amount in it that gave you the right apparent loudness.

-Luddy

[matt1230]

Orite i thought that was the case. How would you go about then bringing up in volume the body of a drum hit whilst keeping the intial click intact?

[Tarekith]

This might answer some of your confusion:

http://tarekith.com/assets/dynamics.html

[matt1230]

cheers tarekith. I have read all of your tutorials they are really good!

So far if i am understanding correctly. If i wanted to tame the sharp spike of a hit but also keep some of the click and bring up the rest of the signal i would probably use somewhere aroung the following settings:-

attack set low down to catach the spike
ratio set moderatly around 3 or 4:1
thresold brought down until the 'spike' is tamed but not squashed so the click is removed.
release set fairly quickly but enough to bring out the body of the hit.

I can then raise the volume of the compressor thus increasing the body of the hit but not clipping the channel as the 'spike' should have been brought down in volume but not squashed so i still retain some click.

If there are still spikes and i want to push it louder could i use a limter very spairingly to cut off some more of the initial spike and bring the volume up further?

[Tarekith]

Correct.

[matt1230]

Correct.

you teach me well tarekith!

[Emerah]

you should also consider the use of Transient Designers. they give you independent control over the attack and the sustain phases of the audio signal passing through.

very easy to use and very efficient for your purpose. check the following:

1. Transient Designer from SPL
2. TransGainer from Voxengo
3. TransMod from Sonnox Oxford


to me transient designers are essential to my drums tracks.

[matt1230]

you should also consider the use of Transient Designers. they give you independent control over the attack and the sustain phases of the audio signal passing through.

very easy to use and very efficient for your purpose. check the following:

1. Transient Designer from SPL
2. TransGainer from Voxengo
3. TransMod from Sonnox Oxford


to me transient designers are essential to my drums tracks.

Transient designers are something i have overlooked. Is there any free plugs anyone knows about to have a taste of these effects?

[Emerah]

Yes, Check Flux for their BitterSweet Plugin. it is free. and Flux are renowned for their good quality.

[Tarekith]

SPL used to offer their Attacker plug in for free, not sure if that's still going on or not.

[3dot...]

you should also consider the use of Transient Designers. they give you independent control over the attack and the sustain phases of the audio signal passing through.

very easy to use and very efficient for your purpose. check the following:

1. Transient Designer from SPL
2. TransGainer from Voxengo
3. TransMod from Sonnox Oxford


to me transient designers are essential to my drums tracks.

Transient designers are something i have overlooked. Is there any free plugs anyone knows about to have a taste of these effects?

checkout 'rescue'

[d.reamonn]

You could also take a look at Live's Multiband Dynamics. It lets you raise the floor without touching the spike via a process called upward compression. Hang on now... this is all actually explained in... the... manual...