Compressor info...

Alex Reynolds · Post by **Alex Reynolds** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 5:12 am

How does one go about using the compressor plug-in? Would a hardware compressor be better for limiting output?

-Alex

Mbazzy · Post by **Mbazzy** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 9:28 am

I'm not so familiar into the technical background/breakdown of using a compressor ... mainly use it "intuitively" - personnally I use the compressor on bass&beatline PLUS on the master output ... Usually I had to edit my multi-track mix far more thannow is the case and had from several (pro) people the comment my mixdown sounded good since working in Live and with the native compressor ...

Though I realize this doesn't really answers your question ...

There have been several soft vs hardware discussions going on in the SOS forum , it's almost as biased/animated as the mac vs pc debate, as long as you speak of a comparison in the low/midrange hardware units vs software .. everyone agrees that when using the topoftheshelf hw units , that's a different ballgame ...

dirtystudios · Post by **dirtystudios** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 8:17 pm

as far as i've understood, when it comes to compressors, it's almost always best to use analog hardware. something to do with the fact that digital has no headroom. you can send analog a hot signal with little distortion, but once you overload digital, even a wee bit, it's all over. so if you need to compress your output and you have the hardware laying about, go with it. plus it'll free up a few cycles on your machine.

k

Geraldo · Post by **Geraldo** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 10:32 pm

I love the compressor in Live. The MDA compressor is even better because it incorporates a limiter section as well as compression and lighter CPU drain (and its FREE!). I like to use plugins because cheap hardware hums and expensive hardware is, well, expensive. I have not run into the digital headroom problem, but I am careful about signal level. A good hardware compressor could run you $1000-1500. But its not even the expense as much as I have come to hate cords and wires.
DS is right in that you will pay a CPU price for plugins but the convenience and signal quality far outweighs the CPU drain for me. I use compression on vocals and guitar. I love it on bass. It can make drum loops sound cool. Compression is addictive for me.

dirtystudios · Post by **dirtystudios** » Sun Dec 01, 2002 10:43 pm

your right on the drumloops thing geraldo. i use digital compression for effects and whatnot, but i've had trouble using it subtley. i may just be retarded, but it just doesn't sound right compared to it's analog brethren. however, i do love running a beat through the vinyl distortion fx with some crackle and noise then compressing the fuck out of it. es muy dirty.

k

Alex Reynolds · Post by **Alex Reynolds** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 12:34 am

This is all very helpful -- thanks for the tips.

Does anyone have settings that they prefer for the compressor plug-in, for a particular situation?

I've been looking at a few tube compressors but I'm not sure what the difference is between them, especially in my $200-400 price range.

If the plug-in works, I'm sure I can scrape a few CPU points away from a composition that needs it.

I've been playing around, but I just have no idea how to use it properly.

Thanks,
Alex

neinvolt · Post by **neinvolt** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 8:23 am

I wouldn't put the live compressor on the master buss since it is not a multi-band compressor. You may notice that with a simple compressor like the one in live it can be difficult to get a setting that sounds good when you are throwing alot of transients at it as well as sustaining tones and textures. For boom/boom dance music a multi-band compressor like the waves C4 does a great job of controlling big kicks and sharp hihats without sucking the life out of all the frequencies in between. As for limiters I like the waves L1 and on a budget the pluggo Limi is quite good as well. If you organize your live sets according to tracks (ie: drum loops on track1, strings on track 6, basses on track 11 etc...) then you could run a different live compressor for drums than for strings and not have to use a multi-band compressor. Just some ideas,

jdg · Post by **jdg** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 5:57 pm

i put the PSP Vintage Warmer in the master bus.
i love vintage warmer

Alex Reynolds · Post by **Alex Reynolds** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 6:03 pm

I've heard glowing reviews of Vintage Warmer.

Alas, no carbonized version yet...

-Alex

jdg · Post by **jdg** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 11:52 pm

yeah .. stuff like that is keeping me off the mac for serious audio work.. OSX rox.. 1 more year.. i bet we'll all be

ak · Post by ak » Tue Dec 03, 2002 3:15 pm

I use the Ableton Live compressor very gently.
With a multiband compressor you are not able to get a
groove into your music, because every band is compressed seperately,
it is more a mastering tool but
sounds never rhytmic.
So most of the mastering engeneers dont use multibands or before the multiband a normal high quality comp.

So my constellation is Ableton Live Comp + L1 to cut cut Peaks.

ak

Geraldo · Post by **Geraldo** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 5:42 pm

There are many different reasons to use compression. Mastering and effect are two different things. Compression as a mastering tool is usually applied carefully or you get "breathing" or other unwanted results over the entire piece. As an effect you can use it liberally to acheive sustain for a guitar for example. There is no single correct way to use any effect in my opinion. Experimentation is the reason I do music. One way to explore the usefullness of an effect is to start with it maxed and listen carefully as you back it off to nothing. With compression you have four common parameters.
Ratio: Controls how drastic
threshhold: controls how sensitive to input
attack: trims the leading transient
release: self explanatory
and hard or soft knee (oops, thats 5): response curve
Start with everything maxed and then back each parameter off individually to hear the effect. Source material with wide dynamic range (vocals) or intense transients (drums) will provide the best results.
Happy compressing

olafmol · Post by **olafmol** » Fri Jan 31, 2003 12:11 pm

PSP Vintagewarmer is rather extreme but it can really give a nice warm woollen sound to a mix, with all the needed pumping...it's difficult to create more subtile settings with it..... WaveWarm is better used for subtile settings

also check out the amazing tools by Sascha, www.digitalfishphones.com ..these VST plugins are free, and are up there with the best..... compression with tube-like added harmonics/saturation etc... very useable

Olaf

Compressor info...

Compressor info...

many different compressors