Using Compressors in you final mix

[doubled1480]

I record on Pro-Tools LE 7 and once I am done with my recording it is often very quiet so I "try" to use a compressor to bring up the master level on my stereo mix. I don't know what I am doing wrong because I just get a quieter mix or breathy mix. I have experimented some with adjusting the functions of the comp. but if anyone could give me some insight I would greatly appreciate it. BTW the music I am mixing is heavy metal.

[lp_junkie]

you need to bring the levels up not squish them further with compression.

Change the volume levels as you mix your individual tracks, keep them as hot as you can and still achieve a balanced mix.

Do not mix with headphones on, use monitors and mix loud.

[slapjaw]

you need to bring the levels up not squish them further with compression.

Change the volume levels as you mix your individual tracks, keep them as hot as you can and still achieve a balanced mix.

Do not mix with headphones on, use monitors and mix loud.

Lp Junkie thanks, but why mix loud? Is there a better benefit to it?

[Jackson50]

Or you could use IK Multimedia's T-RackS plugin and apply the preset that better suits the mix, works great!

[Bing17]

What compression ratio are you using? Compression should even out signals, not make the overall quieter. Between mixing and mastering you can compress several times and still not have the problems you're experiencing.

I think your problems exist in your mix levels, from what it sounds like. Also, do you use an EQ? You are losing some dynamics when you're compressing your signal, and that could be making it sound smooth but muddy.

[Nicole Rose]

Lp Junkie thanks, but why mix loud? Is there a better benefit to it?

you mix loud, (well not ear shatteringly loud) in order to hear what is there properly. too quiet and the bass won't boom, too quiet and the highs stick out more. and mix on good speakers if you can, hopefully frequency neutral. or get to know your speakers well. my computer speakers don't put out much bass so my first mixes were very uhm, screwed lol.

[cukilscri]

Or you could use IK Multimedia's T-RackS plugin and apply the preset that better suits the mix, works great!

Glad to hear you're using this: I plan to keep it much more aggressively up-to-date than has been the case in the past, but don't hesitate to let me know if you find errors or need clarifications.

[Horse]

A question,

Anyone know what stand alone compressor (not plugin) gives a real squishy 'sweet' sound? I know they vary a lot but that the sound im after......

Cheers

[crowguitar]

Avalons work nicely for this.

[Horse]

Avalons work nicely for this.

was that replyl in response to my question dude? just checking!

hmm the avalons are studio rack gear, way too expensive for me, i need a pedal...or affordable rack mount...

[Blues4U]

Barber Tone press-You can dial in whatever you want-You can make it basically a clean boost or a squishy, warm compressor or anything in between the two extremes.

Tone Press

[crowguitar]

If you need to bring ur mixes up, first normalize the tracks to around -6db, then use compression to flatten the signal somewhat, should help the overall mix. Keep the mix around -6db, then use a mastering tool/plugin to bring the whole mix up to optimal level.

If necessary, import a track from one of your favorite albums (or something that sounds close to what your goin for) and take a look at that waveform. Try to match it, sonically and visually. Not so much a copy, but as a guideline.

[crowguitar]

sorry Horse.. we kinda had a double question in there. I sort of applied the answer to both your question and "Doubled1480"'s issue at the same time..lol

[Horse]

sorry Horse.. we kinda had a double question in there. I sort of applied the answer to both your question and "Doubled1480"'s issue at the same time..lol

no worries dude! i did ask a sneaky!

[Nicole Rose]

If you need to bring ur mixes up, first normalize the tracks to around -6db, then use compression to flatten the signal somewhat, should help the overall mix. Keep the mix around -6db, then use a mastering tool/plugin to bring the whole mix up to optimal level.

If necessary, import a track from one of your favorite albums (or something that sounds close to what your goin for) and take a look at that waveform. Try to match it, sonically and visually. Not so much a copy, but as a guideline.

i have talked to a lot of engineers and none of them to my knowledge have suggested normalizing a track before mixing it. normalizing is a function that is usually reserved for bringing all tracks being put on a cd to a relative "normal" volume.

[crowguitar]

Normalization should only be used as a last resort, and sparingly. it does raise some of the "ugly" transients so be careful. Or even just raise the gain..

I wouldnt normally suggest normalization, but its something he can try. But first off, use a Limiter in conjunction with a straight compression plugin.

[Nicole Rose]

Normalization should only be used as a last resort, and sparingly. it does raise some of the "ugly" transients so be careful. Or even just raise the gain..

I wouldnt normally suggest normalization, but its something he can try. But first off, use a Limiter in conjunction with a straight compression plugin.

thanks for that clarification. a lot of the gain problem can be fixed in the mastering process if of course it is anywhere near the proper level. and in mixing one can boost the appropriate freqs, or even bounce the track manually to another, with a gain increase along the way.

[crowguitar]

well the issue he's having is he is overly compressing his mix (hence the lowered volume and "breathy" quality to it). just gently compress the overall peaks.

Run the compression no higher than a 2:1 ratio with a quick release (60 to 110 milliseconds) and low threshold (4 to 8db gain reduction). Play around with these options (dont go above 4 or 5:1 ratio tho, you'll end up with that "pumping" sound). Mix with the compression on, dont mix the track down then try adding it on top. A Multi-band compression would also be ideal (considering how alot of the frequencies in metal end up fighting each other) and you can set certain ratios to certain frequencies as needed.

Compression errors cant be fixed in the mastering process tho. That has to be dealt with b4. One thing many engineers and musicians dont realize is that the Mix is more important than the Mastering, in many cases. If the mix is off, too compressed, or they've mixed it at too high a volume (for god's sake, give the mastering engineer some headroom to work with!), there is nothing that can be done without it just sounding like ass for the final product.

I've worked with some of the top producers/engineers in the industry and I've been there for when some have had to do remixes for bands who wanted to use their original tracks for their album releases, only to be told they had to re-record due to badly recorded tracks or horrible mixes that couldnt be mastered correctly no matter how many thousands of $$ of plugins and outboard gear were available.

[Nicole Rose]

ya i see where you're coming from. one of the big problems in recording at home, is that people add shit to the tracks as they record it. so the basic tracks, if over compressed, if they have too much 'verb, if the effect isn't any good, well, too late. the tracks are screwed. except for electric guitar, i record everything clean, no compression, no limiter, no reverb, no anything. sure i'll put some 'verb on the send to the headphones, because it helps hear it 'nicer' but the track must be clean, or whatever is wrong with it will be wrong with it forever.

and that way, if i want to do a remix because i screwed the mix up, i can. because the tracks are good, or at least clean.

[Horse]

This is good info, im glad we have knowledgable folk here

[the recordist]

A question,

Anyone know what stand alone compressor (not plugin) gives a real squishy 'sweet' sound? I know they vary a lot but that the sound im after......

Cheers

An FMR RNC is a nice outboard compressor and it's affordable...like 170 bucks I think...the empirical labs distressor is a super nice compressor but it's about 1400 bucks...I have both of these and they work well for different things...