The compressor is one of the most commonly used processors in mixing. They reduce the audio of a signal when it gets too loud using a predetermined threshold, helping the mix engineer tame loud peaks. While compression plays an important role in mixing just about any instrument, it is...
Even once you’ve shaped and EQed your kick drum track, you may still not be happy with how it’s sitting in the mix.
This is the point where compression comes in.
The dynamic range of your kick drum will have a MAJOR impact on your mix. Very similar to bass, you want the...
Compression on guitars is not uncommon. However, in my experience, the effect is often misunderstood. The thing about compression is that it’s not all that difficult to understand, though it can be difficult to apply.
Some guitars have too much dynamic range for their...
As one of the most dynamic instruments around, the human voice requires compression in most modern mixes to stand out without jumping out of the speakers. Without compression, the human voice presents many unique mixing challenges.
Luckily, there are hundreds of great vocal...
Compression is often the bane of many new producers and mix engineers, especially when it comes to getting professional, upfront vocals.
The beauty of compression is that it can give your vocals a modern, radio-ready sound. I can’t think of a modern recording that doesn’t...
While the acoustic guitar is one of the most fundamental instruments around, it can also be one of the most difficult instruments to mix. Of course, even before attempting to mix an acoustic guitar, you have to make sure the recording is right, as it’s difficult to make a poorly...
Your bass should act as a strong, solid foundation for the rest of your mix. If it doesn’t provide a solid foundation, then your mix will sound weak and thin.
One way to get a strong foundation for yo bass is learning how to compress it properly. In most modern mixes, the bass...
The snare drum is one of the foundational parts of just about any mix. A weak snare can make your mix sound amateur, which can ruin your track. The question is,
How in the world do these producers and mix engineers get those modern, polished-sounding snares in their drum mixes?
Well, while...
Compression can be confusing. One of the best ways to learn how to use compression is by dissecting compressors down to their original hardware units, so that you can make the most out of your mixes, especially if you’ve only ever used compressors in plug-in form.
You’ve...
Bus compression is one of the most important tools for mixing your music.
For those who aren’t aware, bus compression is the act of utilizing a compressor on the a group of tracks, or on the master bus or master output to create a more cohesive and uniform sound...
Audio compression is a confusing and mysterious subject for many new audio engineers. In this in-depth guide, we’re going to break down hot to use a compressor so that you can feel more comfortable with one of the most popular mixing tools.
While the overarching subject of...
There is no audio tool quite like the compressor. Compressors are incredibly versatile mixing and production tools for coloration, glue, and dynamic control. With so many digital compressor VSTs on the market today, however, finding the right one for the job can be quite difficult....
