25% off Master Live EQ this week. Eliminate feedback and get a better sound for your band and your audience. Check out the link and use the code EASTER24 for 15% off. courses.offshoreaudio.no/mleq
Great video. I love the sea analogy, it makes much more sense. Actually theres so many videos explaining compression from a studio perspective, and none of them make it as clear as you did here from a Live sound perspective. Thank you for this
Also: parallel compression is available on some desks. If it has mix knob, that can be used to bleed the uncompressed sound in. That allows you to use very aggressive compression but to also keep it dynamic.
I could be doing it all wrong but I like a slow attack on my kick with a medium release and then pair that with a quick attack on my bass guitar with a release double ish my kick attack. It makes a fat low end kick and I don’t get a bunch of bass guitar string noise. I loved your analogy’s perfect
Your 4:1 is my 2:1. And I’m most often in the 1.2-1.5:1 range. I’ve long been of the opinion that attack and release defaults should be long and short respectively so that you can more easily find the threshold to tweak to. Sometimes it’s better/easier (for EQ/feedback) to get gain from compressor makeup than at the preamp…
Great video, but don't be afraid to use higher ratio's than 4 to 1 when needed. High dynamic sources (like vocal) can benefit from it. I like to use serial compression on a vocal mic with a fast compression om 8 to 1, followed by a slow compression (LA-2A). The fast high ratio takes care of all the peaks en the slow (lower ratio) compression can be dailed in for sound. Works great!
A good metaphor for the knee may be the gradient of the sand under the water. On most beaches it's a gradual incline, but on islands it tends to be a sudden dropoff.
Gracias por tu video, solo aclarar que el ataque es el tiempo que tarda en realizar la compresion y no la "espera" para llevarlo a cabo. Error comun al explicar compresion. Es importante esa diferencia aunque no lo parezca. Saludos desde Patagonia - Argentina.
I remember being told that compression is the least heard, but the most beneficial effect for guitar. I've been playing guitar onstage for 40+ years... Aand I only "understood" compression in the last dozen or so years.. It sounds dead sexy now, but I'm an old man now.. 😉
Agree with the no compression on classical, because the sound is often mixed with the live orchestra and you're not 'responsible' for the full spectrum of sound, and then compression will be very noticable above a few dB (in my opinion as an orchestra player). Very very light compression should be doable.
Hey. This is a great question. I think it depends. I'd say that ultimately the numbers don't matter, and as long as you understand how to make it sound the way you want then that is enough. However decibels are the language of sound and I don't know many good engineers who don't understand then.
I've been trying to get the Compressor template but I keep getting a message on the website saying "Something went wrong. Please try again." Is this something you could help me with?
Hey! Sounds strange. I checked it out and it worked fine for me just now. You can try using a different browser or just email me at offshoreaudio@gmail.com and I'll send it over.
Dude - "I don't have a beach metaphor for a knee yet". The beach metaphor IS a metaphor for a knee, the further you wade in, the higher the resistance.
Compression really is the most difficult concept to teach. Your water metaphor doesn't work in my brain, but it probably does for others. The best part is when you finally do understand the concepts clearly, and you can use compression effectively.
25% off Master Live EQ this week. Eliminate feedback and get a better sound for your band and your audience. Check out the link and use the code EASTER24 for 15% off.
courses.offshoreaudio.no/mleq
Great video. I love the sea analogy, it makes much more sense. Actually theres so many videos explaining compression from a studio perspective, and none of them make it as clear as you did here from a Live sound perspective. Thank you for this
In small venues, compression in mains it's a beautiful trick.
Needed this right now
Also: parallel compression is available on some desks. If it has mix knob, that can be used to bleed the uncompressed sound in. That allows you to use very aggressive compression but to also keep it dynamic.
I could be doing it all wrong but I like a slow attack on my kick with a medium release and then pair that with a quick attack on my bass guitar with a release double ish my kick attack. It makes a fat low end kick and I don’t get a bunch of bass guitar string noise.
I loved your analogy’s perfect
I reckon If it works it works. I'll give your settings ago and you have try mine and I'm sure we'll both learn something 🙂
Your 4:1 is my 2:1. And I’m most often in the 1.2-1.5:1 range.
I’ve long been of the opinion that attack and release defaults should be long and short respectively so that you can more easily find the threshold to tweak to.
Sometimes it’s better/easier (for EQ/feedback) to get gain from compressor makeup than at the preamp…
Great explaination on compression , it has endless uses 👍🏾 !
I can't seem to learn enough about it too.
Glad it was helpful!
I've been awaiting this video..right on time 😊
Great video, but don't be afraid to use higher ratio's than 4 to 1 when needed. High dynamic sources (like vocal) can benefit from it. I like to use serial compression on a vocal mic with a fast compression om 8 to 1, followed by a slow compression (LA-2A). The fast high ratio takes care of all the peaks en the slow (lower ratio) compression can be dailed in for sound. Works great!
A good metaphor for the knee may be the gradient of the sand under the water. On most beaches it's a gradual incline, but on islands it tends to be a sudden dropoff.
The ocean analogy was great lol.
Thanks again for this information. This will be very helpful
Thanks for adding the FET and Opto especially from the Midas. It confirmed what I was doing
Can you do multiple videos on turning compressors into multi and compresssors if you don’t have access to one.
Gracias por tu video, solo aclarar que el ataque es el tiempo que tarda en realizar la compresion y no la "espera" para llevarlo a cabo. Error comun al explicar compresion. Es importante esa diferencia aunque no lo parezca. Saludos desde Patagonia - Argentina.
I remember being told that compression is the least heard, but the most beneficial effect for guitar. I've been playing guitar onstage for 40+ years... Aand I only "understood" compression in the last dozen or so years..
It sounds dead sexy now, but I'm an old man now.. 😉
Great water analogy
Agree with the no compression on classical, because the sound is often mixed with the live orchestra and you're not 'responsible' for the full spectrum of sound, and then compression will be very noticable above a few dB (in my opinion as an orchestra player). Very very light compression should be doable.
wow, i always learn something from ya!
@OffshoreAudio Thank you
My pleasure
this is a great video! thanks!
You're very welcome!
Second 😅
Totally helpful I’ve seen and have been guilty of likely compressing too much as well of gating vox mic 😢.
You even beat me!
Do believe in learning decibels & waveforms to understand compression better or is it a waste of time and just go and learn compression ?
Hey. This is a great question. I think it depends. I'd say that ultimately the numbers don't matter, and as long as you understand how to make it sound the way you want then that is enough. However decibels are the language of sound and I don't know many good engineers who don't understand then.
I've been trying to get the Compressor template but I keep getting a message on the website saying "Something went wrong. Please try again." Is this something you could help me with?
Hey! Sounds strange. I checked it out and it worked fine for me just now. You can try using a different browser or just email me at offshoreaudio@gmail.com and I'll send it over.
Dude - "I don't have a beach metaphor for a knee yet". The beach metaphor IS a metaphor for a knee, the further you wade in, the higher the resistance.
Compression really is the most difficult concept to teach. Your water metaphor doesn't work in my brain, but it probably does for others.
The best part is when you finally do understand the concepts clearly, and you can use compression effectively.
First one here 👀
At least I am first to liking 😉
That was fast!
Singers know nothing about compression. Compression it's strictly your decision.
Umm. They may not know how it works but they definitely know when you destroyed it and did a terrible job.
Third