Hi and a great and healthy new year to you. I think it's easy to understand the technical side of compression quite fast. But it takes a good while to hear actually what it really does. Especially rhythmic behaviour and back and forward movement of the audio as well as transient shaping. Bypaas on off button usage for hours is the beginners best friend here. Cheers
These settings are proving to be invaluable on my hardware for tracking vocals. I can't thank you enough. I have struggled with threshold for years always ending up with too much squish & end up just forfeiting the compressor all together. Now I'm getting it, & it's working Fantastic.
Sara is probably the best person to listen to as a novice or someone with intermediate skill levels to keep the learning curve in perspective. Many people are too wrapped up in their own experience and have difficulty being relatable.
Great video. The pace of instruction suits me to a T. Cant handle all the fast edits and mumbling of other youtubers. Thanks! I think I finally get it!
Really excellent de-mystifying explanation Sara - I'd go so far as to say the best I've come across on YT. I've been amateur mixing in a home studio for years, and still revert to twiddling the controls without a plan when it comes to compression!
FINALLY it makes sense! Awesome video! Listened to Sara on Production Experts and Recording Studio Rockstars podcast. Best RUclips channel for all things mixing!
Thanks for a great video 😊 Would be great if you made more "the big picture" videos, for example follow the snare (what is done on instrument level, bus level, group level, master bus level, what of this is routed to fx etc). This would make your channel one of the few on internet that did this. The problem with most videos is that I won't learn how to "build a house" by watching videos on "how to hold a hammer effectively" if you know what i mean. It wont help my baking skills to watch a video on how to open the oven door...too many videos are too detailed and and small focused and won't talk about the "big picture" which is what is needed. All the best from Norway 👍😎👌
Hey Sara, thank you for your great videos concerning compression and the detailed approach to explaining what is going on. I watched them all😉! About the ratio… i you say that with a 4:1 ratio for every db that passes the threshold 4 db will be reduced from the signal. As far as I understood it 4:1 ratio means that for every 4 dbs that pass the threshold the compressor will knock it down to 1 db. Or for every db that passes the threshold that it will be reduced to 1/4 off a db. Did I get it wrong? Another thing- I would love it if you could make a video explaining bus compression/ “glue compression”. It still is quite mysterious to me how to set up a compressor for that. Which parts of a drum bus signal should be compressed to achieve a glueing effect? Unfortunately there is no advanced video about that in the internet - only people who set up their slow attack and fast relieve until they start nodding their head and proclaim “yeah that brings it all together”. I would like to have a visual clue as to what is happening to the waveform… Again thank you for the dedication you put into explaining these things👍🏻✌🏻
Great explanation! Never again forget to adjust the attack by hearing the consonants. I find compression the most difficult thing to master, a lot to take into consideration, not only the "automatic fader" thing. All character subtleties that every type of compressor brings out are more than enough to write a whole book, is amazing. Thanks Sara. Cheers! By the way, I'm curious about a diode bridge type, not so much information, maybe no one uses these days.
Hi Sara, in your cheat sheet you mention to avoid the compressor bringing up unwanted sounds, before compression you sometimes use -6dB on clip gain on breaths and sibililance. Can you please kindly explain you mean eg. reducing pre-gain on the whole wave file (not sure how that would help) or cutting the event into many parts to isolate the unwanted noises then reduce only those by 6dB (seems a very lengthy process, perhaps more than training the vocalist! :-) )
Yes, I was referring to just the breath portion of the file. It is a little time consuming but the result is worth it. There are ways to build keyboard shortcuts to speed this process up but I haven't worked out how to do that yet!
@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing thank you Sara for clarifying that. I’m on Cubase 10.5 pro which has many macro and keyboard shortcut options, in fact I think I’ve seen a RUclips clip especially for shortcuts re cutting and adjusting gain on lots of individual parts specifically for this purpose so I try to find it once I have my next occurrence.
Hello Sara! Thank you for your videos! I have a question! I have been recording for about 2 years now so somewhat have a little little bit of experience. I have had some succes and have invested into hardware channel strips and what not. My question is how much compression should I be getting tracking into hardware? I do NOT mix I only produce at my studio and send off to a more experienced mix engineer. I want to make things easier for them to mix while also make the performer comfortable.
This is probably really unhelpful but it depends on how dynamic the performance is. To be on the safe side you could just catch the peaks and keep them well away from the top of the meter.
If you’re not sure or confident about compression then I would suggest using it gently with a lower ratio and only to control the peaks. No heavy compression that your mix engineer can’t undo!
4:1 doesn't mean for every 1 dB over threshold you will attenuate 4.. It means for every 4 dB over the threshold you will only get 1 dB of output above the threshold.
Do you think compression is difficult or easy to understand? I’d love to hear your thoughts on compression
Hi and a great and healthy new year to you.
I think it's easy to understand the technical side of compression quite fast. But it takes a good while to hear actually what it really does. Especially rhythmic behaviour and back and forward movement of the audio as well as transient shaping. Bypaas on off button usage for hours is the beginners best friend here. Cheers
@@nichttuntun3364 I totally agree. My software bypass buttons have all worn out and I had to draw in new ones!
Hands down. . Hell yeah !!!
@@kdcyp haha ;)
Never got my guide… you tricked me into signing up tho!
These settings are proving to be invaluable on my hardware for tracking vocals. I can't thank you enough. I have struggled with threshold for years always ending up with too much squish & end up just forfeiting the compressor all together. Now I'm getting it, & it's working Fantastic.
Happy to help!
The best teacher on RUclips as far as I'm concerned. Thank you so much for your videos.
Thank you so much!!
DEFINETLY HER AND STREAKY THE ONLY TRU TEACHERS JAH BLESS DEM ALWAYS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE
Oh my gosh... best explanation of compression I've ever heard! Thank you, Sara!
Glad it was helpful!
I'd like to know more about the clip gain
PLEASE do make extra videos on EACH of these things.
ur voice is like flowers made of butterscotch
Haha! Thanks for that!
@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing haha you're welcome! Honestly though thank you for all the great info, love your channel!
Sara is probably the best person to listen to as a novice or someone with intermediate skill levels to keep the learning curve in perspective. Many people are too wrapped up in their own experience and have difficulty being relatable.
Thank you so much for saying that ☺
Fab! Really well explained. Thanks Sara!
Glad you liked it!!
Great video. The pace of instruction suits me to a T. Cant handle all the fast edits and mumbling of other youtubers. Thanks! I think I finally get it!
You're welcome! Thank you
Literally the best way of showing us how to compress
Glad it helped you!
Really excellent de-mystifying explanation Sara - I'd go so far as to say the best I've come across on YT. I've been amateur mixing in a home studio for years, and still revert to twiddling the controls without a plan when it comes to compression!
Wow, thank you! I'm glad to have helped
Absolutely brilliant. Probably the best explanation of compression in the shortest amount of time I’ve ever heard. Thank you.
Great to hear! Thanks!
Frederick Lewis DeAngelis, thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Thanks Frederick Lewis DeAngelis that means a lot 😊
Frederick Lewis DeAngelis, thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Happy New Year Sara. All the best to you and yours. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with us.
Thanks Peter, and HNY to you too!
Such a great video and I love the way you teach! Thanks for doing these!
Thanks for watching!
Good job - it's all in the details. Your procedural explanation is great, as are the explanations on adjustments. You're a great teacher :)
Thanks neldo that means a lot 😊
The name's Neal (nor is it John Lithgow :) Nice to meet you!
@@neal_laugman Hi Neal!
This was a great explanation! It really got it to click for me.
That’s great to hear!
Profuse thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Great tutorial!
My pleasure!
Wow your so nice to listen to! (and it's a welcome variation on all the dudes)
Oh thank you!
A great video as always!!! Thank you very much! Sooo much useful tips
Glad to help!
Sara - I love your Chanel !!
Thank you!
FINALLY it makes sense! Awesome video! Listened to Sara on Production Experts and Recording Studio Rockstars podcast. Best RUclips channel for all things mixing!
Awesome! Thank you so much 😀
Would you recommend a newby to get a bus compressor if they may not really understand how to hear the difference?
Thank you so much, Sara.
You are so welcome!
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for a great video 😊 Would be great if you made more "the big picture" videos, for example follow the snare (what is done on instrument level, bus level, group level, master bus level, what of this is routed to fx etc). This would make your channel one of the few on internet that did this. The problem with most videos is that I won't learn how to "build a house" by watching videos on "how to hold a hammer effectively" if you know what i mean. It wont help my baking skills to watch a video on how to open the oven door...too many videos are too detailed and and small focused and won't talk about the "big picture" which is what is needed. All the best from Norway 👍😎👌
Hey Sara,
thank you for your great videos concerning compression and the detailed approach to explaining what is going on.
I watched them all😉!
About the ratio… i you say that with a 4:1 ratio for every db that passes the threshold 4 db will be reduced from the signal.
As far as I understood it 4:1 ratio means that for every 4 dbs that pass the threshold the compressor will knock it down to 1 db. Or for every db that passes the threshold that it will be reduced to 1/4 off a db. Did I get it wrong?
Another thing- I would love it if you could make a video explaining bus compression/ “glue compression”. It still is quite mysterious to me how to set up a compressor for that. Which parts of a drum bus signal should be compressed to achieve a glueing effect?
Unfortunately there is no advanced video about that in the internet - only people who set up their slow attack and fast relieve until they start nodding their head and proclaim “yeah that brings it all together”. I would like to have a visual clue as to what is happening to the waveform…
Again thank you for the dedication you put into explaining these things👍🏻✌🏻
Thank you!!
Excellent!
Thank you! Cheers!
Great explanation! Never again forget to adjust the attack by hearing the consonants. I find compression the most difficult thing to master, a lot to take into consideration, not only the "automatic fader" thing. All character subtleties that every type of compressor brings out are more than enough to write a whole book, is amazing. Thanks Sara. Cheers! By the way, I'm curious about a diode bridge type, not so much information, maybe no one uses these days.
Thanks, glad it was helpful. The Neve 33609 is a diode bridge I believe and I have that on my mix bus. They are rarer than the other types for sure.
Great video. Please make a video on the different types of compressors
Noted, Thanks for that great suggestion!
Done!
@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing thank you Sarah. I will check it out now.
Hello How Are You...?your vedio very Helpful. From Bangladesh.
Hi Sara, in your cheat sheet you mention to avoid the compressor bringing up unwanted sounds, before compression you sometimes use -6dB on clip gain on breaths and sibililance. Can you please kindly explain you mean eg. reducing pre-gain on the whole wave file (not sure how that would help) or cutting the event into many parts to isolate the unwanted noises then reduce only those by 6dB (seems a very lengthy process, perhaps more than training the vocalist! :-) )
Yes, I was referring to just the breath portion of the file. It is a little time consuming but the result is worth it. There are ways to build keyboard shortcuts to speed this process up but I haven't worked out how to do that yet!
@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing thank you Sara for clarifying that. I’m on Cubase 10.5 pro which has many macro and keyboard shortcut options, in fact I think I’ve seen a RUclips clip especially for shortcuts re cutting and adjusting gain on lots of individual parts specifically for this purpose so I try to find it once I have my next occurrence.
Great 😊
Thanks 😊
You are awesome 👍👍
You rock!
🙏 🙏
Do you have to gain stage? When I turn up my gain I hear noise floor
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Hello Sara! Thank you for your videos! I have a question! I have been recording for about 2 years now so somewhat have a little little bit of experience. I have had some succes and have invested into hardware channel strips and what not.
My question is how much compression should I be getting tracking into hardware? I do NOT mix I only produce at my studio and send off to a more experienced mix engineer. I want to make things easier for them to mix while also make the performer comfortable.
This is probably really unhelpful but it depends on how dynamic the performance is. To be on the safe side you could just catch the peaks and keep them well away from the top of the meter.
If you’re not sure or confident about compression then I would suggest using it gently with a lower ratio and only to control the peaks. No heavy compression that your mix engineer can’t undo!
Added my details and received an email which I confirmed but no cheat sheet to be found - can you advise please?
Did you get it? Email me
4:1 doesn't mean for every 1 dB over threshold you will attenuate 4.. It means for every 4 dB over the threshold you will only get 1 dB of output above the threshold.
Agreed!
@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing if You do, then why saying the opposite in the vid?
People make mistakes!?