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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Hello,

anyone know what kind of compression level has already been used on Real Tracks?
Sometimes I need additional compression on the tracks, other times they almost need more dynamic (especially distorted guitars)...


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IMO most of any compression is likely on the Source side (what actually got recorded/mixed) before they became RTs.

RTs are made by starting with a recording of a known set of chords/patterns, then PGMusic does their magic.
The sound/FX used on the original recordings will still be evident and often add the character needed for the style.
I don't think they add much compression to most RTs.




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Ears are "EVERYTHING". When I bring BIAB tracks to my DAW, I bring them in flat not concerned about whether they've been compressed or how much. I listen to all the tracks needed to create my song arrangement after having auditioned each one to insure the mix is good. Then I set levels, but I use my track gain, not my faders to achieve a combined DB that will not interfere with headroom. I watch my fader levels I set at -12db on each instrument, when I brought them in, and if there is a big enough jump above -12db in various parts, then I use my DAW compressor to tame the jumps within each track.

When all that's done, I begin listening how to improve the sound of each instrument with EQ, Reverb, Amplification maybe, and Pitch correction if needed.

I then bring in Melodyne and make adjustments that way if necessary.

Next step, Link all my channels and raise their level to 0 and turn the output on my audio interface down. Now I can hear what instruments do not sit well in the mix, and do what I need to do to correct that and if the correction caused the Main Fader DB get below 0, I raise the level on the linked faders again to 0, grab my limiter on the inserts tab and select Kill the Transients.

Then I mix down and give it a listen. If I need more instruments, I go back to biab, replace original instruments with those I need and solo them transport back to my DAW.

I don't use Realband, because it doesn't and can't accomplish what my DAW does.

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Regarding distorted RT guitars (and others) I render them Direct Input when available and then apply the amp sim of my choice. That will give you much more control over the dynamics. FWIW.

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Yeah, I don't think there's a lot of compression on most Realtracks, but some may have been run through a channel strip with some sort of compression. I would assume the effects to be rather subtle though.

More than likely the compression you're hearing on guitars could've been a compressor stompbox the artist used while recording, or perhaps just the natural compression of a tube amp (where applicable).

But as the others mentioned, using the Direct Input version of a Realtrack would bypass any of those.


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