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We know we should use compressors but much too often, especially if you're new to mixing and playing around with compressors, we are confused a bit on how to set them up properly.

What exactly do the knobs do? How much of this or that should I use and why? Most of the time and especially if you're doing it right, it should be very hard to actually "hear" a difference, unlike when you adjust the knobs on a reverb plug where you CAN actually hear an immediate difference. Because we can't hear the differences in many cases, we guess and run blindly into the process hoping we're somehow getting it right...or at least close. Sound familiar?

So... here's a link that explains the functions in a basic way to get you started in the right direction with compressors, or perhaps, get you back on course.

How To Use Compression

The article also addresses 5 common problems in a mix and how to use a compressor to "solve" them.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 03/17/17 03:43 AM.

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Thanks for this.

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Excellent, well written article. I love that several examples were provided.


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Thanks Herb,
Very useful Im going to reference it when im mixing,
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Herb,

Thanks for posting that article. I found it really useful.


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I recommend using compressor plugins which graphically show the threshold and ratio settings on an x-y plot and gain changes that are dynamically applied. I had a hard time visualizing the effect of dynamic processing in general until I starting using a plugin that showed all of this going on, along with an excellent set of presets for different specific uses. Yes, use your ears. For those that think in waveforms and mathematics, graphic displays can shorten the learning curve.

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Originally Posted By: rockstar_not
I recommend using compressor plugins which graphically show the threshold and ratio settings on an x-y plot and gain changes that are dynamically applied. I had a hard time visualizing the effect of dynamic processing in general until I starting using a plugin that showed all of this going on, along with an excellent set of presets for different specific uses. Yes, use your ears. For those that think in waveforms and mathematics, graphic displays can shorten the learning curve.


The Ozone compressor is nice for that.


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I couldn't recall whether I did make a video lesson for the Berklee music production class I was in several years ago. But I found it and it shows the nice input/output and gain reduction along with threshold controls. https://youtu.be/mk2JbkFs8BI

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Cool... I did a compressor video in that class too! Used an old Izotope Tube Compressor.

Compressor Video




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Originally Posted By: sslechta
Cool... I did a compressor video in that class too! Used an old Izotope Tube Compressor.

Compressor Video


Very nice. What video software do you use?

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Herb,

Thanks for sharing the article.


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Great article. Hard to think of anyone not being able to take away at least a little something from it! LANDR is an interesting business idea, too.


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