Can someone explain compression with wavehammer? -ACID Product Family

Subject:Can someone explain compression with wavehammer? Posted by: evrclear79 Date:9/3/2002 1:10:56 PM I don't get it. I set the db i want to have effected and above. with presets the threshold and release are about set. The ratio is all guess work for me. An even if i mess around with -10db with ratio 10:1, threshold/release 150ms. The whole file gets louder. I'm looking for a way to use this like a limiter. I want to get rid of peeks to make my wav file louder. -10 with 10:1 settings seem really drastic, what is not working. I use acid 3, sound forge 5, the wave hammer plug, and win xp 1.7ghz with 512M and a Hercules Sound card. Please help me, my songs need compression. Thanks
Subject:RE: Can someone explain compression with wavehammer? Reply by: ibliss Date:9/3/2002 1:50:24 PM Hi, Assuming you've maybe not had a great deal of experience with compressors, a very quick couple of notes: Threshold: when set a minus ten, and audio that goes past this level will 'trigger' the action of the compressor. Ratio: If the ratio is set to 10:1, for every 10dB of level going into the compressor, the output will rise by only 1dB. (this is for the audio that goes over the threshold - if the audio doesn't go over the thresh, then it is unaffected.) The settings you have chosen are actually not that radical if you are using the comp as a limiter. Once you have chosen the Ratio and Attack/Release times, the threshold should be the only control you need to touch. You say that you need to make the audio louder, so I'm assuming that is at a fairly low level to start with. It may be, for example, that the source file only peaks at around -8dB, which means your Threshold or -10dB is only catching the peaks - try bring it down a little more. They key is to watch the gain reduction meter - this will indicate how much work the Comp is doing. Then use make up gain set to a similar level (or a little under) as the amount of Gain reduction taking place. Personally I wouldn't be to heavy handed on a complete mix. ALSO - Wave Hammer has a dedicated Peak Limiter built in - click on the second tab to bring it up. Roughly, set it up as follows: Adjust the output fader to the desired PEAK LEVEL - this will me the maximum level the audio will reach (best to set it at about 0.3 for reasons I won't go into now - just trust me :) . Pull down the Threshold and watch the Gain Reduction creep in. You'll have to use your ears now. It's very easy to 'overcook' things. Mike K

Hi,
Assuming you've maybe not had a great deal of experience with compressors, a very quick couple of notes:

Threshold: when set a minus ten, and audio that goes past this level will 'trigger' the action of the compressor.
Ratio: If the ratio is set to 10:1, for every 10dB of level going into the compressor, the output will rise by only 1dB. (this is for the audio that goes over the threshold - if the audio doesn't go over the thresh, then it is unaffected.)

The settings you have chosen are actually not that radical if you are using the comp as a limiter. Once you have chosen the Ratio and Attack/Release times, the threshold should be the only control you need to touch. You say that you need to make the audio louder, so I'm assuming that is at a fairly low level to start with. It may be, for example, that the source file only peaks at around -8dB, which means your Threshold or -10dB is only catching the peaks - try bring it down a little more. They key is to watch the gain reduction meter - this will indicate how much work the Comp is doing. Then use make up gain set to a similar level (or a little under) as the amount of Gain reduction taking place. Personally I wouldn't be to heavy handed on a complete mix.

ALSO - Wave Hammer has a dedicated Peak Limiter built in - click on the second tab to bring it up. Roughly, set it up as follows:
Adjust the output fader to the desired PEAK LEVEL - this will me the maximum level the audio will reach (best to set it at about 0.3 for reasons I won't go into now - just trust me :) . Pull down the Threshold and watch the Gain Reduction creep in. You'll have to use your ears now. It's very easy to 'overcook' things.

Mike K