compression/mastering -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:compression/mastering Posted by: glenthepianoman Date:4/14/2000 9:14:00 AM Anyone have any definitive tips on using the compression/dynamics to master a good clean vocal & piano mix? Compression is my last and weakest point in mastering.. Thanks for any help!
Subject:Re: compression/mastering Reply by: Jeff_Lowes Date:4/14/2000 3:11:00 PM The key to using compression in the mastering stage is MODERATION, especially in the type of music that you mentioned. The last thing that you want in a good, clean piano/vocal mix is for the thing to turn out sounding squashed and cramped. You need to let it breathe. Also, use your ears as the final judge as to whether you really need to compress at all. Just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean that you have to. I recommend staying away from the graphic dynamics processor (except for one exception which I will explain in a sec). You should first go to the multiband dynamics processor and start by doing a "capture threshold" run-through. This will give you a pretty good starting point. You will have to play with the settings until you find the ones that yield the best results. Start with a 3-band setting (low shelf, 1 band, and high shelf. Your crossover points will need to be adjusted according to the material. Try 300Hz and 1200Hz for starters. By the way, you will need to set up your compressor before you run the capture threshold preview. I have found that, used right, multiband dynamics will open up your mix and give it more clarity and definition than graphic dynamics. One thing you may need to use your graphic dynamics processor for is if you end up with some large transients (peaks) that prevent you from gaining the volume you need when you normalize to 0.0 Peak. In this case, you can set up a compressor with very fast attack and release times that will limit the peaks without affecting the rest of the material. Be careful, though, that you don't lose the sonic qualities of those transients in the process. Hope this helps. If you need more assisstance, or if you would like help in mastering your project, feel free to contact me at OnTrackRecording@Juno.com. Jeff Lowes On-Track Recording Glen Rhodes wrote: >>Anyone have any definitive tips on using the >>compression/dynamics to master a good clean vocal & piano >>mix? >> >>Compression is my last and weakest point in mastering.. >> >>Thanks for any help!

The key to using compression in the mastering stage is MODERATION,
especially in the type of music that you mentioned. The last thing
that you want in a good, clean piano/vocal mix is for the thing to
turn out sounding squashed and cramped. You need to let it breathe.
Also, use your ears as the final judge as to whether you really need
to compress at all. Just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean
that you have to.
I recommend staying away from the graphic dynamics processor (except
for one exception which I will explain in a sec). You should first go
to the multiband dynamics processor and start by doing a "capture
threshold" run-through. This will give you a pretty good starting
point. You will have to play with the settings until you find the
ones that yield the best results. Start with a 3-band setting (low
shelf, 1 band, and high shelf. Your crossover points will need to be
adjusted according to the material. Try 300Hz and 1200Hz for
starters. By the way, you will need to set up your compressor before
you run the capture threshold preview. I have found that, used right,
multiband dynamics will open up your mix and give it more clarity and
definition than graphic dynamics.
One thing you may need to use your graphic dynamics processor for is
if you end up with some large transients (peaks) that prevent you
from gaining the volume you need when you normalize to 0.0 Peak. In
this case, you can set up a compressor with very fast attack and
release times that will limit the peaks without affecting the rest of
the material. Be careful, though, that you don't lose the sonic
qualities of those transients in the process.
Hope this helps. If you need more assisstance, or if you would like
help in mastering your project, feel free to contact me at
OnTrackRecording@Juno.com.

Jeff Lowes
On-Track Recording

Glen Rhodes wrote:
>>Anyone have any definitive tips on using the
>>compression/dynamics to master a good clean vocal & piano
>>mix?
>>
>>Compression is my last and weakest point in mastering..
>>
>>Thanks for any help!