This is especially important with drums, which can have extremely sharp peaks on hits. Proper use of compression will let you
clamp down on the tracks
without crushing them, and also let you shape the snap, crack, and sustain you want in your drums.
Should I use compression on every track?
It's
necessary to add compressors on each track to change the dynamics of the tracks
. Generally you should record and mix at appropriate levels so that you don't need to do any peak reduction to prevent distortion. Compressors give us control over the dynamics of a track.
Should I use parallel compression on drums?
If you want your drums to sound punchier and more impactful, parallel compression may be the answer. First add sends on all of your drum tracks and send them to your parallel compression track. Generally, you want to
send more of the kick, snare and toms than the overheads
.
How much compression should a drum have?
Compression can be tricky, but it's one of the keys to achieving a modern drum sound. It's common to apply
between 3-6 dB of gain reduction to the kick and snare
. Toms sometimes get compressed as well, but it depends on how often they're used in a song.
Should you compress individual drums?
Compressing individual drums
can give definition to each element
, but compressing all of them together can act like a sonic gel, and may also improve the overall groove, giving the whole drum part a better ebb and flow.
What is the best compressor for drums?
- Universal Audio 1176. The Universal Audio 1176 compressor is known for its super-fast attack and release times and colorful FET sound, which makes it a perfect pick for the drum bus. …
- dbx 560A. …
- API 2500. …
- SSL Stereo Bus Compressor Module. …
- UnderTone Audio Unfairchild 670M II.
Can too much compression cause distortion?
Too much compression can
make your tracks distort
. This distortion can sound cool on a rock mix, but most of the time you won't want your mix to sound super compressed. … You'll avoid distortion from over-compression and keep your levels in check.
Should you EQ or compress first?
Each position,
EQ pre (before)
or EQ post (after) compression produces a distinctly different sound, a different tonal quality, and coloration. As a rule, using EQ in front of your compressor produces a warmer, rounder tone, while using EQ after your compressor produces a cleaner, clearer sound.
When should you use compression?
Compression is used
to reduce the dynamic range of an audio signal
. A compressor is like an automatic volume knob that turns down an audio signal's level when it gets too loud.
Why would you use parallel compression?
Using parallel compression on drums can
help keep all the dynamics of the original source material
but add volume, depth and power to them without crushing dynamics or adding too much make up gain that will overdrive the mix bus.
Does parallel compression cause phasing?
Using parallel compression can add punch to drums, but can also
cause phase problems
if you aren't careful.
When should you use parallel compression?
One of the biggest benefits of parallel compression is being able use to intense compression settings without completely destroying the dynamics of your source. That's why parallel compression is
often used on drums and percussion
. Heavy compression has a particularly satisfying effect on drums.
Do you compress drum overheads?
As a general rule, compressing the close mics will help you deliver a punchy, even sound, without making the result seem too processed, whereas compressing the overheads or
the complete kit can cause the drum levels to modulate the cymbal levels in an audible way
.
How loud should drums be in a mix?
It should be
loud enough that the low frequencies are rich and powerful
, but not so loud that it masks the bottom-end of the snare drum. Then, start bringing in the toms. These can be almost as loud as the snare if they're used sparingly, but if they're heavily featured they should sit a little further back in the mix.
How much compression does a drum bus have?
As a rule of thumb, try to compress
between 3dB and 6dB of your drums
, and possibly even less, depending on the performance and how much your drums have already been compressed.
