MasterBus compressor Question

highvoltage · 2009-03-11 23:34

Its not really nebula related, im just wondering if you guys use a compressor on the master channel while mixing, or after mixing.
If so, what are the usual settings (for example punchy electronic music, or rock.)

mertayy · 2009-03-12 00:34

I do, after I edit and finish most of the lvl and panning I place the compressor so I don't use the threshhold or attack/release times much. Rarely more than ratio of 2 and attack release times change depending on mix.

david1103 · 2009-03-12 02:48

try mixing into it rather than putting it on at the end of the mix.

here's one way to set it up:

1. stick the ratio to the highest and the attack/release to the fastest.
2. pull down the threshold until it is squashed, really smashed.
3. slowly increase the attack so you can hear the percussion/loudest mix elements transients coming through, set it for the right amount of punch. this is different on every mix, but often you are listening to kick and snare. there will be a sweet spot probably between 50 and 100ms where you get the right amount of punch. here you are really shaping the attack of the percussive instruments.
4. set the release to be in time with the music. try setting to 16th/8th/4th if you like. maybe solo the drum bus and use that to set the release time. if you want it really transparent make it long, more compressed sound shorter. 100+ ms usually.
5. make the ratio something sensible. 1.1:1 for light glueing, up to 2:1 for more aggressive sound.
6. alter the threshold for how much you want of the effect

if the music is bass heavy it may trigger compression on the kick, which may create unwanted pumping. in this case, use a HPF sidechain Smile

anyone else care to share how they set their mix compression up?

a great compressor for this is mastercomp by pspaudioware. there is a free one called density that might also do the job.

mertayy · 2009-03-12 13:04

I really like psp plug-ins, if you have a hard time with certain setting or somehow lost with what you're doing and easy start would be using psp's vintage warmer.

If the mix will be mastered very loud (squashed) and you're not totally sure of your lvl.s just increase the knee very high to check what element is masking the other to make a balance between everything. It works great for that.

Also while trying this if you get confused or somehow lost again vintage warmer would be a good start. Just place it like a compressor, raise knee just a little and mix through it. Since it doesn't have attack or a complicated release time you'll get an educative picture of how this works.

I find mastercomp.s presets very usable. You can place it on finished mixes to see how different settings work.

But be careful not to hit the brickwall.