Join Bobby Owsinski for an in-depth discussion in this video Understanding compressor parameters, part of Audio Mixing Bootcamp.
A compressor is nothing more than an automated level control that uses the input…signal to determine the output level.…In this video, I am going to show you all the parameters of a compressor and…discuss how they each change the sound.…All compressors have roughly the same parameter controls and are operated the…same way, but they can sound different from one another because there are…different ways of designing a compression circuit.…Let's look at the controls.…The first one is the Ratio control. Ratio controls how much of the output level…the compressor will increase compared to level that's being fed through the input.…
Usually this is calibrated in a ratio that goes anywhere from 1:1 to 100:1.…And what that means is if it says 4:1, every 4 dB that's coming into the…compressor, only 1 dB will go out through the output.…The next control is the Threshold, and Threshold determines the signal level…where the compression actually begins.…Below the threshold point, no compression occurs, and above it is when all…
Author
Bobby Owsinski
Released
11/12/2011- Optimizing your listening environment
- Setting up sessions, subgroups, and effects
- Understanding which mixing elements to avoid
- Understanding the principles of building a mix
- Panning instruments
- Setting up the compressor
- Using noise gates and de-essers
- Understanding the concept of frequency juggling
- Using the magic high-pass filter
- Timing reverb and delay to a track
- Using reverb to layer the mix
- Understanding the Haas effect
- Modulating guitars, keyboards, and vocals
- Mixing with subgroups
- Tweaking the final mix
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
-
Introduction
-
Welcome1m 12s
-
-
1. Improving Your Listening Environment
-
Fixing acoustic problems2m 5s
-
Setting up your monitors3m 48s
-
2. Prepping Your Mix
-
Setting up your session5m 52s
-
Setting up your subgroups7m 50s
-
Setting up your effects6m 35s
-
-
3. Learning the Basics of Mixing
-
Developing the groove3m 46s
-
Knowing what to avoid1m 15s
-
-
4. Building Your Mix
-
Checking the drum phase4m 44s
-
Balancing the rhythm section2m 44s
-
Balancing the harmony vocals2m 35s
-
5. Panning
-
Panning the drums6m 9s
-
Avoiding pseudo-stereo7m 30s
-
6. Exploring Compression
-
Setting up the compressor14m 45s
-
Compressing the drums7m 53s
-
Compressing the bass5m 24s
-
Compressing the piano6m 35s
-
Compressing the vocals4m 34s
-
Compressing the horns3m 55s
-
7. Using Noise Gates and De-Essers
-
Learning noise gate basics9m 23s
-
Learning de-esser basics2m 15s
-
Using the de-esser on vocals2m 23s
-
-
8. Learning About EQ
-
Learning frequency juggling8m 28s
-
9. Applying EQ to the Rhythm Section
-
Equalizing the kick6m 7s
-
Equalizing the snare2m 57s
-
Equalizing the rack toms5m 4s
-
Equalizing the floor tom4m 32s
-
Equalizing the hi-hat4m 56s
-
Equalizing the room mics5m 13s
-
Equalizing the bass3m 59s
-
Editing the bass rhythm4m 21s
-
-
10. Applying EQ to the Instruments
-
Equalizing the piano4m 46s
-
Equalizing the organ6m 49s
-
Equalizing the strings6m 4s
-
Equalizing the horns3m 22s
-
11. Understanding Reverb
-
Equalizing the reverb2m 51s
-
Using the three-reverb setup7m 27s
-
12. Adding Reverb
-
Adding reverb to the drums7m 56s
-
Adding reverb to the vocals11m 59s
-
Adding reverb to the guitars5m 17s
-
Adding reverb to the piano4m 19s
-
Adding reverb to the organ3m 43s
-
Adding reverb to the strings5m 36s
-
Adding reverb to the horns2m 57s
-
Using reverb to layer the mix12m 35s
-
-
13. Adding Delay
-
Learning delay principles1m 40s
-
Equalizing the delay4m 23s
-
Using the three-delay setup7m 23s
-
Adding delay to the vocals8m 43s
-
Using delay to layer the mix9m 55s
-
-
14. Adding Modulation Effects
-
Modulating the guitars4m 7s
-
Modulating the keyboards3m 17s
-
Modulating the vocals4m 17s
-
Modulating the strings2m 58s
-
15. The Final Mix
-
Mixing with subgroups5m 5s
-
Using mix buss compression4m 21s
-
-
Conclusion
-
Goodbye39s
-
Take notes with your new membership!
Type in the entry box, then click Enter to save your note.
Press on any video thumbnail to jump immediately to the timecode shown.
Notes are saved with you account but can also be exported as plain text, MS Word, PDF, Google Doc, or Evernote.
Share this video
Embed this video
Video: Understanding compressor parameters