Join Bobby Owsinski for an in-depth discussion in this video Understanding compression, part of Audio Mastering Techniques.
In mastering, the Compressor is the primary way of raising the relative level of the program and giving the master both punch and strength. Relative Level is how loud we perceive volume, rather than the Absolute Level, which is what's displayed on the meter. Usually, the ratio of the mastering compressor will be set very low from about 1.5:1 to 3:1 in order to keep the compression fairly gentle sounding. The higher the ratio, the more likely is that you'll hear the Compressor working, and it will sound unnatural.
(music playing) The key to getting the most out of the Compressor is the Attack and Release controls, which have a tremendous overall effect on the mix and therefore are important to understand.
Generally speaking, transit, response, and percussive sounds are affected by the Attack control setting. Release is the time it takes for the gain to return to normal or zero gain reduction. In a typical pop style mix, a fast attack setting will react to the drums and reduce the overall gain. (music playing) If the Release is set very fast, then the Gain will return to normal quickly.
This can result in the audible effect of reducing some of the overall program level and attack of the drums in the mix. (music playing) As the release the set faster any gain changes that the drums caused might be heard as pumping, which means that the level of the mix will increase then decrease noticeably.
Each time the dominant instrument starts or stops, it pumps the level of the mix up and down. Listen to this example of a mix that exhibits a lot of pumping. (music playing) Compressors that work best on a full range of full program material generally have very smooth release curves and slow release times to minimize the pumping effect.
Author
Released
1/23/2013First, discover how to configure your monitoring setup, optimize your listening environment, and prepare and print alternative mixes that will allow you to make quick fixes during mastering. Bobby then reviews a selection of dedicated mastering tools that give you precise control over select signal parameters, from compressors to de-essers. He'll discuss the differences between mastering for CD, online distribution, and specifically for iTunes, and how to achieve the best results for each medium. The course wraps with lessons on mastering for high-resolution formats like Blu-ray, as well as delivering and archiving the master recording once the project is complete.
- What is mastering?
- Preparing your tracks for mastering
- Deciding between monitors and headphones
- Exploring the dynamic range of different music genres
- Adjusting song balances
- Compressing the tracks
- Balancing frequency
- Reducing sibilance with a de-esser
- Inserting fades
- Eliminating noise
- Mastering CDs, MP3s, and AACs for iTunes
- Archiving masters
Skill Level Appropriate for all
Duration
Views
Related Courses
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Audio Mixing Bootcamp
with Bobby Owsinski8h 53m Beginner -
Audio Foundations: Compression and Dynamic Processing
with Brian Lee White2h 25m Appropriate for all -
Audio Foundations: EQ and Filters
with Brian Lee White2h 28m Appropriate for all -
Pro Tools: Mixing and Mastering
with Brian Lee White10h 32m Intermediate
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 35s
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1. What Is Mastering?
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Introducing mastering1m 22s
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2. Prepping Your Tracks for Mastering
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Printing alternative mixes2m 36s
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3. Monitoring for Mastering
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4. Tools for Mastering
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Understanding compression3m 20s
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Understanding limiting1m 25s
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Using a de-esser1m 14s
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Metering while mastering3m 57s
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5. The Mechanics of Mastering
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Making a loud master3m 7s
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Balancing frequencies3m 20s
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Inserting fades1m 37s
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Using multiband limiting4m 23s
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Adjusting the stereo image3m 24s
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6. Mastering for CD
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Using dither1m 40s
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Adjusting the spreads1m 28s
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7. Mastering for Online Content
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Understanding MP3 metadata1m 44s
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Generating a FLAC file1m 18s
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8. Mastering for iTunes
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9. High-Resolution Mastering
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Mastering for television1m 54s
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10. Archiving the Master
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Conclusion
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Next steps50s
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Video: Understanding compression