| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Jon | 04/03/01 at 12:06:53
I can't afford to buy a compressor for each of my mics. Is it defeating the purpose to use 1 comp on more than one sound source? i.e. say I have three or four mics on a drum set. Would it just screw things up to use one comp on the whole set? If not, are there any techniques I should use when doing this? Or how about one comp on vocal and guitar? Help me out gurus!:-[
Thanks!
Oh, and by the way, I'm looking into trading my 3630 for the damn RNC since everyone seems to think it is the best choice. The Alesis did seem kinda weak on my vocals...or maybe it was just me.>:(
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Tim_Z | 04/03/01 at 12:33:02
FIRST rule in comp use; if you don't know how to use it, then don't use it! If you aren't sure that it is improving the sound, then chances are you are making things worse. You don't have to compress everything you are tracking. I would say that it is most useful for vocals, the rest is generally not necessary. It is also useful for your final mixes at the mastering stage, but for that use you would probably be better off with a software comp/limiter.
Tim Z
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Jon | 04/03/01 at 12:44:03
OK....but say I'm compressing drums for more punch and whatnot...is it cool to compress all the drum mics with one comp? If so, any special techniques for comping more than one sound source? How about vocal and guitar on one compressor? Please stick to the question.
Thanks!
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Tim_Z | 04/03/01 at 13:15:50
Hey Pal, this is a "discussion" forum, if you're going to rude, then forget it!!
I never have used any compression on any drums and probably never will! I use it only on Vocals, occasionally bass guitar and final mastering. So my original answers stands >:(
Tim Z
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by JR#97 | 04/03/01 at 13:24:30
If you only have one comp, your best bet is to set it up "loose" to catch transient peaks than to set it up as an "effect". Tim is right in saying it's better not to use one than use one incorrectly. You can always compress in the mix stage or bounce tracks and compress, but if you compress badly in tracking, it's difficult/impossible to uncompress.
I've only used a 3630 a few times so I can't tell ya what settings to use for that unit. I've never used a RNC, so I can't tell ya whether to trade for that or not either.. but I'd definitely ditch the 3630. The ART stuff is good and I've good results with some of the Behringer gear. DBX makes quality equipment.
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Jon | 04/03/01 at 13:26:33
Jeez man, you seem to be the one being rude getting all snappy with me! The only reason I ask to stick to the question is because I have posted a few times and the "discussion" has never gotten me anywhere! Oh well, there are plenty of other places I can get decent help.................:P
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Jon | 04/03/01 at 13:27:50
Thanks YaBB!
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Tim_Z | 04/03/01 at 13:36:56
Hey Jon, I answered your question honestly and correctly. You were just plain rude. You need to take a step back and learn NOT to be so impatient. We're all here to help, but you're not going to get the exact answer you are looking for EVERY time. There are no magical short cuts in this biz. You seem to want to be able to spend $180 and get a pro quality compressor for every track. Well it just isn't possible. It is much more possible, and rational, to learn to record properly with out the compression, and that's the honest truth. ;) If you think that's being rude, then perhaps you should move on to one of the REAL rude forums. This forum has (for the most part) always been helpful, and peaceful. Wait til you see what some of the other forums are like, if you want to see rude!
Tim Z
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Jon | 04/03/01 at 14:54:45
I promise to take a step back and learn not to be so impatient, if you promise to learn from a reply like Yabb's. It was helpful and to the point, avoiding most round about mumbo-jumbo. Most importantly, Yabb didn't assume anything about me. Maybe I am a fairly practiced musician that has never gotten into recording drums? It would seem that the only thing I said that could be seen as rude was "stick to the question". Well what's wrong with that? People that give big vague answers just end up looking kinda dumb. Oh well, enough ranting and raving. We've already spent more time on this then it is worth.
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by Greg | 04/04/01 at 02:57:57
Jon,
I just recorded my drums using an Alesis NanoCompressor. It has two channels, but they are linked in stereo so both channels have to have the same settings. I used two condensor mics as overheads, and 2 SM 57's on snare and bass drums. Then I ran both SM57's thru the NanoComp (using my Mackie inserts). My thinking was that the overheads would provide the natural, complete sound, and I could use the compressed drum tracks for some extra 'punch'. The idea worked pretty well. I really liked what the compression added to the snare drum, but it kind of squashed the bass drum, so obviously the same settings aren't necessarily appropriate for the two drums. If you only have one channel of compression, you could use it on either of those drums, or if your situation is like mine, you might try compressing both -- just make sure you are very gentle with it since the two drums call for different compression applications.
As for not using a compressor at all, while I agree that if you don't need something it's better not to use it (I wouldn't compress the overheads even if I could), I still think you should try it and see how you like using compression. It won't be perfect the first time (it NEVER is), but the only way you can learn is by trying. If a lot of professionals use compression on drums, so it's probably worth experimenting with.
-Greg
Subject: Re: multiple sound source vs. one lowly comp
by E-money | 04/04/01 at 09:06:54
The problem I see with using a linked stereo compressor on a drum kit the way Greg did is this: Both channels are linked and thus clamp down on signals at the same time. But snares and kicks usually alternate. Thus a kick hit on the 1 beat is clamping the snare mic, and a snare hit on the 2 beat is clamping the kick mic, etc. I would leave drum compression to the mixdown stage. tracking with compression can lead to all sorts of goofy problems, and compressing at mixdown allows more versatility. Use plug ins if your working on a DAW. If you're working analog, buy two RNC's and you'll be set. 2 RNC's can be chained as well to give some nice Distressor type compression too. Donate the 3630 to a rival studio.