Comments on: Don’t Buy A Hardware Compressor…Unless http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/ Make Home Recordings Pro Audio Recordings Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:14:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris M. http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-1584 Chris M. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:55:28 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-1584 Cool. I'll check those articles out. Next time I purchase something I'll go through your ads ;-) Thanks Again! Cool. I’ll check those articles out.

Next time I purchase something I’ll go through your ads ;-)

Thanks Again!

]]> By: brandondrury http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-1583 brandondrury Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:51:21 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-1583 <blockquote> I guess you pump up the juice at the mixing mastering phase more anyways (right?)</blockquote> Definitely! The actual level of a mix is more about maximizing RMS level and you get into compression and such. The level of the preamp during tracking is almost totally independent from what ends up in the final mix. That's why faders are so big on a console or your recording software. This bit depth business is dramatically overstated like pretty much everything else that isn't important to recordings. You may want to check out this in regard to bit depth: http://forum.recordingreview.com/f18/bit-depth-wars-10872/ <blockquote>How low does the input have to be to really notice loss of resolution anyways? -12 dB? -32 db? -64 db?</blockquote> How much gain does a guitar need? How much low end in a kick? How much reverb on a vocal? Use your own ears and decide. Here's the gain structure article: http://www.recordingreview.com/articles/articles/181/1/The-Basics-Of-Setting-Gain-Structure/Page1.html

I guess you pump up the juice at the mixing mastering phase more anyways (right?)

Definitely! The actual level of a mix is more about maximizing RMS level and you get into compression and such. The level of the preamp during tracking is almost totally independent from what ends up in the final mix. That’s why faders are so big on a console or your recording software.

This bit depth business is dramatically overstated like pretty much everything else that isn’t important to recordings.

You may want to check out this in regard to bit depth:
http://forum.recordingreview.com/f18/bit-depth-wars-10872/

How low does the input have to be to really notice loss of resolution anyways? -12 dB? -32 db? -64 db?

How much gain does a guitar need? How much low end in a kick? How much reverb on a vocal? Use your own ears and decide.

Here’s the gain structure article:
http://www.recordingreview.com/articles/articles/181/1/The-Basics-Of-Setting-Gain-Structure/Page1.html

]]> By: Chris M. http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-1582 Chris M. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:36:41 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-1582 Our post crossed paths. Thanks for addresing the "sacrifice" concept. I'll try tracking at lower levels and see how it sounds. I guess you pump up the juice at the mixing mastering phase more anyways (right?) Our post crossed paths. Thanks for addresing the “sacrifice” concept. I’ll try tracking at lower levels and see how it sounds. I guess you pump up the juice at the mixing mastering phase more anyways (right?)

]]> By: Chris M. http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-1581 Chris M. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:30:18 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-1581 Brandon - Thanks for the response. I was under the impression that you lose resolution on your DAW as your gain goes down. Therefore I always try to feed a very hot signal to the DAW. Are you saying it's better to feed overall lower dB signals to you DAW (enough headroom so it can never clip) instead of using a limiter for the rare gain spike? How low does the input have to be to really notice loss of resolution anyways? -12 dB? -32 db? -64 db? p.s. Where's the article on gain structure :-)? Brandon – Thanks for the response.

I was under the impression that you lose resolution on your DAW as your gain goes down. Therefore I always try to feed a very hot signal to the DAW. Are you saying it’s better to feed overall lower dB signals to you DAW (enough headroom so it can never clip) instead of using a limiter for the rare gain spike?

How low does the input have to be to really notice loss of resolution anyways? -12 dB? -32 db? -64 db?

p.s. Where’s the article on gain structure :-) ?

]]> By: brandondrury http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-1580 brandondrury Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:15:07 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-1580 <blockquote>Do you record at an overall lower volume and sacrifice the bit depth? </blockquote> "Sacrifice" is a VERY strong word. I've seen no correlation between fidelity and tracking at -6dB or -15dB. None. Maybe somebody can hear it, but I think this bit depth benefit is dramatically (and maybe even infinitely) over stated. Brandon

Do you record at an overall lower volume and sacrifice the bit depth?

“Sacrifice” is a VERY strong word. I’ve seen no correlation between fidelity and tracking at -6dB or -15dB. None. Maybe somebody can hear it, but I think this bit depth benefit is dramatically (and maybe even infinitely) over stated.

Brandon

]]> By: brandondrury http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-1579 brandondrury Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:13:20 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-1579 <blockquote>Software compressions seems fine but what would be the a recommended approach to prevent occasional clipping</blockquote> The best solution to prevent clipping is setting proper gain structure. That may mean using less gain on the preamp. I think the myth that you are actually going to get audible benefits for loud music for tracking at high levels causes people to set their gain structure way too high. If I'm tracking a dynamic source, I always plan ahead with the idea that the loudest sources simply will not clip. Hardware compression is not, in my opinion, a utility as much as it is there for tonal creativity. Brandon

Software compressions seems fine but what would be the a recommended approach to prevent occasional clipping

The best solution to prevent clipping is setting proper gain structure. That may mean using less gain on the preamp. I think the myth that you are actually going to get audible benefits for loud music for tracking at high levels causes people to set their gain structure way too high.

If I’m tracking a dynamic source, I always plan ahead with the idea that the loudest sources simply will not clip.

Hardware compression is not, in my opinion, a utility as much as it is there for tonal creativity.

Brandon

]]> By: Chris M. http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-1571 Chris M. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:21:49 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-1571 Software compressions seems fine but what would be the a recommended approach to prevent occasional clipping, like when working with a group or if you have a singer a gets a little more excited than anticipated at a certain verse. Do you just say "Amazing performace! You really 'felt' that.... but unfortunately it's clipped, can you just do it again?" Do you record at an overall lower volume and sacrifice the bit depth? Or maybe you can but limiter between the pre-amp and DAW - can you recommend one? Thanks for the help. Software compressions seems fine but what would be the a recommended approach to prevent occasional clipping, like when working with a group or if you have a singer a gets a little more excited than anticipated at a certain verse.

Do you just say “Amazing performace! You really ‘felt’ that…. but unfortunately it’s clipped, can you just do it again?”

Do you record at an overall lower volume and sacrifice the bit depth?

Or maybe you can but limiter between the pre-amp and DAW – can you recommend one?

Thanks for the help.

]]> By: A. Dorian http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-999 A. Dorian Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:46:36 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-999 I am pretty much with all the seasoned pros on this one - you can compress after the tracking in the mixing stages. It would be nice if your audio interface had a compressor/limiter on the input stages so that way you can feed a hotter signal but if you don't know how to feed this it could be detrimental instead of an asset to your session. I personally when working in the studio set limiters on all channels to prevent digital overs (or more commonly known as "clipping") and maybe some mild compression on the tracks that require it. On the other hand, at home, I record straight from the interface and watch the levels. Once in a while you'll overload it and have to redo a part but more you record the better you get at it. I am pretty much with all the seasoned pros on this one – you can compress after the tracking in the mixing stages. It would be nice if your audio interface had a compressor/limiter on the input stages so that way you can feed a hotter signal but if you don’t know how to feed this it could be detrimental instead of an asset to your session.
I personally when working in the studio set limiters on all channels to prevent digital overs (or more commonly known as “clipping”) and maybe some mild compression on the tracks that require it. On the other hand, at home, I record straight from the interface and watch the levels. Once in a while you’ll overload it and have to redo a part but more you record the better you get at it.

]]> By: Johnnwaud http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-417 Johnnwaud Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:25:23 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-417 I agree with the point of not using a hardware compressor during tracking unless you know how, but I believe that if one wants to be a proficient recordist, they need to understand compression and how to use it at every phaze of the project. I personally use compression at tracking("printed"), on the independant track and on the stereo buss of all projects I do. Transparent compresson technique takes many years of practice and one can never really stop learning it, as each waveform affects the unit differently. I agree with the point of not using a hardware compressor during tracking unless you know how, but I believe that if one wants to be a proficient recordist, they need to understand compression and how to use it at every phaze of the project. I personally use compression at tracking(“printed”), on the independant track and on the stereo buss of all projects I do. Transparent compresson technique takes many years of practice and one can never really stop learning it, as each waveform affects the unit differently.

]]> By: Brandon Drury http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/compressors/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Brandon Drury Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:22:21 +0000 http://www.recordingreview.com/blog/dont-buy-a-hardware-compressorunless/#comment-140 <blockquote>Never use a hardware compressor unless…..you buy a really great one, have multiple outputs, an extra input, have super sick D/A converters, and can feed the proper signal to the compressor and back in again.</blockquote> Dude, you hit the nail on the head. I'll definitely check out the PSP Audioware Mixpressor. I've been eyeballing the Focusrite Liquidmix for some time now, but if I could get a super musical sounding EQ and compressor for less, I'd do it! Brandon

Never use a hardware compressor unless…..you buy a really great one, have multiple outputs, an extra input, have super sick D/A converters, and can feed the proper signal to the compressor and back in again.

Dude, you hit the nail on the head. I’ll definitely check out the PSP Audioware Mixpressor. I’ve been eyeballing the Focusrite Liquidmix for some time now, but if I could get a super musical sounding EQ and compressor for less, I’d do it!

Brandon

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