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hello all!!! I was wondering if some of the heads in the forum can help me out. If you use a compressor for vocals, could you leave the setting that you find work best on vocals. example:
output gain:
attack time:
expander ratio:
compression ratio:
release time:
compression threashold:
gate threahold:
and also any other effects and setting? methods you might use to get pristine vocals! thanks 1

Yes you could, unless you change the vocalist and/or the microphone you are using. Of course, if you are using the same vocalist and microphone you might want to change something so that every song does not sound the same.

I think he was asking for suggestions....

Sorry pal, don't know jack about compression!

um can anybody help me out?

With compression, (and I'm no pro) you don't want it working constantly, only when needed. I don't have a setting for ya because personally I feel that different voices may need different settings, even tho I see things in magazines, I would set it up for a way that works for you. If the singer is peaking occasionally, set it so that the compressor will do it's thing when needed. Do you want it to attack the note quickly? Do you want it to remain active for a few seconds before it rolls off? There's nothing hard to working a compressor, but I have noticed that the digital ones I have in my 1880 and digital mixer are 'ok.' I see why folks spend 2-3000 bux one the good ones, but if you aint got that kinda money, make whatever you have work.

if you mean leave the settings and not changing them, I would
say no, even if its the same artist, every performance is different

all the cats in this forum and not one of you cats can helpme out? c'mon fam

It's pretty much like everyone stated, there is noe set equation. It just depends on the person, track, vibe, and about a hundred other variables. You really just have to toy a round with some settings in real time to see what suits you best. Straight trial and error.

Peace,
D. James

Science wrote:hello all!!! I was wondering if some of the heads in the forum can help me out. If you use a compressor for vocals, could you leave the setting that you find work best on vocals. example:
output gain:
attack time:
expander ratio:
compression ratio:
release time:
compression threashold:
gate threahold:
and also any other effects and setting? methods you might use to get pristine vocals! thanks 1

it's so hard to give one setting for vocals cause as roxstar said different vocals need different compression. but usually, get good input gain,
don't over compress, you will loose some high end harmonics. I use a ratio of no more than 3:1, fast attack and medium fast release soft knee gate to avoid noise in between. this is good to get the compressor only to work slightly and to really work hard for the loud passages. I usually leave the eq and fx for mixdown, slight chorus and a bit of reverb......

try it out and hit me with how it sounds

peace