Compressor Settings

Ok, I deleted all the preset stuff, and then i realized that when it comes to compression, i know nothing. Anyone care to share their compressor settings w/me ( and the whole internet)?

I really haven't used the built in compressor (usually use an outboard), but the concept is the same; EVERYTHING you record will have a little bit different settings, but for me a good starting point is to drop the release to almost as fast as it will go and then set the attack JUST slow enough that the crack of the snare and the kick are still really punchy, then set the makeup gain to whatever I need to to bring the level back to where I want it. From there I make adjustments to both the attack and release if necessary, but these are good "beginning settings" for compression on drums.....just my 2.

Peace,

MANiK

Rough'nReady wrote:Ok, I deleted all the preset stuff, and then i realized that when it comes to compression, i know nothing. Anyone care to share their compressor settings w/me ( and the whole internet)?

I use the Focusrite Penta compressor which has presets. I will usually modify these a bit but they are in the general ballpark. Of course nothing is set in stone so you can experiment for special effects. Here are the preset settings.
PRESET, COMPRESSION(Threshold, dBu), RATIO, SOFT KNEE
Kick 0 2.5 : 1 no
Snare +3 5 : 1 no
Ambient +9 5 : 1 no
Loop +7 7 : 1 no
Bass Guitar +6 5 : 1 no
Synth Bass +11 5 : 1 no
Percussion +6 8 : 1 no
Acoustic Picked -2 2.5 : 1 yes
Acoustic Strum +3 1.7 : 1 yes
Electric Guitar +2 2.5 : 1 yes
Piano +4 2.5 : 1 yes
Keyboards 0 3 : 1 yes
Vocals -4 2.5 : 1 yes
Crunch +5 6 : 1 no
Mix (Pump) 0 1.7 : 1 yes
Limit +14 13 : 1 no

I might use tha compressor then resample to see how it sounds

Awsome, thank you guys. As soon as I posted that, I realized that there are probably 10,000 compressor articles on the internet, and I was being a lazyass. People love their compressors, i'll tell you what. Thanks though, now i can continue to be a lazyass!

My advice is don't follow any compression or EQ tutorials just keep messing with it and learn what does what and do it by ear...

when I first started making beats I just followed settings on message boards and tutorials and EQed and compressed all my beats the same because i thought there was some magic preset to make your shit bump but now that my ear is more trained and i got monitors when I listen back on old beats they sound rediculous

i really love the master compressor on the MPC1k. whack up the gain and hear your track become a ruff-assssed banger!