Save it for the mix until you’ve got enough experience to know you’re not overdoing it. For most applications, especially with modern mixing, you're going to focus on dynamic compression. The best mixing engineers and sound designers know their tools inside out. Example Audio. This means you're concerned with reducing the dynamic range and making the average volume more consistent. Also, not everything requires salt. Compression is by far the most confusing mixing technique—for beginners and for pros. It can make everything sound better, but a little too much can completely ruin your mix. Here is the same drum loop processed with the standard Apple Logic compressor with a variety of settings. Having a full understanding of the intricate details of a compressor will help you realize your sound goals. If you're even slightly confused about... How & when to use compressors, expanders, limiters, gates with confidence There may still be cases where you're dealing with tonal compression, which will use a lower ratio and focus more on the attack and release. 4. The second signal will be your compressed signal. Learning how to use and apply compression was one of the first things I learned when I started many years ago, and I still think that it’s one of the most important areas to master when producing in your own home studio. Compression can bring your recordings to life and it can help to add more presence and sharpness to your overall mix. Use compression sparingly whilst recording. EQ and Compression Techniques for… Note: first things first, while applying these tips, make sure to pull up a copy a professionally mixed recording of drums, in the style you’re mixing in.Using a reference track, along with these tips, will certainly prove to be invaluable to you in getting you on the right track of attaining mastery of the art of drum mixing. If you want to have authority over the compressors you use and understand how to use compression to make your mixes sound better, then this post is for you. I don’t use parallel compression that often. Tip #4: Use Parallel Compression. Less Is More. How to do it: To use parallel compression, duplicate your signal. By approaching compression in this layered way, you’ll achieve a drum sound that’s up-front and impactful, without sounding lifeless or overprocessed. The first signal will be your drier signal. As with equalization, the less compression you apply during mastering, the better the result.In fact, the quickest way to make your master sound like a demo is to overcompress it. Solution: Use parallel compression. And because you have two signals, go extreme on the second one—lots of compression. Most mastering engineers use high thresholds and low ratios (typically 1.25:1 or 1.5:1 – rarely anything more than 2:1) in order to achieve just 1 or 2 dB of gain reduction. Today you’ll learn what over-compression sounds like and how to avoid it in your mixes. Using a compressor on your tracks is exactly like adding salt to your food! The clean drum loop with no compression applied. But when it comes to mixing drums, it’s one of my go-to techniques. Over-compression can be a FATAL mistake for your mix.