Using Parallel Compression to Craft Hard-Hitting Drums!

Today, we are talking all about parallel drum compression! We actually recently completed a course on drum compression using only Slate plugins!

In the course, I mix a song by Little Empire and will show you how to craft competitive, industry-standard mixes, using an absolute bare-bones setup. We will use an entry level interface, a pair of mid-priced headphones, and the Slate Digital All Access Pass!

We will mix the song in real-time, so you can see the entire process - including mistakes! And, because we use affordable gear, you will be able to replicate the entire process in your studio!

One of the things I had fun with was mixing the drums with parallel compression. The drum sound itself was actually quite easy to achieve with using parallel compression, but I wanted to add a little bit more control. And the thing about parallel drum compression, is even using the same compressor, in two dramatically different ways, you can shape the sound quite heavily.

A great drum sound is essential to any pop/rock mix because it provides the backbone for the groove and lays the foundation for the energy and impact of the entire song. Discover how to use gating, parallel processing, and transient shaping techniques to achieve a hard-hitting, modern drum sound that cuts through layers of guitars, synths, keys, and vocals.

❤️My Favorite Plugins:

❤️GEAR:

Join the community here:

Facebook Group

Facebook Page:

Instagram

Twitter

❤️❤️Free 3 Part Mixing Course:

#ProduceLikeAPro
#HomeRecording
#MixingDrums

Produce Like A Pro is a website which features great tips to help the beginning recordist make incredible sounding home recordings on a budget.

[Producelikeapro]

Do you have any parallel compression tricks you use in your mixes?

[TarasKuznetsovMusic]

It feels like you created a room over a snare.. and everything..
so in the end it’s like you’ve taken the drums to a room with super controlled reverb 😁
It’s amazing what parallel can do!

[ardiris]

Parallel compression really starts getting fun when I begin automating it.

[seanrichards]

As a live FOH engineer for 25+ years I’ve been doing this type of processing since my days on Midas analog desks. I started doing it myself without anyone suggesting it, and so many live engineers I’d meet would scratch their head, but I got the greatest drum sounds! As great as new desks are it’s the one thing that’s saddened me about modern digital live mixing that hasn’t really been possible, maybe until very recently with the newest Avid desks.

Lucky for me I’ve recently returned to more studio work lately and it’s been such a pleasant experience to know that this IS possible in the digital studio space, and that latency isn’t such an issue. Feels natural for me, and it’s great to get back to my analog days on my ‘in the box’ studio rig.

[zzzyzzzyzzzyxxx]

Using the FG Stress as a transient designer - Splendidly Nice! Gonna give that a whirl today.

[andrewstevenson]

Never mix any rock style drums without using the FG stress in parallel! Cracking plug-in.

[RCSmiths]

So many tips and tricks from a maestro like yourself! Cheers man!

[Observationsatwolfsbane]

I recently started doing this on my drums as recommended by you in another video, and it's brilliant! Thank you and cheers!

[crushedoremusic]

I’ve learned more watching your tutorials on parallel bus compression than any other skill. Excellent demo.

[TheOziBattler]

Love the FG Stress, especially for the drum crush. Never thought of doing a separate Attack bus. Thanks again, Warren! My only issue with the FG Stress is I want to use it everywhere and I quickly run out of CPU!

[mirr]

This is an interesting take on parallel compression. I always thought it was blending a squashed channel into the original, but this method almost feels like layering in some ways.

[klausdavid]

Just tried that on a mix. Turned my drums from okay to f***ing massive ! Thank you so much

[MikeLuke]

Great one Warren. I use a parallel comp track to spice up the transition from the verse to the chorus. Instead of volume automation the drums, I automate the parallel track to have that added impact in the chorus.

[calvinschatzke]

Triple Parallel Processing - genious! I created the heaviest hitting and best controlled mix I ever achieved with this technique while it still sounds so smooth to the ears. THANKS a lot 🐮

[MartinLuxen]

Thanks Warren! Awesome trick! Love the way when they blend together

[sturla]

Thanks for sharing Warren! Well put and easily explained as always.

[TerrenceCallahan]

Love how in-depth your explanations are! Thanks dude!

[CatherineMeeson]

Thanks Warren, gonna be a bit daring and experimental after watching this, got my first live drums recording with band to mix for uni :) Have you done any specific videos on referencing?, it is new to me, be interesting to see how other folks approach it. Love your channel

[paulEmotionalaudio]

Yes!!! Missed these nuggets of gold from the mine of your experience. Thanks for sharing.

[GustafWestin]

I must be doing something right then, I do this sometimes in with cla76 and L1 and blend them and then add a cla2a on the group for “glue”