Secret Weapon Compression: Add mix density without the squash!

This is one of the best ways to start using compression in a mix, especially as the first step in controlling really difficult dynamics! It stacks wonderfully with other compression techniques and makes mixing so much easier when dealing with sensitive sources like acoustic guitar, vocals, drums and much more! This one works on everything!

[MusiclyricsByECDaleyC]

You've very quickly gone to the top of my list for recording insights, not a small task either! [

[Reggi_Sample]

Glad this channel is active again, your videos are very helpful you certainly have a knack for teaching as well as mixing 🎉

[TomasFalk_Sweden]

The best way to explain the principles of compression I’ve ever have come across! 👍

[soulfaktor]

Great technique, I didn't know I needed this. Thank you for sharing.

[millta]

Thanks again for sharing another great technique.
Matttbukovski would like to be like you when he grows up. 😊

[InkyXI]

I love a good squash! :)

You're ace. In case you didn't already know.

[georgechristie]

Excellent man... just the kind of stuff thats really helpful.... chrers

[franbert]

Thank you so much. Very well described technique with clear goals. I could imagine also using it on other very dynamic instruments. Personally, I would have placed the plucked and the strummed guitar parts on two separate tracks and processed them separately. Your technique does have merit though.

[chichogp]

This is a great tip, I'm used to multing or clip gaining in these cases. To me a picked guitar and a strummed guitar are different instruments, even if they're on the same performance, and the same for verse vocals vs chorus vocals. This is an extreme example but the technique is useful anytime you want to just reduce the dynamic range.

[richardvxa]

This is upwards / parallel compression!

[electrock]

thank you! wouldnt it make sense to cut the clip and reduce 1-2 db off the second\hard part when you got this much of a difference between 2 parts? and why wouldnt you eq these 200-250k low mids masking your tone before any compression? thank you again.

[kumble]

Amazing stuff thank you! i was wondering what DAW are you working in? cheers!

[hirnzircus]

Thank you for this video. I was wondering, you said that we need a compressor with a fast attack time, but you keep the attack at the slowest setting!?

[mattbukovski]

In such case, I would simply do some broad manual edits, like cutting the clip and adjusting the gain manually... and then I'd try applying any compression 🤷 Also I use quite long release/hold times when I want to rather ride the volume and not interfere too much with the microdynamics. Parallel compression still doesn't really fix the main issues here, because even 50/50 doesn't sound transparent to me in the loud part, and the sound is still jumping in volume in those quieter parts..

[MR_Cellarpop]

Great video, thanks. Do you like this compressor settings in some other compressors?. Best/Mathias

[Takis_Playloud]

This is great trick. I was wondering, isn't it kind of close with what Waves' MV2 is doing?

[tranquilbear]

This is great! However how is is the waveform larger in the second one when the compressor settings are slamming the signal?

[ANOOPBAL]

What about a vocal example? Would be great to add time stamps too. Thanks

[chadmichael_]

Nobody can tell the difference when you keep talking between A and B'ing something. Just loop the section and play with the knob in real time so we can hear the difference as it changes. Other than that, great tip and thanks for the video.

[DrOtumbo]

Fairchild in thumbnail but 1176 in the actual vid...