What does too much compression sound like?

When you compress too hard with fast attack times, the dynamic range of your mix is squashed. You'll end up with something that sounds like this: A song with no room to breathe; as flat as a pancake.

How do you know if your vocals are too compressed?

Too much compression produces a flat, non-dynamic performance that doesn't have a “live” feel to it. An overly compressed vocal will feel unnatural and dull to the listener, so it's key to avoid this point if at all possible. Lead vocals should be consistent, but still, have a degree of dynamic fluctuation.

What does over compressed music sound like?

An over-compressed track looks like a rectangular block in meter/graphs. The waveform has no peaks and valleys like a natural sound wave would. Instead, it's a smooth block. Often this shows the compressor has worked so hard on the track the waveform has started to even out.

What does over compressed mean?

: to compress (something) to an excessive degree overcompressed the padding an overcompressed gasket especially : to reduce (something, such as data, a data file, or a communications signal) too much through compression overcompressed the video the album's overcompressed vocals.

Why do my mixes sound squashed?

When you compress too hard with fast attack times, the dynamic range of your mix is squashed. You'll end up with something that sounds like this: A song with no room to breathe; as flat as a pancake.

Good Compression vs Bad Compression

What are the best vocal compression settings?

How much compression should I use on vocals?

A good starting point for a rock vocal would be a 4:1 ratio with a medium-fast attack and a medium release. Then, set the threshold for around 4 to 6dB of gain reduction. Increase or decrease the attack time until you get the right level of forwardness for the mix.

Why does compression make music sound better?

Most of the reason a compressor makes a given signal sound better is indeed simply that it allows you to turn up the gain – much more than would be possible without compression, because then it would either run you into headroom limitations or drown out some other instruments in the mix because the peaks are too loud.

Is compression bad for music?

Compression keeps the vocal at the right level throughout the tune, or lets them jump out of the mix a little better without being louder; just the right type of compression might make the drums more exciting or intentionally weird. It's all about using the available tools to make great-sounding music.

Does compressed audio sound better?

“But there's no difference, this is just a result of the placebo effect. All music files sound the same because compressed files are designed to still sound the same as files that have not been compressed.

How does compression affect EQ?

With normal EQ, you boost the frequencies within a certain range and the other frequencies are unaffected. If you add a compressor after that EQ, you're still going to get the same relative change in tonality, but the compressor can't abide the gain increase, so it knocks the whole signal down.

Does compression make vocals louder?

Compression makes the volume of a vocal more consistent overall. In fact it was originally called “Automatic Level Control.” So if you're singing or rapping some words louder than others, compression makes for a less drastic volume difference between the loud and quiet parts.

How much compression do you need for rap vocals?

I would suggest using a ratio of 6:1 or 7:1 depending on the vocal performance and vocal tone. You will want a release of about 160 ms and threshold of -15 to – 20. Your make-up gain will largely depend on your beat as that will make the vocals louder or quieter.

Can you mix without compression?

You could, but compression has been around since before multi-track recording for a solid reason. Uneven sound is distracting to the listener. Even if you mixed with absolutely no compression, it's never going to get through mastering without being heavily squeezed.

Should you EQ or compress first?

Each position, EQ pre (before) or EQ post (after) compression produces a distinctly different sound, a different tonal quality, and coloration. As a rule, using EQ in front of your compressor produces a warmer, rounder tone, while using EQ after your compressor produces a cleaner, clearer sound.

Do rappers double their vocals?

Rappers and singers have traditionally recorded vocal doubles (informally called “vocal dubs”) on the ending phrases of every bar or half a bar… The purpose of this was to make the vocals sound more fuller as well as to make certain lyrics stand out more (at least this was the reasoning).

What is a good compressor threshold?

Settings between 1.5:1 and 10:1 are the most common. A lower first number in your ratio will give you gentle compression you might apply to an entire mix, while a higher first number will give you an intense squashing effect.

Can compression cause clipping?

It can' yes. Fast attack and high-ratios especially. Also make sure your are gain-staging correctly.

What does compression do in mixing?

Why is audio compression used in mixing? Compression is used in music to reduce the dynamic range of signals with loud and quiet elements so that both can be heard clearly. Compression is used in music to reduce the dynamic range of signals with loud and quiet elements so that both can be heard clearly.

Should vocals always be compressed?

For modern genres, they often need to be up front at all times. If not, your mix will suffer. One of the most effective tools at your disposal for crafting consistent vocals is compression. When combined with automation, compression can make your vocals sound loud, punchy, and modern.