Along with the kick, the snare is a huge part of the backbone of a song. It creates energy and serves as a point of reference or anchor for the listener. As such, your snare needs to cut through the mix and be a constant presence. A reliable way to accomplish this is using snare …
There are 4 types of audio compressors which each have a place in the mixing and mastering world to get the most out of your audio. Let’s cover each to give examples of what they are, how they work, and what to use them on. I’ll offer some options premium and free for each type …
When we talk about compression, 99% of the time we’re talking about downward compression. That’s what 99% of compressors do: they are designed to take the loudest parts of a piece of audio and pull them down as they cross the compressor’s threshold. Still, there are rare times when the problem is the reverse: the …
Upward Compression – What is It and How Is it Different? Read More »
When it comes to compression, we talk a lot about threshold, ratio (see compressor ratio explained), and attack and release. The compressor knee usually gets overlooked, but this setting can drastically alter the effects of your compressor. Sometimes you want to use a more gradual knee (soft knee compression), and other times you want a …
Compressor Knee – How to Find the Perfect Setting Read More »
Arguably the most confusing setting found on virtually every compressor is its ratio setting. This is the most influential setting on a compressor to dictate how dynamic or conversely how squished your audio will be (alongside the threshold, of course). Let’s talk about this oft misunderstood feature with an overview on compressor ratio explained. A …
Compressor Ratio Explained – An Easy Way to Remember Read More »