Compression is your greatest weapon
“Mastering compression is the difference between your recording sounding like a demo or sounding like the great albums of all time.” – Ronan Chris Murphy
For many years I was mislead to believe the main job of a compressor was to soften transients and peaks on an incoming sound wave.
It seems the compressor has greater powers.
The job of a compressor is to reduce the dynamic range.
We learned today that the way listeners experience the dynamics of a song is much to do with arrangement. Ronan proved this with some very convincing song samples.
We learned how compressors flavour the sound, how the controls of a compressor (or gate) have a huge impact on signal. How they can create distortion in both desired and less desired ways and tricks we can perform adjusting the attack and release functions.
We learned about ducking and how the signal flows through a compressor. We learned about how compressors can (accidentally or otherwise) create square waves and how square waves create distortion.
Ronan gave a fantastically clear description describing the difference between how the input gain and threshold functions work and relate.
We explored how compression has changed over the decades, peaking in the 1990s, with the loudness war, and how compression changed with the introduction of digital recording.
We discussed ducking, filters and hold controls.
Colour
One of the lessons today demonstrated how different types of compressor colour sound and how, in different points and situations within the recording process, compressors impact the signal. Ronan provided an inspiring demonstration using triggers on the side chain function of a simple compressor plug-in.
“I think of my compressors like paint brushes” – Ronan Chris Murphy
I began the day with the belief that the compressor was primarily to fix things. I now see the compressor (and gates) as useful tools with which to create styles and textures that would almost otherwise be unimaginable to create.
I won’t deny the subject was heavy at times as I strived to grasp some of the principles (which I finally got by bombarding Ronan with questions that he kindly and very patiently answered.)
It was a long and insightful day. It was some relief to hear that many of the lessons and insights we learned today were findings that Ronan Chris Murphy had discovered himself over many years, if not decades.
Mastering compression could be the biggest contributor towards your song getting played on the radio or not.
Tomorrow we look at recording vocals.
Recording Boot Camp – Day 1
Recording Boot Camp – Introduction
Recording Boot Camp
Abnegat Studios
Ronan Chris Murphy
Photo Credit: © Agenda Red
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