If you’ve already applied a fair amount of compression to the stereo buss while mixing, you may not need to use it again during mastering. Compression in Mastering Is Optional, Not Essential The end result is that everything sounds not only louder and punchier but more even overall.Ģ. Make-Up Gain: This parameter allows you to boost the compressed signal, enabling you to bring your track back to its starting level, although it now ‘lives’ within a compressed, or reduced, dynamic range. Because “softer” knee settings are less aggressive, they are used far more often in mastering situations. A “hard” knee means that the compressor clamps down on the signal almost immediately, while a “soft” knee means the compression kicks in more gradually as the signal goes further past the threshold.
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Hard Knee: A knee setting specifies the smoothness of the transition from no compression to full compression once the threshold is passed. These two controls are so important that we’re going to devote an entire tip to them – see #5 below. A low threshold with a high ratio will cause lots of compression and result in a sound that is quite squashed and lifeless, whereas a high threshold and low ratio will yield the kind of transparency you want during mastering.Īttack and Release: Attack determines how quickly the compressor begins working once a signal exceeds the threshold setting, while release determines how quickly it stops working after the signal drops below the threshold. These two controls are highly interactive. Threshold and Ratio: Threshold determines when compression begins, while ratio specifies how much gain reduction is applied. You’ll find pretty much the same set of controls in every compressor plugin. By making them softer (a process called gain reduction), it reduces the overall dynamic range – that is, the difference between the loudest and quietest sections of a song. In this article, we’ll look at several important tips for using compression during mastering.Ĭompression works by lowering the level of the loudest parts in your mix – the peaks you see sticking out when you view the waveform. But, like every other process, it has its potential downfalls too. Perhaps most importantly, compression can act as the “glue” that ties all the sonic elements together into a cohesive whole.
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Used correctly, compression can make your recordings sound richer and more energetic, plus it can help ensure that the various sections of your song flow well into one another. It’s a great way to add punch to your mix as well as a sense of overall control. Like equalization and limiting, compression is an important part of mastering. Why compress during mastering? Is every compressor a mastering compressor? When is it best to cascade your compressors? Get tips on these questions and more.