I tried two different compressor settings on distorted guitar parts and couldn't tell the two of them apart audibly. Any slight differences I attributed to bias, (expecting to hear a difference because you know what you are selecting).
For the first I used a ratio of 1.8/1 and set the threshold accordingly to achieve an average of -6dB compression.
On the second I used a ratio of 4.2/1 and set the threshold accordingly to achieve an average of -6dB compression.
Both used the same A/R/G settings.
Attack: 15ms
Release:130ms
Gain: 4dB
Knee: .7
idk if specifics are important to you but I don't mind listing them anyway :D
Comments
Not a big surprise here. A distorted guitar is pretty compresse
Not a big surprise here. A distorted guitar is pretty compressed already. If you had a sound source that was all true square waves, then the ratio wouldn't matter. If the attack and release were fast then 6Db of compression would be the same no matter what the ratio. Of course, your source isn't all square waves, but if it is pretty well compressed, the effect of additional compression will be pretty subtle. Try something with more dynamics if you want to hear more of the effects of compression.
Loosen up on the settings too. You practice by shooting at big
Loosen up on the settings too.
You practice by shooting at big targets, then get down to finer details and smaller targets.
What did you mean by loosen up the settings? Longer attack time
What did you mean by loosen up the settings? Longer attack time?
Loosen it up so it doesn't just give you 6dB of reduction, but 6
Loosen it up so it doesn't just give you 6dB of reduction, but 60dB :twisted:
High ratios and longer releases are usually easier to pick up (IMO).
lol, but then it would be unusable. I was trying to see the pra
lol, but then it would be unusable. I was trying to see the practical uses. I was expecting a more rounded tone with 1.8 and a more dynamic punchy tone with 4.2. I think for a pretty natural sounding track (not a huge dynamic range) 6dB is a good target, am I wrong? What would you use?
I meant - you should start by listening to extremes, and get to
I meant - you should start by listening to extremes, and get to know the characteristics that exhibit themselves - then reduce the settings and compression until you can recognise the characteristics with less compression applied.
ahh, indeed. I should have also realized that a distorted guita
ahh, indeed. I should have also realized that a distorted guitar doesn't have much dynamic range to begin with. Which I think somebody mentioned earlier.