Setting up and using Parallel Compression in DP8

[rosindabow]

Hi all - I have been reading a lot about parallel compression and was wondering if there's a clear post explaining how to utilize it in DP8? Some other questions: when using it on drums do you use it on each track or the sub mix of drums? What about using parallel compression on other tracks including lead vocals and guitars? I'm looking for a clear description of how to do it. Setting up aux tracks, bussing ideas, any plugins that make it easier to do, etc ...
Thanks!

[csavetman]

Hi all - I have been reading a lot about parallel compression and was wondering if there's a clear post explaining how to utilize it in DP8? Some other questions: when using it on drums do you use it on each track or the sub mix of drums? What about using parallel compression on other tracks including lead vocals and guitars? I'm looking for a clear description of how to do it. Setting up aux tracks, bussing ideas, any plugins that make it easier to do, etc ...
Thanks!

If you have a plugin compressor with a mix control, you can place that on an aux track, assign selected tracks output to that aux input, and adjust the comp mix control to taste.
If comp doesn't have a mix control, you can always create 2 aux tracks assigned to the same input. Put comp on one aux. Assign your desired audio tracks to the aux input, and use aux channel faders to set your comp/ uncompressed balance.

When using parallel comp with drums, you might try sending just the kick/ snare/ toms to a compressor, leaving out cymbals which can get washy.
Or you can send kick drum and bass guitar to a compressor for low freq tightening.

Those are just a couple of options. Feel free to experiment!

Carlos

[rosindabow]

Thanks for that. Can you also send from one track (or a group of tracks) using a bus to a separate track (or tracks) and compress those and mix in as little or as much as you would like? What is common? Is it common to compress each individual track or individual tracks?

[csavetman]

Thanks for that. Can you also send from one track (or a group of tracks) using a bus to a separate track (or tracks) and compress those and mix in as little or as much as you would like? What is common? Is it common to compress each individual track or individual tracks?

All depends how you like to work. Here's just one example:

A little compression maybe on individual channels that may need it. For example, compressing the kick and snare tracks individually.(via their inserts) Then, using selected drum channels aux sends to route any combination of drums to an aux track. (think stereo drum buss) with its own compressor via the insert. The main output assignment of all the drum channels could also be routed to yet a separate buss with little or no compression. Both drum busses (compressed and uncompressed) then blended to taste and assigned to the main stereo output.

Hope that makes sense. Experiment!

Carlos

[philbrown]

A common trick along this line is to SLAM a comp (The hardware Distressor Nuke mode is used a lot for this) and then just barely bring that up (on another fader) under the regular drum mix.

[Tritonemusic]

A common trick along this line is to SLAM a comp (The hardware Distressor Nuke mode is used a lot for this) and then just barely bring that up (on another fader) under the regular drum mix.

Just did that last night. Definitely slam the hell out of it and bring it up "just a bit." Very effective. And fun.

[toodamnhip]

The only issue in this method has to do with levels and overdriving a compressor. For ex, you can start by "slamming" a compressor with a kick sent to that compressor on an auxiliary track. You get that right and then Decide to bus a snare to that same Compressor. Well, now the level into that compressor has change hasn't it? And the snare starts effecting the
Kick, and the output could start to distort, etc , thus it is not as simple as it seemed at 1st when one started adding multiple parts to a slammed compressor bus. You may then have to set up multiple "slammed" compressors as problems arise.