How a Compressor Works

[J7C3B]

Good attempt, unfortunately your threshold line should originate on the input axis, not the output axis. Its not when you reach a threshold of output, but when the input reaches it that compression begins.

[donsolo00]

@J7C3B If this is your main complaint on this video, I've done my job.

[IndieDaily]

Is it my ear or am I not hearing a difference before and after compression? Everyone won't shut up about the importance in compression yet it sounds the same after.

[donsolo00]

@IndieDaily If you're not hearing a difference it could be a couple different things:

1. Your threshold is not set low enough.

2. Your Ratio is not set high enough

3. The Plugin or hardware is inadvertently bypassed

4. Your monitoring is seriously messed up, I suggest headphones.

Set your ratio super high and move the threshold around. When you're compressing, it WILL become quieter, that's why makeup gain is there. But first make sure it's dipping the volume. Sounds like a settings issue.

[IndieDaily]

@donsolo00

Thanks for the response. I get a better idea but what exactly is the objective. I tried moving the threshold to get everything a lot lower and then adjusting the makeup gain and it sounds like I'm right back at where I started. I did do a lot of equalizing before tho so is it possible I equalized every individual sample to the point where compression is not needed? Thanks again I really appreciate the help.

[IndieDaily]

@IndieDaily

Oh and I'm using good headphones.

[donsolo00]

@IndieDaily Equalization will bring out the best parts of the sound but compression will even volume response. When dealing with samples, it's entirely possible that you're dealing with sounds that are all equal volume though so compression may not be required in the early stages. If you hit hard enough with a compressor, you WILL hear a difference though.

[selatik1]

How long have you been held captive in that basement?

[donsolo00]

@selatik1 I was in that dorm room for 4 semesters.

[selatik1]

@donsolo00 :-) But it's too bad that many well-intentioned YouTubers, some even with a good grasp of the subject matter, might lose people due to poor presentation skills, or due to the poor production quality of the video.

I wish there were more tutorial videos like the excellent ones produced by SoundcraftUK for its YouTube channel, where one can watch 17 well-done videos in the section called "The Soundcraft Guide to Mixing" — very helpful.

[donsolo00]

@selatik1 I don't really make videos like this anymore because to be honest, it has no benefit to me. I've done mastering for grammy winners since making this video. I'm glad to help people make good recordings but the reality is that because I've never had anyone reach out to me regarding helping with THEIR record, I just don't attempt to make videos like this anymore. I did this in college where time was abundant.

[tubeinyou23]

hahaha at 3:59 you can hear someones stomach growl..........

[donsolo00]

@tubeinyou23 it's a cheap tripod being adjusted.

[Principezone]

Thanks, First explanation that makes sence.

[wearashirt]

Your camera is shit. Wish I could've seen more of what you were writing on the board coz I was really interested.

[donsolo00]

@wearashirt Look at your monitor from another angle. I can see it fine. Yes, the lighting sucked. I'm an audio guy and the video guy didn't know what he was doing.

[MATHGODpi]

i usually use the fastest attack and release times possible, otherwise the outcome usually sounds awful imo

[donsolo00]

@MATHGODpi It really depends on the situation. I use slow attack times to bring out transients when mastering. Slow release times is all about avoiding the ultra-pumping sound when overcompressing.

[donsolo00]

@MATHGODpi Slow down your attack and let some more punch through...

[stefanmcdad]

thank you boss, that was the best compression class ever, now i know what the $%^$%^$% is going on,

[donsolo00]

@stefanmcdad That was the idea. Eventually I'm going to re-do this with examples and stuff...

[gtrraider84]

This was insanely helpful. Thanks for posting this. Great video!!!

[connerYO]

u should defff make more videos like this, maybe with limiters, maximizers and shiizz???

[donsolo00]

@connerYO Don't mess with maximizers, they're not useful except MAYBE live.

[selatik1]

CAMERA GUY'S STOMACH GROWLS LOUDLY STARTING AT 3:59

[selatik1]

HE HAS NO EYES

[h2di]

very nice!

thank you.

[guitarvass7]

finally! thanks a lot, been searching for this explanation for like a month!

[sprocketpack]

That's a good vid, well done!

[DarkWhite25]

aaaaaah finally. ive been using multiband compressors in FL because of its visuals, now i understand i can use the ordinary compressor. cheers mate

[donsolo00]

@DarkWhite25 Multiband compressors for the most part are a real issue. What they do is they split the audio into sections based on frequency. This is very helpful in mastering and sometimes large bus sections like full drums but typically, a traditional compressor is the best way to go. For a very clear visual compressor, most built into DAWs (other than DP) are graphed though metric Halo's channel strip is well done and sounds great, I'd also recommend Waves C1

[musiccalgary]

Good effort. Creepy lighting. Maybe speak more about context in future vids, i.e. give examples. Cheers.

[ryrayer]

get some light into that room :P

[donsolo00]

Well...I'm an audio guy...

Yes, Phil didn't light the room well.

[SV1200]

Dope Vid Man, thanks, helped me understand compression a bit better.

[Gmoreno89]

GREAT TEACHING!!!... dude u rock straight up.... more knowledge please...PLEASE!

[pedrov8hed]

thanks for the vid, seeing it written as you were explaining the theory actually helped me follow what you were saying. and thanks for the "understanding how it works" approach -it is far more help than being told what the settings should be.

[donsolo00]

What's funny is that originally, I got a lot of comments about "what settings do I use?" And it's pretty clear that you are more suited to learn from this video than those that are looking for a quick fix.

Stay tuned, I should have some new videos coming. In the mean time, go search for "college Beach Party Massacre 4"

[rayzr1]

Ahh now it makes sense! thanks

[hbdog]

no idea wtf u talkn bout

[motojeff]

Thanks for making this, it fits well into my sound series

[madsonrecords]

thanx mate..very helpful

[Najibbaskom]

Thanks don... it's a great video...

[spaterman]

I love you

[zonktek]

Hi Don, thanks alot for this, Compressions bin a hard one 2 get the hang of, but this def helped. Anything else you wanna share would b welcomed with open arms :o)

[songcovers]

thanks mate. great info. 5 stars , subscibed

[ib422000]

Too dark.

[sourberrymusic]

Why not show this using an audio editor, and show the difference the compressor is making.

[donsolo00]

the reason i do not do that is twofold:

Time constraints. And here we are specifically talking about the theoretical aspect of compression. Rather than taking a didactic approach saying "you should use these settings here" instead I'd rather have you understand WHAT it is.

[donsolo00]

Any comments that are profane in nature are removed, marked as spam, user blocked and reported to youtube.

I'm all for criticism but let's keep it clean, stick to the facts and avoid personal attacks.

[lbulcaansc11]

thanks this tutorial helped me a lot but someone farted at 4:00 haha

[Warhead711]

Hey Donsolo, Warren here. Just a thought: I would write everything out first to keep things flowing easier. In other words, you can progressively move the camera around to pre-written text rather than everyone watching you write.

Found your video randomly here and recognized a fellow slut!

Warren

[shocku22]

BULLSHIT.everyone LOVES making things sooooo complicated.this shit can be explained so much more simply.shut up professor.

[vojakst]

shocku 22 it isnt complicated the guy or "professor" is trying to tell us how compressor works on simple graph. nice video!!!

[LANCEVANCE08]

dumbass

[vatolegato]

thanks for the tutorial

[JusticeBeatz]

interesting sir. when will the follow up videos be up?

[pedrowasabi]

Great! I knew how it worked but I didn't know anything about makeup gain. Thanks!

[leslieTS]

change title to: The physics of compression.

[2Luke]

spot on mate! i was dying to know about compression and your video helped alot!

[spacemanvector32]

Right on dude, you got it! Terrible just about everything else on the video though...next time take the lamp shade off or point/fade a halogen desk lamp. 4:00 you can hear your camera guys stomach growling, feed the poor guy, lol. Great work!

[donsolo00]

The sound (which has been referred to a stomache growl and fart) is a cheapo tripod groaning as we moved the camera. As for lighting, I guess I could have taken the shades off of my ceiling lamp but I didn't have a desk lamp. This really was more about the information than production value.

[s2Texan]

LMAO didnt even notice this.....thanks for the tut tho man helps me understand it alot !

[donsolo00]

@spacemanvector32 Cheap tripod noise.

[spacemanvector32]

@donsolo00 was that it? well....grease the tripod then, you got back to me two years later man, wow what a trip....lol.

[donsolo00]

@spacemanvector32 Eigh, it took you two years to find the video. I wasn't looking at the dates of the comments and I clearly don't log in much to see who's commenting what.

[reuelmeditz]

@spacemanvector32 HAHA I read this as watching and heard the guys stomach growl same time i read it.

lol

Good video though

[Yaggsionhimen]

Great video! The people who don't get it probably have'nt done much experimenting with compressors. Everything you said was spot on. As far as better suggestions, you should try to make slides or a powerpoint type thing and keep that camera on a tri-pod or steady surface. No need for zooming in and out. Great job!

[donsolo00]

This particular video was done with a tripod if I remember correctly. Phil was still getting used to his new camera.

There is going to be a better version pretty soon.

[rockstar2k7]

don't give finite numbers on attack and release time, all compressors are different.

make up gain is not explained well, I'd even say it's misleading. May want to expand on the explanation.

attack needs to be explained much better on the graph.

nice try, just a little short sited and misleading.

[thepriceofreality]

very very very well explained - there's a few videos concerning the applications of compression but very few attempt to actually explain what it is :)

[snapdust]

please.. add some lighting there :)

[VonSeux]

useful video, thanx

[Jeedan]

Its a good explanation but it doesent really give that much practical information I think. I mean if I'm just using a stomp box compressor for guitar and now you've explained it I know what the attack knob does in a technical sense I still dont know why I would want it set high or low and for what purpose.

[Creedguy]

Hey Nice video. I think Jeedan makes a good point but as he said in the beggining this only how a compressor works, and not its application. Also, did someone blow some serious ass there near then end, or was that me?

[donsolo00]

That was Phil Shifting a cheap tripod that groaned real bad.

[monnie110]

I would have liked to see a longer video showing comparable results in drawn waves. :) How about using a compressor as a brick wall limiter? Let's say you want to use compression and limit volume to -.1 If I set ration to infinity, and thresh to -.1 it should never go past .-1dbs right?

[donsolo00]

That was Phil's camera stand.

[hageir]

thanks!

who farted at the end there :D hehe

but thanks a ton!

[adaminspace]

That was a really useful video! Really helped me get my head around the concepts. Thanks!

[donsolo00]

Attack is the delay BEFORE the signal starts to attenuate the signal. Release will continue to attenuate the signal even after it's gone below the threshold for the given period of time. Make up gain is just gain at the end of the whole process bringing all parts up equally.

[sam261007]

infinity against one??

clarify allack and release better please, and the effects of "make up game".

[Radderz22]

Nice :) It would be better with some audio examples :)

[lllll333]

Thanx for uploading this. 4 stars.

[donsolo00]

I actually WANT to address a few of the critizisms despite their poor presentation.

It's IS attenuate. I mispronounced it.

Perhaps describing an expander as a 1:something was confusing

And yes, the threshold is the point past the input gain from where the signal is changed.

Thank You

[donsolo00]

Some Comments have been removed due not to their critisism but due to the personal attacks.

These are childish and uncalled for.

Please refrain from these in the future.

Thanks you.

[crawford45]

camera work sucks balls.. informative tho

[donsolo00]

I'm not 100% we had better options, any suggestions?

I'm hoping to expand these