Pro Tools Tutorial : Using a Compressor in Pro Tools

[MPCNEWCOMER]

Grandpappi Protools, Thanks Pappi for your lessons

[jasethebassuk]

I still stand by this...If you apply EQ before adding compression, the subsequent compression will change your preferred EQ to a noticeable degree. This will be dependent on just how much compression or 'threshold level' you throw at it..You will go back to the EQ to alter again, then undo the compression.you would end up chasing your tale..My way you level out your mix and then apply the EQ to make it sound how you want it to sound, without risk of either process cancelling the others action.

[dglassb1]

@jasethebassuk this is better advice then the vid itself... tho the vid wasnt bad, take this mans word for of advice tho and dont eq till u compress

[SmileysRevenge100]

Why is this on expertvillage? This isn't shit.

[berrypossum]

oh, look at that- it has a band pass in it

[G3tShotOStab]

NIce video. How did you get the volume line in the track though

[readerwriter]

Why use a bus;

1.Buses are more eco friendly and have a smaller carbon footprint.

2. You meet interesting people on the bus.

(Credit to Mackie 8 bus manual)

[isreal95]

a problem im having is that my vocals will have peeks like if a say something with a T or something and yes i have a pop filter but its still very loud and harsh on the ears... when i try to compress it the whole track is compressed... do u have any advice?

[bfree456]

@isreal95 I don't know if this would work for you, but when I get weird guitar clicks and pops in the mic I zoom in on the track until you can use the pencil tool, and then I draw in and smooth out the wave right where it clicks. It doesn't take long once you get used to it, and it gets rid of the pops and keeps it sounding natural

[isreal95]

@bfree456 no its not clipping its just not even like 'p' ,,, when i say p it super loud...

[LegacyRecordzTV]

@isreal95

The solution you are looking for is a De-Esser.

A De-Esser is Frequency Specific Compression, which targets sibilant S, T, P etc. sounds, and pushes down only those sounds, only when they occur.

[LegacyRecordzTV]

@isreal95

Also, use a pop filter on your microphone .. that could be a big part of the problem if you are not using one ..

[JM9Baseball]

00:00

^^ skips adds

[VocalIntuition]

@JM9Baseball Bro ure awesome.

[rrfrankie]

Clear and concise tutorial. Very informative. Thanks.

[swiftstatus]

nice work

[johnthesoundman]

not even with editing .. use it to get you close but you can be fooled if u line everything up exactly for example a snare and a tambourine hit .. they can phase each-other out .. u may have to move one so u can hear both fine other wise they can cancel each other out

[johnthesoundman]

eq first then compression!

[johnthesoundman]

engineers should rely more on there ears then what they see on the wave form.. in the end its all about what you hear.

[Mrbrezovsky89]

100% agree, waveform are very helpful for editing but as far as the overall sounds, close your eyes and listen

[Notgonnagetus89]

The best advice I ever got came from my buddys big bro that went to fullsail. I had been working on my album using the same presets for my vocals and guitars and he flipped his shit and said

" NO!!! THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO BE DONE! ALL TAKES ARE DIFFERENT! ALL EQ AND COMPRESSION IS DIFFERENT! GO WITH YOUR EAR NOT YOUR FUCKING EYES!!!!!"

Best advice ever.

[DjTeCo33]

@GuitarManMilaneus thank`s but ..I started with Cubase 5 :)

[DjTeCo33]

I need a sound card M-audio for this software?

[R2J3M]

@DjTeCo33 probs but just depeneds how good youre computer is

[GuitarManMilaneus]

For ProTools LE (he's using that in the video), you need a DigiDesign interface. For ProTools M-Powered, you need an M-Audio interface, and you buy the software seperately.

[OfficialYoungDiz]

I use the preset called vocal compressor, is this a good preset for all my vocals?

[TheProgmagog]

@OfficialYoungDiz

It may be a good starting point as far as the attack and release times go (which are very important) but the treshold will depend on the dynamics of the material. Generally, you want the quietest part of the track to have no motion on the needle, and as it gets louder, the needle (or LEDs) should start to show activity. That is a great thing with DAWs is you can see where the quietest sounds are and set your thresholds there.

[OfficialYoungDiz]

Does it matter if you use set the compressor before the eq?

[griploc1981]

compressers main purpose is to lower the dynamic content, raises lower harmonic content and reduces upper harmonic content depending upon the threshold plus multiple features that im too busy to get into right now. this dude is nervous with these tutorials, i get what hes trying to say but i think protools is new to him i think

[jasethebassuk]

Unless you are not wanting to compress and EQ correctly ten I'm afraid it's compression before EQ...END OF STORY!! The other way round is not the correct way of doing it...

[rocksolid76]

I humbly invite you into the main stream studio and try out your tact as you suggest, and watch for yourself how your processing will heavily impact negatively during the mastering process in a well conditioned mastering environment.

[rocksolid76]

It also restricts the mastering engineer from integrating maximization and enhancements in the final output which in turn makes the output process muddy and distruptive.

[TheProgmagog]

@jasethebassuk

I agree with you up till the "end of story...correct way.." comment. Sometimes the other way around is appropriate. But generally speaking, you compress then eq (or hopefully not eq at all) I just take issue with absolutes in our craft:)

[CooknPlatinum]

u should eq after cmpression cuz if you eq b4 compression ur kinda undoing the changes made with ur eq. i guess it wouldnt matter so much with how litlle compression that u put on it but just thought id mention it for sumn for u to try or think about . good videio tho.

[davidov]

Depends what effect you want to produce. post EQ you'll only compress the frequencies you want to stand out, but putting the compressor before EQ will compress the dynamics of the whole audio range. What I find with vocals is by putting comp b4 EQ produces more mud and background noise from the mic which weren't so evident before the comp is applied so for me EQ first then comp is my pref

[CooknPlatinum]

good advice ill give it a try .

thanx

[TheProgmagog]

@davidov

You wont compress "frequencies" but the prominent frequencies will induce compression of the entire signal. It sounds different than the other way around. Your preference authenticates my reply to jasethebassuk though.:) You can compress frequencies through the side chain though.

[rocksolid76]

You have a point BUT adding a compressor before an EQ tends to destroy the very transients and sonics based on the character of the information one is trying to expose. The EQ enhances and highlights the bandwidth in the frequency domain of the signal it's applied to thus making the all the harmonics "sweet sounding without embellishing the character.

I hope this helps instead.

[TheProgmagog]

@rocksolid76

This depends on whether you are eqing correctively or artistically. For example if you are just cutting some low end mud, you can compress that output and it will be fine. If you are boodting something for enhancement then it would be best to eq after the compressor most likely.

[09KNU]

complicated tutorial or explanation..

[jordenmells]

i guess for an entry level tutorial, this is alright. However, if your experienced with pro tools, and, or mixing and mastering, do not waste your time on it.

ps. without any compression at all, i can almost guarantee you that its gonna get buried in the mix.

[jwbthree3]

Does anyone know of a video that will show you how to blend music with a singers voice? When I import music track then record some one singing it doesn't blend.

[Estebanfuturo]

compress the mix and the vocals thru the same compressor on the main bus and play with the volumes

[Xtuhsee]

sweep for eq!!! if you know what that is

[lindenhu]

You must first know about compression to make vocals blend with music tracks. As, from an engineers point of view it's standard procedure for vocals. Just compress them as a matter of procedure. You can actually compress manually by manipulating a voice track with a volume envelope. Go through and painstakingly bring up the parts that are low and turn down the parts that are high. This is harder, but it works.

[kelc561]

nice, info to know.

[whitendumb]

So do you change any other settings on the compressor? Ratio, attack, release??

Great Tip by the way!!

[begjon]

how do you get a real quality rather than a raw quality from the microphone?

[jrod9900]

Getting a good sound from the vocals to the recording is going to require a couple things. First, you will want to start with a quality mic. Then, you need a good preamp, tube or solid state, depending on preferences. This will get the sound with decent quality into the recording program or sequencer. Then, you can use compressors, de-essers, reverb, eq, and any other effects inside the program. I use Pro Tools and do this all the time. Very good quality.

[TheProgmagog]

@jrod9900

The third priority is a good mic (albeit essential) the first priority is a good singer, the second is an acoustically viable room. The great mic will only reproduce a terrible singer in a bad room with unsparing accuracy. Dont forget, aside from talent, the room comes first. Otherwise all your great gear will just pick up all the flaws.

[ThaColombianCartel]

@TheProgmagog i'd say a good pre amp too

[rsheehan]

love it! keep em coming.

[kwd007]

Love the way you break it down man! Good work! Keep it up!