Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:55 am
by Bodega
Hi all,
I'm working on a new feature for my production blog and I'm looking for suggestions of producers that use compression, especially side-chained compression, as a creative tool. The classic example is Daft Punk, who just crushed those early records.
I know there's a shitload of mediocre trance and brosteppy wobble that's all about the sidechaining, but I'd like to keep the focus on people doing more cutting-edge stuff.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Matthew
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:03 am
by abZ
I use a shit ton of sidechain compression but light on the regular compression. I like what Headhunter and Breakage do with it as well. TBH I think sidechain compression has become fairly standard for all types of dance and defo dubstep, I would have a harder time picking out a tune that didn't have any. I hear young producers all the time where they will have a weak hi-passed kick or they are having trouble getting their drums to stick out and I immediately suggest it. Some people are scared of it and some think that they are a better producer for not using it. I am not sure where that comes from. Actually I think I remember Macc suggesting not using it. I guess but man I pulled my hair out for years trying to mix down until I discovered it for myself.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:12 am
by upstateface
If you're looking for amazing regular compression try Current Value.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:23 am
by aftee
abZ wrote:I use a shit ton of sidechain compression but light on the regular compression. I like what Headhunter and Breakage do with it as well. TBH I think sidechain compression has become fairly standard for all types of dance and defo dubstep, I would have a harder time picking out a tune that didn't have any. I hear young producers all the time where they will have a weak hi-passed kick or they are having trouble getting their drums to stick out and I immediately suggest it. Some people are scared of it and some think that they are a better producer for not using it. I am not sure where that comes from. Actually I think I remember Macc suggesting not using it. I guess but man I pulled my hair out for years trying to mix down until I discovered it for myself.
I can't explain how much this has been helping me improve production quality. I also just like the overall sound of sidechaining for some reason, might need to cut back on it a bit.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:36 am
by abZ
aftee wrote:
abZ wrote:I use a shit ton of sidechain compression but light on the regular compression. I like what Headhunter and Breakage do with it as well. TBH I think sidechain compression has become fairly standard for all types of dance and defo dubstep, I would have a harder time picking out a tune that didn't have any. I hear young producers all the time where they will have a weak hi-passed kick or they are having trouble getting their drums to stick out and I immediately suggest it. Some people are scared of it and some think that they are a better producer for not using it. I am not sure where that comes from. Actually I think I remember Macc suggesting not using it. I guess but man I pulled my hair out for years trying to mix down until I discovered it for myself.
I can't explain how much this has been helping me improve production quality. I also just like the overall sound of sidechaining for some reason, might need to cut back on it a bit.
Same as me. Basically I like huge subby kicks and huge subby bass I don't know how else to do it. I used to chase my tail for days trying to get the levels right, now it's no problem. I want you to shit your pants when you hear it on a big rig. You just have to learn to be subtle with it. If you are listening to the tune thinking about the side-chain compression then it's probably too much.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:41 am
by Bodega
AbZ: Those people who avoid it are right to some degree: on the whole compression is a bad idea for club music, since it's a way around technical limitations (background noise and dynamic range) that don't exist for club music the same way they do for, say, AM radio.
Plus, dynamic range is a tool to be used creatively, not crushed by compression. There's nothing worse than having a big buildup of noisy swooshing or whatever and then the drop is the same volume as the swooshing. Plus, excessive compression causes ear fatigue.
Upstateface: Just listened to Current Value - Cyrag. Thanks for the suggestion but that compression is just disgusting. The meters don't move at all. They need to read this.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:49 am
by Sharmaji
sidechaining is sidechaining-- it keeps things exciting but it's very much it's own sound. it can be awesome, it can be obvious and lame, it can be a crutch, it can be enlightening-- but it's defintely it's own sound.
mastering compression is its own beast-- a lot of vibe and psychoacoustics happen there.
huge amounts of awesome compression? Soundgarden, "superunknown." In EDM there's so much comp on everything in general that it takes like -25db of gain reduction to think "wow, that's compressed." not necesarriyl it's a bad thing, the fight we're fighting is to create superreal, over-emotive soundscapes that make people dance. if insane amounts of compression is what it takes, fine.
of course, things getting REALLY loud after being REALLY quiet... not so bad....
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 3:58 am
by abZ
Bodega wrote:AbZ: Those people who avoid it are right to some degree: on the whole compression is a bad idea for club music, since it's a way around technical limitations (background noise and dynamic range) that don't exist for club music the same way they do for, say, AM radio.
Plus, dynamic range is a tool to be used creatively, not crushed by compression. There's nothing worse than having a big buildup of noisy swooshing or whatever and then the drop is the same volume as the swooshing. Plus, excessive compression causes ear fatigue.
Upstateface: Just listened to Current Value - Cyrag. Thanks for the suggestion but that compression is just disgusting. The meters don't move at all. They need to read this.
Believe me I maintain a fair bit of dynamics in my music, you will never see one of my tunes look like a brick and I don't think it is a bad idea for my music in particular because I like to use kicks that share around the same frequency range as my bassline. There really isn't any way around it that I can think of. You could tell me to put my kicks in a different range but that just isn't me.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:44 am
by tavravlavish
I dont use compression, just because I dont really know how and I dont even wanna bother fucking with it really, ive tried in the past it just seems like a waste of time for what I like to do. Sorry if im not answering the original question, just felt like sharing
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression.
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:18 am
by aftee
abZ wrote:
Bodega wrote:AbZ: Those people who avoid it are right to some degree: on the whole compression is a bad idea for club music, since it's a way around technical limitations (background noise and dynamic range) that don't exist for club music the same way they do for, say, AM radio.
Plus, dynamic range is a tool to be used creatively, not crushed by compression. There's nothing worse than having a big buildup of noisy swooshing or whatever and then the drop is the same volume as the swooshing. Plus, excessive compression causes ear fatigue.
Upstateface: Just listened to Current Value - Cyrag. Thanks for the suggestion but that compression is just disgusting. The meters don't move at all. They need to read this.
Believe me I maintain a fair bit of dynamics in my music, you will never see one of my tunes look like a brick and I don't think it is a bad idea for my music in particular because I like to use kicks that share around the same frequency range as my bassline. There really isn't any way around it that I can think of. You could tell me to put my kicks in a different range but that just isn't me.
The only ways I knew to get my kick to somewhat fit in with my sub made the kick completely unappealing to me...I work with whatever I know how to do that gets the best sound in the end. So I hear you on this, sidechaining is like magic. It sounds better than seperating the frequencies so they don't have to fight it out and I don't hear any negative effects.
On top of that, I actually like the end sound it produces. Not just on bass and kicks either...I especially like it on pads.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:58 am
by narcissus
i try side chainging sometimes, but it never does much for my tunes. mainly because i'm a noob w/ it
i suppose i might fall in love one day, but i honestly love having everything driving a master compressor in proportion to it's signal strength atm. just a little bit to tighten up, and have drums nice and loud to press it a bit. that gets my mix popping the way i like w/o being too noticeably squished. i love when a sub line comes and pushes down the whole mix a little bit gives it a nice heavy feeling
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 7:15 am
by apathesis
mount kimbie
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:01 am
by Depone
J DILLA
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:39 am
by serox
Bodega wrote:Hi all,
I'm working on a new feature for my production blog and I'm looking for suggestions of producers that use compression, especially side-chained compression, as a creative tool. The classic example is Daft Punk, who just crushed those early records.
I know there's a shitload of mediocre trance and brosteppy wobble that's all about the sidechaining, but I'd like to keep the focus on people doing more cutting-edge stuff.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:45 am
by stappard
Bodega wrote:Hi all,
I'm working on a new feature for my production blog and I'm looking for suggestions of producers that use compression, especially side-chained compression, as a creative tool. The classic example is Daft Punk, who just crushed those early records.
I know there's a shitload of mediocre trance and brosteppy wobble that's all about the sidechaining, but I'd like to keep the focus on people doing more cutting-edge stuff.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Matthew
Basically everything put out by hipster electro label Ed Banger has some CRAZY compression going.
Actually I love that shit.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:50 am
by Original Face
Flying Lotus
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:02 am
by thierry_le_dj
yea i think i may use alot of normal compression i get told all the time my sound is much louder than other people track's but am not sure if it's a bad thing
cause i think it sound's ok to me..
tell me if you think i use to much compression in the track in my signature?
i've been trying to do side chain compressing for a while now but been having problem to get it right am still not that gating type of sound every time i give it ago.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:03 am
by DZA
Original Face wrote:Flying Lotus
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:34 pm
by Bodega
stappard wrote:Basically everything put out by hipster electro label Ed Banger has some CRAZY compression going.
/snip/
Actually I love that shit.
It's not bad. Super-brash, but it's got something. That Greel track is great.
Re: Producers that use really excessive amounts of compression?
gives it a nice heavy feeling