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I've started to use parallel compression, but i still need to practice using it. I was wondering how loud the send channel for kick should be?
My kick peaks ~-8db and the send channel peaks round -15db or so. Still it feels like the kick isn't loud enough compared to the rest of the track.
Master channel peaks round -4,-3db and raising the kick send channel volume doesn't make it peak higher ( if i raise the volume really much then it will but then the kick is too loud) so how loud should i raise the volume of the send channel?

And also i'm wondering about the settings of the send channel. What settings to compressor? And what about the eq, do you eq everything else out but the punchy area of the kick or what?
I'm using FL, if it matters something to someone

You can control the amount of compression using the knob in the effect chain. This is one easy way of doing it. Somewhere between 40-60% might sound best.

If you want to affect them differently, just blend the original and the send until it sounds best. Send both of those into a third bus track to control the whole volume of that kick sound.

Do you mean i put the compressors knob to 40-60% or the volume of the send channel?

MaZa1 wrote:Master channel peaks round -4,-3db and raising the kick send channel volume doesn't make it peak higher ( if i raise the volume really much then it will but then the kick is too loud) so how loud should i raise the volume of the send channel?

I don't really get what your saying here. If its too quiet compared to the rest of the track turn it up till it sounds right. Somewhere between "really much then it will but then the kick is too loud" and where it is now should be a volume that sounds good to you.

I can't tell you what level to set your returns or anything like that coz i don't know what else is going on in the track. This is why people say use your ears, because every song is different and needs to be treated differently.

Im not sure you fully get the concept of parallel compression. The idea is to compress the hell out of the send and blend that with the original so you get a balance of the transient dynamics of the original and the body of the compressed send. So settings i use are normally a short attack, low/medium release. Low threshold and a high ratio. if your compressor has a "mix" knob or a dry wet knob set it to 100% wet. This is pretty mush standard for send effects

I know theres no exact levels for instruments, but im just asking what levels ppl are using.
And i also know the idea of parallel compression, to compress shit out of the channel, but im asking do i put it to the same level as the original channel or what.
Because if its nearly at the same level, the kick starts to sound maybe littlebit shitty but if its not so loud the kick starts so sound weak.
So this is why im not trusting my ears because my headphones doesn't give the right sound comparing to other systems, so thats why im trying to ask should i put the levels so that the kick sounds bit shitty with my headphones to make it sound better on the other systems, or is there something else wrong with the mix.

And again, sorry for my bad english

MaZa1 wrote:Do you mean i put the compressors knob to 40-60% or the volume of the send channel?

I meant instead of setting up a send, you can decrease the wet/dry knob.

I actually think the best answer you'll get is "whatever sounds best." Every sample is different, and you might have to practice using your ears rather than your eyes.

My kick peaks ~-8db and the send channel peaks round -15db or so. Still it feels like the kick isn't loud enough compared to the rest of the track.
Master channel peaks round -4,-3db and raising the kick send channel volume doesn't make it peak higher ( if i raise the volume really much then it will but then the kick is too loud) so how loud should i raise the volume of the send channel?

Wow I think some of you new producers need to concentrate more on using those holes on the side of your head more (I think they're called ears?) instead of relying on gain structure 'rules' and asking silly questions on forums....

Did you really think someone would give you a definite answer to solve all your problems? Seriously, there's a reason why it takes practice/ experience using most techniques; you have to play around and take the time to get it to sound right.

Standard practice for parallel compression is to send 100% of your original signal to a bus, compress that bus hard, and blend the original signal, and compressed signal to taste. There should be no dry/ wet signal, that is the point of using a dry bus and a compressed bus. I was going to explain the point of parallel compression is not to make the kick louder, but MitchAUS has beaten me to it (good lad!)

Every sample is different, and you might have to practice using your ears rather than your eyes.

Hammer. Nail. Head. Like what I already said above, this response could pretty much end a lot of the pointless/ lazy threads I see up on here...

comp setting for your return track:

attack: 30-55 ms
release: 150-250 ms
ratio: 15:1
threshold: squashed to fuck (around 50% of your original signal strength)

now, with just your drum tracks playing, just make sure the master peaks at less than -10dB before any compression/limiting.

MikkiFunk wrote:...

Like i said ( or thought i said ) i ain't trying to get a straight answer, i'm asking some directions.
And this because with my headphones the kick sounds punchy and enough loud, but when taking the track into some other system, the kick almost like disappears.
But when i make the kick more loud, it sounds shitty with my headphones but more punchy at the other system. So this is why im asking if its just my headphones/the other system, or is there something else wrong. So thats why i'm asking a direction to the settings so that i can try different settings that ppl have found good, and HEAR if its just my settings thats fucked up since i dont know much about these settings so atleast im not doing the opposite thing that im supposed to do

And the problem with this track was actually the eqing that made the kick sound shit with bigger systems.

MaZa1 wrote:

MikkiFunk wrote:...

with my headphones the kick sounds punchy and enough loud, but when taking the track into some other system, the kick almost like disappears.

So wait, you're headphone producing? Am I right in saying that your headphones aren't monitoring ones? I think that's your problem right there mate... As for your settings. I don't use FL but is there not a Parallel preset on the compressor?

The headphones are sony mdr-xb300 so i dont think they are best but i dont think they are the worst either.
No, theres no parallel preset in any of my compressors

dude, i JUST told you the exact compressor settings that EVERYONE uses for parallel/ny comp.

bassinine wrote:dude, i JUST told you the exact compressor settings that EVERYONE uses for parallel/ny comp.

Thanks for that, i just answered to Chambo_ XKRT

bassinine wrote:dude, i JUST told you the exact compressor settings that EVERYONE uses for parallel/ny comp.

No such thing as exact settings as every compressor reacts differently set to the same settings.
Go with the ears mate

Depone wrote:

bassinine wrote:dude, i JUST told you the exact compressor settings that EVERYONE uses for parallel/ny comp.

No such thing as exact settings as every compressor reacts differently set to the same settings.
Go with the ears mate

yeah, which is why i gave him a good starting RANGE of values to use as a guideline - values which are used by pros about 90% of the time. i bet you fit in that category


guess i figured that if he didn't know how to use his ears and adjust the settings to his own track - well, then he's a lost cause anyways. haha