Compression

[crackpot]

So I am just wondering what is everyone compressing? I have been told to compress the fu*k out of everything and I am just wondering what everyones process is. Fire at meh!

[Samuel_L_Damnson]

Compress the fuck out of everything Is silly advice. Only compress thing that need the dynamics evening out or you want yo change the charecterisics of that sound. If u compress everything u might end up with a flat and boring mix

[Tekvision]

Compress the stuff that needs it, and don't compress the fuck out of everything unless that's what you want. Don't just compress because someone told you to.

When I was learning about compression, people kept saying exactly what their telling you and that don't do it, if you don't know what it does, the change is insignificant, or it sounds fine with or without. I did just that, never used compression for anything, eventhough I knew what it does to a sound. I eventually learned myself what sounds needed it. I heard a flaw in a sound (on a bass, the dynamic range was all over the place), and then I knew that it needed to be compressed, all by myself, connecting the dots.

This is just my experience, and nobody's the same. Some learn it really fast, and most people know what it does, but don't know how to implement it. That is just how I learned to implement it in my tracks.

Sorry for the preach, it's not all related to your post, but I just wanted to say this

[wub]

I have been told to compress the fu*k out of everything

Who told you that? They're muppets. Ignore them going forward.

When I was learning about compression, people kept saying exactly what their telling you and that don't do it, if you don't know what it does, the change is insignificant, or it sounds fine with or without. I did just that, never used compression for anything, eventhough I knew what it does to a sound. I eventually learned myself what sounds needed it. I heard a flaw in a sound (on a bass, the dynamic range was all over the place), and then I knew that it needed to be compressed, all by myself, connecting the dots

Sums it up perfectly. If you don't know what it is or what it does, don't do it just because. Experiment with applying compression to different sounds and listen to what difference it makes whilst you train your ears to recognise when it is or isn't needed.

[crackpot]

yeah i didnt think it seemed right thanks guys. I know what it does I just have trouble deciding when to use it. At the mo I am just using it on drums and vocals (if there are any) got me some learning to do I think. Thanks

[Tekvision]

yeah i didnt think it seemed right thanks guys. I know what it does I just have trouble deciding when to use it. At the mo I am just using it on drums and vocals (if there are any) got me some learning to do I think. Thanks

This is the right way to do it, atleast in my opinion. When you get more skilled at composition, sounddesign and mixing you then start to piece things together yourself. Your attention to detail gets better and you start to hear things you didn't hear before.

[cyclopian]

Pretty recent discussion about this subject, you might find some good info in here:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=287106