How To Use Compressors: Ratios, Threshold, Attack & Release

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  • Опубліковано 19 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 212

  • @BlockDefender
    @BlockDefender 11 місяців тому +15

    Dude I've been using compressors for 10 years and never known what I was doing, just turning knobs until things sounded right, and this video helped me immeasurably

  • @ravenation4855
    @ravenation4855 11 місяців тому +12

    Rick has such an awesome way of explaining the different aspects of music. He’s straight to the point, but never patronizing. I love this channel, and it’s the most important channel on this platform.

  • @Hyperbog
    @Hyperbog Рік тому +33

    Yes! These kinds of videos are invaluable. You are the guy to break this stuff down. Will really help countless people like myself who do these things at home with no formal training.

    • @goblinicus6644
      @goblinicus6644 11 місяців тому

      bro theres a million of these on UA-cam from far more qualified people than this fossil

  • @FocusBeam
    @FocusBeam 11 місяців тому +5

    FWIW, 33609 is a diode bridge compressor. TG12413/TG1 is also a diode compressor (zener diode). The Abbey Road RS124 (based on Altec Lansing 436C) is a varimu.

  • @JamBurglar
    @JamBurglar 11 місяців тому +3

    If I remember right, I found your channel by watching a previous version of this upload a few years ago. This kind of information is extremely helpful!

  • @The-Skyking
    @The-Skyking 11 місяців тому +1

    I LOVE Variable Mu compressors on a mix bus. I don't know why and I know it's genre dependent, but for what I do, I love them.

  • @createlovehappy
    @createlovehappy Рік тому +14

    I love your variety of videos, but for me these practical ones are my all time favorite. Tools of the trade, how-to, or how to use gear, etc. Love to learn all this.

  • @g0bzy
    @g0bzy 11 місяців тому +7

    One of the best analogies of a compressor i heard was like using your finger to push or pull the fader up or down with the aim of keeping the output signal constant. A human can do this, but a compressor is basically an automated way to do the same thing. Once you get that idea in your head with a fader going up and down to adjust the level, it all makes sense. In reality, its a bit more complex than that but this gives you a feel for whats happening.

    • @cuda426hemi
      @cuda426hemi 11 місяців тому

      Can you get Ringo's drum sound riding a volume fader? Peter Green's guitar on the Supernatural riding a fader? Any "pump" sound riding a fader? Clearly you didn't watch Rick's video. 5+ parameters, 3 minimum for the simple. It's so simple heck I built one as a kid.. Craig Anderton's plans and $15 of parts fanciest being a cheap opto isolator cell that was $4. You gonna delete again snowflake???

    • @cuda426hemi
      @cuda426hemi 11 місяців тому

      Can you get Ringo's drum sound riding a volume fader? Peter Green's guitar on the Supernatural riding a fader? Any "pump" sound riding a fader? Clearly you didn't watch Rick's video. 5+ parameters, 3 minimum for the simple. It's so simple heck I built one as a kid.. Craig Anderton's plans and $15 of parts fanciest being a cheap opto isolator cell that was $4. You gonna delete again snowflake???

  • @roncarlson7682
    @roncarlson7682 Рік тому +2

    Used to own an 1176 rev F. Liked it a lot. Unfortunately came to a place where financial pressures were making themselves known. Had a great tech go through it and sold it for around $2300 a few years back. I often wish I had it back, but I know I made the right choice for my situation.

  • @echoheadband
    @echoheadband 8 місяців тому

    Great stuff! It’d be interesting to get demos of these which ones you think pair well with different parts of the mix - drum bus, mix bus, vocals, etc…

  • @JohnDoe-sy6tt
    @JohnDoe-sy6tt Рік тому +4

    Thank you! From a real hip hop musician, this is what you need to tell artists as a producer so they understand. Awesome video!

  • @aldito7586
    @aldito7586 11 місяців тому

    Yes. What Rick is saying about compressors is right on spot. I think that the best thing that it does for an electric bass is that it makes the low notes louder and the loud notes lower.

  • @happyshadow
    @happyshadow 4 місяці тому

    Spiff is the ultimate tool for bass and acoustic guitars. If you dial it in so you're catching any nasty high end smacks then use the mix knob to blend in half the original signal. You can then move on to doing some compression to finesse. Spiff is also amazing for lead vocals after you've done heavy compression (especially if you've used ITB compressors), It really helps to tame explosive consonants. Spiff really is the best transient controller, it sounds pretty invisible leaving you free to do vibey compression in a much more consistent way.

  • @NEEDSHES
    @NEEDSHES 11 місяців тому

    One of the best explanations! And I've seen tons of them😅

  • @Johnzay
    @Johnzay Рік тому

    Thank you! My new go to video on compression…

  • @patrickrowe6745
    @patrickrowe6745 3 місяці тому

    Wow! this video make the whole concept of compression so clear and real. I was searching for this for years

  • @Lateful
    @Lateful 11 місяців тому

    1:39 I have those same monitors

  • @David-c3s4q
    @David-c3s4q Рік тому +1

    I've no idea what he is talking about and yet I love it.

  • @MelTuly
    @MelTuly Рік тому

    Hiya , thank you so much . . A lot to take in , but so grateful 🙏💚💙

  • @TheStrykerProject
    @TheStrykerProject Рік тому +1

    Thank you, Rick. I got more out of this 'mini-lesson' than most of the 30+ minute compressor vids out there. Usually they start with, "think of the compressor as a volume slider", which seems to fall short of the power of a compressor.

    • @Arcessitor
      @Arcessitor 11 місяців тому

      There's literally a comment right in this comment section saying exactly that, lmao.

  • @sodoberman
    @sodoberman Рік тому +1

    Feel like I can't learn enough about compression
    And the more I learn the better I (and my mixes) sound
    Thanks Rick!!

  • @VoxTone2009
    @VoxTone2009 11 місяців тому +1

    I have found that the emulated version of a Fairchild 670 is incredible useful in live settings to separate the instruments in a band by compressing the sides/center differently per instrument channel. You don't need to ride the channel controls as much to hear different instruments and you can keep the volume at a reasonable level which makes the listening experience much more enjoyable. Can't remember where I got the tip from, but it was from one of the great live sound engineers.

  • @davidelamguitar
    @davidelamguitar 11 місяців тому

    This was super helpful, Rick! Appreciate your work!

  • @KevinMiddletown
    @KevinMiddletown Рік тому +1

    Just bought the Beato Bundle! I've been an avid follower of Rick, and am just getting back into guitar/band/music after a masters degree. I'm excited to learn from one of the absolute best.

  • @stevenspencer9104
    @stevenspencer9104 11 місяців тому

    Ricard, I’m very sorry I haven’t subscribed by now. You have blessed me and my church is live stream mix immensely. I still have a long way to go but I have learned a great deal from just your compression video alone. God bless you and your family.

  • @poorlittlemonkey
    @poorlittlemonkey Рік тому

    Glad someone finally made UA-cam video about compressors!

  • @joaquinbaume1291
    @joaquinbaume1291 11 місяців тому

    you made a 30 min video about compression a while ago and that helped me a lot, that's when i finally understood compression, this video is also great, thank you a lot

  • @sbtechdif
    @sbtechdif 11 місяців тому

    Been subscribed to this channel for quite a while though but it never pops up in my UA-cam feed so I tend to forget about it. The main channel appears in my feed all the time.

  • @stewartmproductions
    @stewartmproductions Рік тому

    Love the 'Two' channel. Thanks for the refresher Rick.

  • @bodarist
    @bodarist Рік тому +2

    Great! I love the clarity of your explanations. So much useful information. More of these please! Thanks!

  • @Bittamin
    @Bittamin 9 місяців тому

    4:53 Logic comes with a stock SSL compressor emulation along with 6 other forms of you got that 🎉

  • @stephenmcnamara9928
    @stephenmcnamara9928 Рік тому +2

    Field Effect Transitor? Fire that intern! 😀 Great video for people starting out, and also good reminder information for experienced mixers. Thanks.

  • @cajuncrackerranch7990
    @cajuncrackerranch7990 Рік тому

    Thank you Rick. I did not realize you had 2 channels until you mentioned it in the middle. Appreciate you tips and ALL your videos and interviews. Merry Christmas!

  • @scottakam
    @scottakam Рік тому

    Thanks Rick. I've been subscribed to both channels for many years!

  • @chrisose
    @chrisose Рік тому +31

    This is an example of why engineering is as much of an artform as the musical performance.

  • @louisburley1597
    @louisburley1597 11 місяців тому

    This was my favorite video yet! I can’t wait to experiment more with them

  • @mattjenkins2823
    @mattjenkins2823 11 місяців тому

    I’ve been looking for a tutorial/informative video like this for soooo long. Thank you for posting this!

  • @SalvoVecchioGuitar
    @SalvoVecchioGuitar Рік тому +4

    very interesting, for a guitarist compressor is a delicate tool

  • @ride5000
    @ride5000 9 місяців тому

    just a bit of info... mu is not "emm-you" but rather "myou," a greek letter that symbolizes the voltage gain of a tube. the variable part is accomplished via a non-uniform pitch to the control grid winding inside the tube which causes portions of the space charge of electrons at the cathode to be exposed to different effective plate voltage field strengths.

  • @Thirsty_Deer_Studio
    @Thirsty_Deer_Studio Рік тому +4

    Love your mixing videos Tick glad to see your doing them again. Probably not as popular as the interview but still very important. Keep em comin

  • @allenm
    @allenm Рік тому +1

    Hey Rick, I see you using the Kush audio Compressor, I love that thing on horns bus

  • @LearnWithStephen
    @LearnWithStephen Рік тому

    Saved for this weekend. Thanks Rick

  • @Sir_Sway
    @Sir_Sway 11 місяців тому

    the knowledge never ends with dr. beato!

  • @edwardkelly345
    @edwardkelly345 9 місяців тому

    Rick Beato provides the world with further irrefutable evidence that a good teacher isn't a luxury or optional. It makes all the difference as to whether a student will actually learn anything from their time spent in class. Rick, with his experience as a bona fide professor earlier in life, is a very well-organized and well-spoken lecturer. Teaching is a skill and a profession and it's not just something that just anybody can do well off the cuff or even effectively whatsoever without proper preparation and training. Period. His explanations are fun to listen to because you actually learn something from it every time. It isn't just performative or going through the motions to appear to be teaching when all you're doing is wasting time rambling in front of the class and burning minutes from the hours. He is teaching, for real, as all good and qualified teachers tend to do.

  • @johnabbottphotography
    @johnabbottphotography 11 місяців тому

    Hey boss, thought I was already subscribed, because I knew that I was subscribed to you.
    Fixed it.
    Love your education, and thank you.

  • @lippi2171
    @lippi2171 Рік тому

    I literally just finished reading a book about this exact topic, and then you pop up with this

  • @crowonawirehome
    @crowonawirehome Рік тому

    Rereleasing information that is still educational in small bites is probably a good idea. I watched this vid back whenever but found this viewing useful.

  • @MarcoPolux
    @MarcoPolux Рік тому

    to learn this in the past, you should go to sound engineer school and then work in studios.... now, just search Rick BEato Compression guide.... and that's it. Those are the settings for my SSL The Bus+ (Ratio 4 to 1, attack 6ms, release Auto 1) and sounds great as a glue mild colored. Thank you Mr. Beato!! 👍

  • @fireworks_music
    @fireworks_music 11 місяців тому

    This is so great. No one does it better.

  • @STOLGUITARS
    @STOLGUITARS Рік тому

    what a great video TY Rick great to hear a person with so many years experience really cleared a lot of questions I had TY again man !!

  • @suede__
    @suede__ Рік тому

    Pretty helpful after getting the Walrus Audio Mira optical compressor pedal.

  • @AstralCorona
    @AstralCorona 11 місяців тому

    Wow so logic has a emulator of almost all the popular compression hardware put there but ? I have never had a clear explanation of what they do what they are and what they can do best . Thank you Rick you are a legend

  • @nicholas_james
    @nicholas_james 11 місяців тому

    The demo of 'When the Levee Breaks' made me suddenly realize that I've been listening with my compressor on all day.

  • @TaylorMorgeson
    @TaylorMorgeson Рік тому

    This allows to make really great music that will get millions of plays that will pay you enough to make a fraction of your distrokid payment. Another great video!

  • @andyracksthecams
    @andyracksthecams Рік тому

    Nice. Just playing with Inserting some new compressors.

  • @PaulLoughrin
    @PaulLoughrin Рік тому

    Thanks Mr. Rick! Merry Christmas!

  • @emergentform1188
    @emergentform1188 11 місяців тому

    omg, I love this, Hooray RB!

  • @ClaudioRowe
    @ClaudioRowe Рік тому

    i knew you by this videos Rick, glad they are back

  • @-______-______-
    @-______-______- 13 днів тому

    Good info as always Rick.

  • @weicco
    @weicco 11 місяців тому

    I use really fast attack on overdriven guitar when I want the sound be a bit "crystallic" (I don't know if there's such a word). It is somewhat hard to play with that setting but it really brings out the lead guitar especially if you add delay into mix (and you probably don't want to add any other effect). You have to try everything since you might stumble upon sounds and effects you didn't even knew you needed!
    Actually, I think I have to buy a looper so I can test all the settings without having to hassle with the guitar all the time.
    Ps. I'm talking about effect pedals in amp's effect loop or before the amp. I believe Rick is talking about effects used in postprocessing. So there's a difference.

  • @diosgenes
    @diosgenes Рік тому

    God Bless! thank you for sharing this at this time :) Merry Christmas!

  • @MihaiSorohan
    @MihaiSorohan Рік тому

    Great explanation, easy to understand.
    Quick question, what would you use on brass? trumpets mostly, solo or horn section?

  • @m.vonhollen6673
    @m.vonhollen6673 11 місяців тому

    TubeTech CL-1B… I miss her so much!

  • @DjeanU2b
    @DjeanU2b 11 місяців тому

    Best video about compression in UA-cam,

  • @ExpatZ266
    @ExpatZ266 Рік тому +3

    Love these vids Rick, and you guest list is insane!
    BTW - Merry Xmas!

    • @giork2828
      @giork2828 Рік тому

      Merry Christmas. (Xmas and “gosh” do not exist).

  • @andrewjeffries8721
    @andrewjeffries8721 Рік тому

    Merry Christmas, Rick! May your holidays be filled with joy!

  • @TheRimeOfTheAncientMariner
    @TheRimeOfTheAncientMariner 11 місяців тому

    This is great! Id love to hear more of the side by side comparisons as you're explaining these

  • @claudiocheulini
    @claudiocheulini Рік тому +10

    Hey Rick! Great videos as usual!
    Just a small detail, technically speaking the Neve 33609 is a Diode Bridge type of compressor..not a VCA.. but it makes a great mixbus (and drums) compressor indeed!
    You should try the BAE 10DC, that’s also nice! :)
    You should push your own label and bring back, well made and played music..at least to some extent..!
    Keep coming with these videos!
    👍👍👍
    🙏🏻

    • @Reggi_Sample
      @Reggi_Sample 11 місяців тому

      Great point, I need some germanium love too!

  • @RebelToneMusic412
    @RebelToneMusic412 11 місяців тому

    I think this is great, I dont know if you’ve done one but maybe also how to use a proper eq or when to use modulation like delays and reverb, a mix and master tutorial

  • @BenCoultryAfishall
    @BenCoultryAfishall Рік тому

    I'm here for every mixing/production video you got on RB2 - I'm covering *every job and instrument, so ...knowledge me sir.

  • @Banzurit
    @Banzurit Рік тому

    Thank you for the lesson, Mr. Beato!

  • @jakehendriksen2841
    @jakehendriksen2841 Рік тому

    Loving this video, Rick.

  • @LApianoplace
    @LApianoplace Рік тому

    This is great stuff. I love to continue learning more about it. Thanks for sharing your expertise in all this.

  • @physiqueDrummond
    @physiqueDrummond 11 місяців тому

    for the curious, I searched and found the analog (and tube driven) LA-2A from Universal Audio is 4700 USD (nice hardware...)

  • @CentaurPress
    @CentaurPress 3 місяці тому

    Thank you for such great information. 🙏

  • @TheManglerPolishDeathMetal
    @TheManglerPolishDeathMetal 11 місяців тому

    Very valuable lecture !

  • @MtlRedAtheist
    @MtlRedAtheist 11 місяців тому

    Much appreciated! Valuable info, indeed!

  • @fanir33
    @fanir33 Рік тому

    Great explanation!

  • @aleksamrkela831
    @aleksamrkela831 5 місяців тому

    The Neve 33609 is not a VCA compressor - it's a diode bridge compressor, which means that it uses a diode to control the gain reduction. Massive difference there! Another two staple VCA compressors, though, are the dbx 160 and the Empirical Labs Distressor. :D Otherwise, great videos!

  • @Wedontwantnowarnomore
    @Wedontwantnowarnomore 11 місяців тому

    This is educational. Thanx 🙏

  • @thundersnow819
    @thundersnow819 Рік тому

    Hm was already in the upper 20% thanks for this video

  • @gtr1952
    @gtr1952 Рік тому

    I've been subbed since day 1. The tricks in making canned music are interesting. 8)

  • @gugamunhozofficial
    @gugamunhozofficial Рік тому

    Great, amazing content and explanation about this, I love, thank you Sr.

  • @milanpolak
    @milanpolak Рік тому

    Awesome, thanks Rick!

  • @joshuacurtis1631
    @joshuacurtis1631 Рік тому +1

    The question is, what the hell is a distressor? Is it a VCA a fet or an opto? Don't really know but they sound great

  • @quadrant2012
    @quadrant2012 9 годин тому

    So, those mix bus comps , they stay on when mix is printed before mastering ?

  • @irawardmusic
    @irawardmusic 11 місяців тому

    Good job Rick !!
    Explaining how compression works is no easy task :).
    Plugin compressors suck because they re-quantize your tracks.
    I call "the groove thieves" LOL !!
    Especially on software instruments and the plugins that use a lot of CPU power.
    If you run them in low latency mode, they work better :).
    Digital music is fun and cheap but it sucks LOL !!

  • @ShaneSmithISOW
    @ShaneSmithISOW Рік тому

    Extremely useful.

  • @koraamis5568
    @koraamis5568 11 місяців тому

    There are a billion videos about compression, but I was missing this.
    What about the difference when using VSTs, that can be made to play very if not too consistent?

  • @NARXOVERHERE
    @NARXOVERHERE 11 місяців тому

    0:10 i'm so confuse , i thought that we should have medium attack to catch all the bass ??? . could someone explain please ?? i'm newbie

    • @StratsRUs
      @StratsRUs 3 місяці тому

      To stop the inconsistencies in the dynamics.Rick was referring to an inconsistent bass player, who is not plucking each note at a nice average level.Some will be too low some high and more percussive.It's loud and quiet and needs to be level.
      Therefore the attack grabs them and helps you give it a better, more consistent level.

    • @NARXOVERHERE
      @NARXOVERHERE 3 місяці тому +1

      @@StratsRUs thank you for your reply , my english is not so good so maybe i miss the things he explained in the video

  • @babyBmaj
    @babyBmaj 11 місяців тому

    in the beginning, is he talking about front end compression on the actual bass signal? like you would get from a compressor pedal? or the kind of compression you would put on perhaps as a plugin on the bass track as you're working in your DAW?

  • @TheEvertw
    @TheEvertw Рік тому

    Great info! Thanks!

  • @Funky_Ghost
    @Funky_Ghost 11 місяців тому

    How does studio compressors play with my always on JoeMeek FloorQ? I've used it for years and years and won't part with it for love or money. I also use a Wilson Effects 6 position Q Wah for just a touch of flavor as well. Do these pose problems for engineers? Edit: I forgot to add, I play a passive 5 Bass.

  • @gibson2623
    @gibson2623 11 місяців тому

    Very veru nice. Thank you Rick :)

  • @g0bzy
    @g0bzy 10 місяців тому

    Re: earlier post... You have to understand that the analogy of manual 'volume slider' compression isn't a full blown description of how a compressor works and its basically only there to help new comers with little or no knowledge grasp what a compressor does. It does not explain attack, release, threshold point, spectral colouration, distortion, 'pumping' or anything else associated with character of compressors. There's a real art to using compressors and it can get complex and its very subjective. And in the case of this post - contentious and even heated. Just read the posts, people even get upset about it.. Calm down lol..
    But, having said all that, if you break it down, the heart of a compressor commonly uses some component like an opto-isolator or an LDR type component which is configured in a circuit using feedback to reduce output signal depending on the signal coming in, and that is in fact, analogous to a person manually adjusting a fader to adjust the signal level depending on how big it is. Its basically the same thing - an adjustable voltage gain structure. Obviously, not as fast reacting as a compressor circuit, a fader is limited in speed but it can be a useful way to describe it nevertheless. It gets the idea across about pulling the signal back depending on its level coming in. How fast you react to pulling the fader (attack), how slow you return the fader (release) and at what point do you decide to move the fader at all (threshold). So its fair enough to use it as an analogy just to convey the concept of feedback driven signal reduction, but its not a full blown description. Far from it. So thats why you see it used in YT videos. And thats also why it gets attacked by some as 'BS'. Because its not the whole picture.

  • @paulmdevenney
    @paulmdevenney 11 місяців тому

    @Rick when you say "ride" in the context of not using a compressor, what exactly do you mean? I'm taking it to be manually adjusting volume (either by editing the audio, or by automation), but I could be wrong as I keep finding new topics I know nothing about 😆

    • @MrAdopado
      @MrAdopado 11 місяців тому

      You are correct. It means moving the fader in real time. Of course nowadays the "ride" could be automated.

    • @paulmdevenney
      @paulmdevenney 11 місяців тому

      @@MrAdopado Thank you. Yes, I guessed correctly then that "ride" came from the real time adjustment. That would require learning actual real skills!

  • @adventurefreeman9682
    @adventurefreeman9682 Рік тому

    Thank you for this

  • @DanFlashes99
    @DanFlashes99 Рік тому

    Can't watch too many of these types of videos!! my understanding of compression is miles better than it once was, but I've yet to break through and TRULY "get it"

    • @MrAdopado
      @MrAdopado 11 місяців тому

      I think that applies to most of us! I strongly suspect that even professionals use their awareness just to get into the "ball-park" of the sound they want but after that it's probably about experimenting with some variations and choosing what sounds good.

  • @danielholmqvist2713
    @danielholmqvist2713 Рік тому +63

    I don't even know what compressing really means in producing, not to mention attack time or other terms. Would love an even more beginner's guide!

    • @beekay4906
      @beekay4906 Рік тому +31

      If only there were literally hundreds of videos explaining these concepts on UA-cam already.

    • @geddylee501
      @geddylee501 Рік тому

      Lol ​@@beekay4906

    • @VideoMovieChannel9000
      @VideoMovieChannel9000 Рік тому +34

      Imagine you are watching a TV at your preferred volume. A commercial comes on and the volume is suddenly much louder. You reach for the remote to turn the TV down, only turning it back up again after a certain amount of time. You are essentially doing what a compressor does.

    • @Theactivepsychos
      @Theactivepsychos Рік тому +4

      Flattening a portion of a sound wave so that the quiet parts are loud enough to hear without the louder bits clipping.

    • @cygnus_XI
      @cygnus_XI Рік тому

      @@VideoMovieChannel9000S-tier answer right here.

  • @NikoBased
    @NikoBased 11 місяців тому

    The problem I have when people say "fast attack time" , is there's a huge difference between 0 and 0.30ms for instance. Would 0 not be considered a fast attack time? However, 0 and 0.30ms sound vastly different, as 0.30ms starts letting transients through. I wish people would be more clear about this specifically.