eq is easy it's just your highs, mids and lows. i don't even know im here, i just love looking at everyones way of mixing. i have music on my channel that i have mixed if you have questions.
any way you could stop by my channel listen to my song and tell me if my mix sounds good? my song is already on all platforms, and I'm told im an excellent mixer/engineer but I'm such perfectionist. lol
12:12 singer ate "like". You might need to either volume envelope that tiny snip up and see if it can be heard. It's nearly inaudible even after compression. thanks for the vid!!! Very clear and you covered all the parts nicely.
I was mostly always knocking my head against the wall while trying to use a compressor, but this video makes it real clear, can't wait to apply it to my next recordings. Thanks man!
As usual, Graham's gift for crystal-clear explanations shines through. He certainly has a way of clearly explaining topics to both lay-person and expert. I come back to his vids time and again.
My God This is the best channel I've found yet on helping us beginner studio folks. So many crappy other audio videos to sort through before I landed here. I'm addicted!!! THANK YOU RECORDING REVOLUTION
there are so many guides for stuff that just... tell you what something does or is supposed to do. but here, we're being taken around the compressor, understanding what each knob is doing/changing and how it affects the mix. and, in a way, we're being told the order of knobs to be tweaked for compression, so like i gotta start with the threshold first, then ratio, then attack and release, then makeup gain. so many complex things can be simplified by just giving people a checklist of what to do first; i know it's not always that simple but in this case it works very well. perfect explanation thank you so much!
I must say your explanation on understanding how compression works was one of the best vids oz dun checked out. Thanks Im now going to remixs some pre-recorded vocals I've done.
Graham, I've been watching your videos and reading your blogs for several years now and they have been tremendously helpful. And your teaching style and ability to present fairly complex material in a simple and constructive manner has grown tremendously along the way. I've probably watched a hundred videos and read a hundred blogs on the basic concepts of vocal compression... and explained the concept to quite a few others myself. This is probably the best "beginner" video about this topic that I have ever seen. Kudos. You choose a perfect example, did a great job illustrating the problem, never got lost in the minutia, took adequate time to let the viewer listen and digest and gently guided them through the process of figuring out what they should be listening for. The only thing I would add that might have been helpful for the "visual learners" is to at some point print the effect and briefly show a before and after waveform to visually drive home the point of what you are trying to accomplish. Again, fantastic video and thanks for doing what you do.
This tutorial is a game changer. This is what I was missing. Absolutely a wonderful job in explaining compression and how it should be used. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
I've been using compression successfully for years, but I still enjoy watching your videos. Never know when I might run across some little tidbit that I either didn't know or had forgotten about. Thanks, Graham! Joel Glaser Audio Productions
This is a fantastic video. I've been playing music for years and am just starting to get into the engineering side of things and this broke it down so simply. Cheers man!
This is just amazing. Clear, concise, and detailed explanations and walkthrough. Not just what to do, but understanding the context of why it's done. I am a fan!
Hands down...!!! You deserve an award 🥇 for this presentation and lesson. As a Toastmaster, I salute you and as a student I wanna thank you 🙏.... Simplicity is Bliss
Now I understand compression. I just used to add it because I knew I was supposed to to make vocals sound better. I made it sound better just by trial and error not knowing what attack or anything was 😂.
I've been mixing audio for film and radio/podcasts for years, but being self taught, I never really had a great grasp of compressors. This is by far the best explanation I've ever heard. Thank you!
This is the exact way to teach someone who is very interested in what they are doing. Keep this teaching style and your going to rule the youtube category
Thank you Graham for an outstanding explanation of compression. As a beginner/amateur I have avoided using compression as when I have tried, all I ever managed to do is make the vocals sound bad, mostly because I really did not understand the relationships between the various adjustments. I feel brave enough now to try introducing compression into my mix, knowing that "gently does it", one adjustment at a time and how to listen more carefully for the effect.
Simply the most helpful video I've seen on mixing out of the (probably) hundreds I've viewed. Everyone else seems to assume we know what those functions do. As an experiment, I open a song I'm working on in Logic and mimicked all the levels used in the video. The difference was dramatic. And now I'm sad I haven't been doing this all along...
One of the best basic compressor explanations I've seen. And I've been recording for over 30 years. Explained and demonstrated so anyone can understand. Great job!
Wouldn't it be kinda cool to see the waveform change as you change the parameters on the plugin > to actually see the loud peaks shrink then universally all raise as you increase the gain.
I've always struggled with getting the hang of compression, especially as it pertains to setting the threshold, this helped a lot. Thanks for the video and the checklist was quite helpful as well!
This is the best intro to compression I've seen on youtube. Easy to follow, not overly technical in language so I novice mixer can actually understand everything you're saying and it's very straight forward and easy to follow. Thank you, I just subscribed and I'm gonna watch your EQ video next. In the mixing process do you recommend EQ before compression?
This is an extraordinary video. Efficient both with optics and verbal explanations without the annoying "HEY GUYS! WHAT''S UP!!!" and over-excited tone so many have (a pet peeves of mine). Thank you! Suscribed.
I’ve watched for a while and your videos have been extremely helpful in the recording process. I think this may be your best yet. When you explained things like compression and eq before and did side by side comparisons, I wasn’t able to grasp the subtle change. This video you showed in detail which words were getting compressed, which words were getting more gain and it was very understandable. Thanks for sharing your talent!
Like some others here I already knew about compression (in great part thanks to your previous videos) but I enjoy anything Graham Cochrane. This video was very clear and made the process easy to understand.
So glad I came across this video! I would say I’m getting comfortable tracking and leading up to mixing and this video made the concept of compression so easy to try and learn. I appreciate that you explained the plug in buttons and what they do. There wasn’t filler in the video for the sake of pushing time which I appreciate. Thank you!
I like the way you explain it "all". That's a big help to those who are just starting out. Thanks, can't wait to apply it on some of the projects I am working on.
Graham, top notch instruction here. You did a great drop breaking down what you were gonna tell us, told it to us, and then told us what you told us. I also felt you used long enough examples to help illustrate your point without dwelling and dragging out the video. I really enjoyed this simple yet highly informative intro to compression, and feel I'll be able to immediately apply your concepts! Thanks again! A fan, -Devin
Excellent. Best test of any lesson is applying it. I went away and did what you described and it worked. Now I feel equipped with a skill I didn't have before. EQ-uipped, indeed. Thank you.
I always like to manually volume balance a vocal before I throw a compressor on. It's time consuming, but it takes a lot of the heavy lifting off the compressor.
Definitely, one of the best videos to explain compression. Most use far too many technical terms, don't break it down in layman's terms or play enough of the clip. Great job. I look forward to watching more of your super easy tutorials.
Thank you Graham. After all the videos I have seen about compression, this one really explains to me exactly what compression does and why it’s so helpful!
Compression seems simple at first glance but all the different knobs (ratio, attack, etc) make it seem very confusing. Somehow, you made it seem crystal clear in this video, though.
Finally, An explanation of such an elusive (...well to me anyway... ) subject done so that now I actually know why those Settings were invented! Thank You
You are legitimately one of my most helpful audio tutorial channels I've stumbled onto so far, thank you so much! I always had trouble when it came to compression and never knowing what to do with it
We all grew up using the term volume, unfortunately the correct term is level according to Bob Katz in his Mastering Audio books. I use digital & analog hardware compressors usually outside the box, but you did a pretty impressive job getting your point across on limiting the dynamics on vocals and then integrating them back into the mix using make-up gain and not necessarily increasing the fader volume to bring great balance to the mix. Thanks!
I have always liked Graham's videos... they're immensely helpful, what makes This Channel's Content so great is Graham's articulation...he teaches really well, and delivers a very compact and precise concept...I really liked the Song, The vocal Performance is Amazing...I would love to know the whole song, and know who the Singer is... Can't wait for it to be completed and released!!
Hello Graham, I first heard you on Skillshare and gotta say you are on my top 5 best tutors of all time. BTW, the song "sticks and stones is awesome." I'm subscribing to your channel and wish you much success. Thank you
Great video, I never really wanted to be on the engineer side but I see how important it is videos like this are great. Thanks for having real content and getting straight to it.
Agreed! So many people don't understand compression. In fact, many just think compression is about taming the loud peaks. I used to say "no, that's just the limiting aspect of compression". Now I just refer them to this video. It should be renamed 'Compression For Dummies'.
This is a great video! Gosh I’ve watching SO MANY videos on how to mix, EQ, compress etc vocals and this has by FAR taught me the most! I love that you’re doing a long and good comparison before and after, because for an untrained ear, when people don’t show you that much of a before and after, it’s hard to hear the difference. So I like love that you use a lot of examples and tell us what to listen for! :) thanks!
Thanks. I already knew how compressors worked -- but the -6db gain reduction guideline, 2:1-4:1 ratios for vox, and +4.5 db make up gain starting points really help me think about starting points to work from. Cheers.
Great tutorial. Easy, simple and very educational. As a begginer at mixing, I have already watched quite a lot of videos without getting to understand what compression does and how it works. Now I do. Thank you very much! PS: ¿Any free compressor plugin that you would recomend?
this by far the best introduction for compressor. I never understood thats like now. please do for equalizer and reverb please
I agrre Imad. This is explained by far the best by Graham in this video, than any other on here. I am a noob but now I understand what it is about.
eq is easy it's just your highs, mids and lows. i don't even know im here, i just love looking at everyones way of mixing. i have music on my channel that i have mixed if you have questions.
any way you could stop by my channel listen to my song and tell me if my mix sounds good? my song is already on all platforms, and I'm told im an excellent mixer/engineer but I'm such perfectionist. lol
Nu5en5e here's the medal you wanted 🎖️
imad Abeidoh I agree. I understood the controls, but his detailed examples pointing out the specific phrases that improved really made it click.
12:12 singer ate "like". You might need to either volume envelope that tiny snip up and see if it can be heard. It's nearly inaudible even after compression. thanks for the vid!!! Very clear and you covered all the parts nicely.
I watched this a few years ago, and am happening to revisit it. This video changed my entire studio.
I was mostly always knocking my head against the wall while trying to use a compressor, but this video makes it real clear, can't wait to apply it to my next recordings. Thanks man!
One of the best people who explain simply and accurately what a compressor is and how it works 👌
As usual, Graham's gift for crystal-clear explanations shines through. He certainly has a way of clearly explaining topics to both lay-person and expert. I come back to his vids time and again.
Graham you have a gift for teaching. You simplify these processes into nice bite size chunks. This guy is really good.
My God
This is the best channel I've found yet on helping us beginner studio folks. So many crappy other audio videos to sort through before I landed here. I'm addicted!!!
THANK YOU RECORDING REVOLUTION
there are so many guides for stuff that just... tell you what something does or is supposed to do. but here, we're being taken around the compressor, understanding what each knob is doing/changing and how it affects the mix. and, in a way, we're being told the order of knobs to be tweaked for compression, so like i gotta start with the threshold first, then ratio, then attack and release, then makeup gain. so many complex things can be simplified by just giving people a checklist of what to do first; i know it's not always that simple but in this case it works very well. perfect explanation thank you so much!
This is the best intro to compression that I’ve seen. Thanks to you, I now understand attack, release, ratio and threshold so much better than before.
I must say your explanation on understanding how compression works was one of the best vids oz dun checked out.
Thanks Im now going to remixs some pre-recorded vocals I've done.
Graham,
You've answered my question, I've been searching for a long time.
The best explanation, by far!!
Thanks a million
Graham, I've been watching your videos and reading your blogs for several years now and they have been tremendously helpful. And your teaching style and ability to present fairly complex material in a simple and constructive manner has grown tremendously along the way. I've probably watched a hundred videos and read a hundred blogs on the basic concepts of vocal compression... and explained the concept to quite a few others myself. This is probably the best "beginner" video about this topic that I have ever seen. Kudos. You choose a perfect example, did a great job illustrating the problem, never got lost in the minutia, took adequate time to let the viewer listen and digest and gently guided them through the process of figuring out what they should be listening for. The only thing I would add that might have been helpful for the "visual learners" is to at some point print the effect and briefly show a before and after waveform to visually drive home the point of what you are trying to accomplish. Again, fantastic video and thanks for doing what you do.
This tutorial is a game changer. This is what I was missing. Absolutely a wonderful job in explaining compression and how it should be used. Thank you, thank you and thank you.
I think this has to be the most helpful and well explained videos on compression that I've ever seen .Well done that man .
I've been using compression successfully for years, but I still enjoy watching your videos. Never know when I might run across some little tidbit that I either didn't know or had forgotten about.
Thanks, Graham!
Joel
Glaser Audio Productions
This is a fantastic video. I've been playing music for years and am just starting to get into the engineering side of things and this broke it down so simply. Cheers man!
This is just amazing. Clear, concise, and detailed explanations and walkthrough. Not just what to do, but understanding the context of why it's done. I am a fan!
Hands down...!!! You deserve an award 🥇 for this presentation and lesson. As a Toastmaster, I salute you and as a student I wanna thank you 🙏.... Simplicity is Bliss
Graham, you're truly a gifted teacher, man. That is extremely rare in this day and age. Been watching your videos for years. Keep it up!
this is the best compression video i ever seen, really helped me understand the reason for conpression
This is the best compression video I’ve seen. Thanks for this
Now I understand compression. I just used to add it because I knew I was supposed to to make vocals sound better. I made it sound better just by trial and error not knowing what attack or anything was 😂.
Thank you Graham.
All those years of stuffing around with compression... Thank you Graham.
I've been mixing audio for film and radio/podcasts for years, but being self taught, I never really had a great grasp of compressors. This is by far the best explanation I've ever heard. Thank you!
This is the exact way to teach someone who is very interested in what they are doing. Keep this teaching style and your going to rule the youtube category
Thank you Graham for an outstanding explanation of compression. As a beginner/amateur I have avoided using compression as when I have tried, all I ever managed to do is make the vocals sound bad, mostly because I really did not understand the relationships between the various adjustments. I feel brave enough now to try introducing compression into my mix, knowing that "gently does it", one adjustment at a time and how to listen more carefully for the effect.
Simply the most helpful video I've seen on mixing out of the (probably) hundreds I've viewed. Everyone else seems to assume we know what those functions do. As an experiment, I open a song I'm working on in Logic and mimicked all the levels used in the video. The difference was dramatic. And now I'm sad I haven't been doing this all along...
Thank you!!!! Easiest way to explain compression!!
One of the best basic compressor explanations I've seen. And I've been recording for over 30 years. Explained and demonstrated so anyone can understand. Great job!
Love how he explains everything and plays through multiple times please keep showing more
Wouldn't it be kinda cool to see the waveform change as you change the parameters on the plugin > to actually see the loud peaks shrink then universally all raise as you increase the gain.
Ableton is an excellent interface and you can see that stuff..and its free.
Awesome!! Thank you
I've always struggled with getting the hang of compression, especially as it pertains to setting the threshold, this helped a lot. Thanks for the video and the checklist was quite helpful as well!
So, so helpful. Thank you so much for this video! I was manually going through and splitting every section that peaked, this is SO much easier.
This is the best intro to compression I've seen on youtube. Easy to follow, not overly technical in language so I novice mixer can actually understand everything you're saying and it's very straight forward and easy to follow. Thank you, I just subscribed and I'm gonna watch your EQ video next. In the mixing process do you recommend EQ before compression?
This is an extraordinary video. Efficient both with optics and verbal explanations without the annoying "HEY GUYS! WHAT''S UP!!!" and over-excited tone so many have (a pet peeves of mine). Thank you! Suscribed.
The best explanation of compression I've watched. Thanks!!
I’ve been doing audio for 10 years, and have never heard it better explained than in this video. Subscribed!
Dude, thank you so much for this. I’ve watched maybe 20 videos on compression and this is the first one to actually break it down the way I needed
I never understood compression until now that I've watched this video. THANK YOOOUUUUUU!
The most clear explanation of something often over complicated by other videos...this is game changing!!...thanks for sharing this information!!!!
Brilliantly simple. Now I understand exactly what each part of a compressor is supposed to do
I’ve watched for a while and your videos have been extremely helpful in the recording process. I think this may be your best yet. When you explained things like compression and eq before and did side by side comparisons, I wasn’t able to grasp the subtle change. This video you showed in detail which words were getting compressed, which words were getting more gain and it was very understandable. Thanks for sharing your talent!
This is a great explanation of how compression, not just for vocals, but in general.
An amazing introduction. I love your diction and explanation, its so smooth and flawless and logical
This is the best compression tutorial I've seen. Thank you for this.
Nice job, Graham. Clear, concise explanation and illustration. I found this really helpful. Thanks, man.
Awesome - thanks for the clear simple instructions on understanding basic compression for vocals - I subscribed !
Very good introduction to compression! I also use an external compressor to even out dynamics as I'm recording. Thank you.
Flawless Video!! Just the right amount of attention to detail and thoroughness.
Thank you!! This is the best compression explanation that I have found. Well done.
Like some others here I already knew about compression (in great part thanks to your previous videos) but I enjoy anything Graham Cochrane. This video was very clear and made the process easy to understand.
I feel Very lucky to have a teacher like Graham. His explanations are so good. Long Live RecordingRevolution!!!
So glad I came across this video! I would say I’m getting comfortable tracking and leading up to mixing and this video made the concept of compression so easy to try and learn. I appreciate that you explained the plug in buttons and what they do. There wasn’t filler in the video for the sake of pushing time which I appreciate. Thank you!
I like the way you explain it "all". That's a big help to those who are just starting out. Thanks, can't wait to apply it on some of the projects I am working on.
Graham, top notch instruction here. You did a great drop breaking down what you were gonna tell us, told it to us, and then told us what you told us. I also felt you used long enough examples to help illustrate your point without dwelling and dragging out the video. I really enjoyed this simple yet highly informative intro to compression, and feel I'll be able to immediately apply your concepts! Thanks again! A fan, -Devin
Very good. This helped me and I've been singing professionally for 25 years. Nice to be reminded.
One of the best vocalists you've had on these tutorial videos!
which software is this pro tools ?? which version
Looks like its PT 12, propably 12.8.3, its the latest version
totally sounds like ed sheeran @5:22
Excellent. Best test of any lesson is applying it. I went away and did what you described and it worked. Now I feel equipped with a skill I didn't have before. EQ-uipped, indeed. Thank you.
Wonderful elucidation: Well-spoken and well-taught with a sensible and comfortable voice. Very clear demonstration with illustrations and comparisons.
Very clear tutorial, the best one so far imo! Congrats
I always like to manually volume balance a vocal before I throw a compressor on.
It's time consuming, but it takes a lot of the heavy lifting off the compressor.
Definitely, one of the best videos to explain compression. Most use far too many technical terms, don't break it down in layman's terms or play enough of the clip. Great job. I look forward to watching more of your super easy tutorials.
The best compression explanation I have ever seen
This really is the best compression guide on UA-cam
Thank you Graham. After all the videos I have seen about compression, this one really explains to me exactly what compression does and why it’s so helpful!
Compression seems simple at first glance but all the different knobs (ratio, attack, etc) make it seem very confusing. Somehow, you made it seem crystal clear in this video, though.
This the best explanation I've founf on how to use compressor and what for. Thank u soo much!!
One of the best tutorials on basic compression. Thanks!
Finally, An explanation of such an elusive (...well to me anyway... ) subject done so that now I actually know why those Settings were invented!
Thank You
Perfect!this was just what I needed. Everything was explained perfectly. Thank You!
Hands down the best explanation on compression
You are legitimately one of my most helpful audio tutorial channels I've stumbled onto so far, thank you so much! I always had trouble when it came to compression and never knowing what to do with it
We all grew up using the term volume, unfortunately the correct term is level according to Bob Katz in his Mastering Audio books. I use digital & analog hardware compressors usually outside the box, but you did a pretty impressive job getting your point across on limiting the dynamics on vocals and then integrating them back into the mix using make-up gain and not necessarily increasing the fader volume to bring great balance to the mix. Thanks!
Great information for any beginning audio tech. Simple and real. Thanks
wow this is amazing !!!! i have been using compression for years but now i finally feel like i know what i am doing!!!
I've watched so many videos on this n you explain n SHOWED how it works
WOW, i speak german and i never realy understood what compression means, after this video, everything is clear to me. GREAT JOB!
thank you so much!! this is the first video that has explained what compression is and how to do it that actually makes sense to me.
Best tutorial i ever seen for comp
I can’t believe I understand this. You’re a good teacher.
still helpfull 4 years later and not confusing and its very simple
I have always liked Graham's videos... they're immensely helpful, what makes This Channel's Content so great is Graham's articulation...he teaches really well, and delivers a very compact and precise concept...I really liked the Song, The vocal Performance is Amazing...I would love to know the whole song, and know who the Singer is... Can't wait for it to be completed and released!!
Very nice explanation of basic things, thank you you reminded me of stuff i forgot in college
Hello Graham, I first heard you on Skillshare and gotta say you are on my top 5 best tutors of all time. BTW, the song "sticks and stones is awesome." I'm subscribing to your channel and wish you much success. Thank you
Great video, I never really wanted to be on the engineer side but I see how important it is videos like this are great. Thanks for having real content and getting straight to it.
Crystal clear and concise advice :) Many thanks Graham
Best videon explaining Compression on UA-cam hands down!!
Agreed! So many people don't understand compression. In fact, many just think compression is about taming the loud peaks. I used to say "no, that's just the limiting aspect of compression". Now I just refer them to this video. It should be renamed 'Compression For Dummies'.
This is a great video! Gosh I’ve watching SO MANY videos on how to mix, EQ, compress etc vocals and this has by FAR taught me the most! I love that you’re doing a long and good comparison before and after, because for an untrained ear, when people don’t show you that much of a before and after, it’s hard to hear the difference. So I like love that you use a lot of examples and tell us what to listen for! :) thanks!
Dude I was 4 minutes in when my mind was Blown like 3:55 really THANK YOU
Thanks. I already knew how compressors worked -- but the -6db gain reduction guideline, 2:1-4:1 ratios for vox, and +4.5 db make up gain starting points really help me think about starting points to work from. Cheers.
well explained, I think it could not be done any better! I have never saw it this way of swallowed voice parts. Great work !
dude where have you been ? You just unvailed the confusion i have had for long. thank you
This is by far the best explanation I have seen so far!!**
Great tutorial. Easy, simple and very educational. As a begginer at mixing, I have already watched quite a lot of videos without getting to understand what compression does and how it works. Now I do. Thank you very much!
PS: ¿Any free compressor plugin that you would recomend?
This video made me understand what I’m looking for in compression. Thank you!
So THATS WHY well-mixed vocals sound like they are consistently above the rest of the track! Awesome! Thank you
I can't tell you the number of compression vids I've watched. I wish I would've listened to this one first. Would t have needed any others.
Agree with many others. BEST INTRO to compressing! Thank you!
Very clear and simple to understand. Thank you for this video helped me alot..cheers