How to Use Compression in Logic Pro X (for podcasts)
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- In this video I'll show you how to use the Compressor plugin in Logic Pro X. This is mostly for podcast vocals, but once you learn the basics you can learn more about best practices for different kinds of audio.
I made this video a few years ago and I use slightly different settings now. If you think I should be using different settings, you're right! You should experiment and see what sounds good, and ask other people how they do it.
EQ and Compressors are the two plugins I use on every track, and if you plan on editing your podcast yourself, you'll need to get comfortable with how to use them.
What is compression?
When you record audio for a podcast, you probably won't speak at a consistent volume level the whole time. Some parts will be quieter than others.
You don't want people to have to turn up the playback volume on their computer or phone whenever you lean back from your mic a little bit.
You can use compression to control the louder parts of an audio track, and then add gain (or volume) to the track. This will reduce the dynamic range (the difference in volume between the quietest and loudest parts) of the track.
This helps prevent your listeners from struggling to hear quiet parts that should have been louder.
(I'm using Logic Pro's stock compressor in this video, but all compressors work roughly the same way, so what I cover will work in whatever editing software you use)
Compressor settings you'll need to know about:
Threshold
The threshold determines how loud the track can get before the compressor kicks in and starts working. If you want to control just the very loudest peaks, -6db is a good place to set the threshold.
If you want to do more compression, try setting the threshold lower - maybe -9db, or -12db.
Ratio
The ratio is the amount of gain that will be reduced by the compressor after the signal crosses the threshold.
For example, if your threshold is set to -9db, the ratio will determine how much will be compressed after the gain level goes above -9db.
A higher ratio will mean more compression after the signal crosses the threshold.
Lower ratio, less compression.
I've found between 1.5:1 and 3:1 is fine for most vocal tracks. I usually use 1.5:1 or 2:1.
Attack
The attack setting controls how long the compressor will wait to start working after the signal crosses the threshold.
You can think of this in terms of fast or slow; fast attack would be less than 10ms, and slow would be 50-100ms or higher.
I use a fairly fast attack (0-60ms) most of the time for podcast vocals. This is a setting you'd tweak depending on what was recorded.
Release
The release setting controls how long the compressor works before "letting go". So if you have a release setting of 100ms, the compressor will control (or compress) the signal level for 100ms. I use a fairly slow release (100-200ms), or the automatic option.
Makeup Gain
Makeup gain is how much gain the compressor is adding to the track after compressing it. So your compressor might reduce the loudest parts of the track by 2-3 db, and then you can add 2-3 db back with the makeup gain setting.
This will give you a track with less dynamic range, so the loudest parts won't be so loud, and the quieter parts will be a little louder. I aim for between 2 and 6 db of compression, and then add makeup gain till it sounds right.
Peak & RMS Compression:
There are two different settings for the stock compressor in Logic Pro X: Peak and RMS.
Peak is the standard setting. It means when the audio signal goes higher than the threshold, the compressor starts working.
RMS looks at the average loudness of the track, so it doesn't work on the loudest peaks, it looks at the the average overall volume over time.
I set the attack and release to be a little slower for RMS compressors. Since the RMS compressor is looking at the average volume over time instead of peaks, the threshold will need to be set lower, usually somewhere around -20db.
How I use Peak and RMS:
Lately, I've been using RMS compressors with an Adaptive Limiter after the compressor, and it's been working great. The compressor makes everything a little more even, then the Adaptive Limiter boosts the gain while making sure it doesn't clip.
Cool Stuff to Check Out:
* Recommended Gear: kit.com/thepodcastdude
* Podcast: thepodcastdude.com
* Twitter: / thepodcastdude
* Successful Podcasting: successfulpodcasting.com
Thanks for watching! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
- Aaron - Навчання та стиль
I looked at about 20+ videos today on Compression and no one explained it as good as you did. They just explained their particular setting and forgot to explain why they do it that way and what each knob means. Thank you this answered all my questions in 10 min!
Finally! A video where the actual components of the compressor are explained! Thank you for this video, it is very informative.
Straight forward, short and to the point. No babbling. Just what I was looking for. Thanks!
Best video out there on compressors. Learned a ton. Thank you!
Starting a Podcast, this helped alot with understanding the right way to compress vocals on a podcast. Thanks brother much appreciated
Aaron Dowd thanks brother !!! Stay safe man
amazing explanation of compression - clear and concise (hard to find for the topic). grateful for this video, thank you!
Hey thanks for saying so! Glad it helped.
The most Googlable title and a great video. Cheers dude.
thanks!
Thank you! Having actual numbers makes so much more sense. Everyone else says, "a lot," assuming we know what that means. Thank you so much! I just subscribed to your podcast. Looking forward to it.
Give this guy a goddamn oscar and a teaching job at a prestigious school. I went to school for audio and you explained all the in's and out's of compression better than my professor ever did (dont tell her please, I'm sorry Britt). Thank you!!
Thanks Scoutt! Hope you're well.
Super helpful. Thanks man!
Thanks for the screencast buddy. Appreciate the podcast too.
Thank you for that vey well made video.
Thank you so much for this great video. To the point, knowledgable and REAL numbers that I can set my settings too. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Every few months I come back to this video for a refresh. It's a great resource. Looking forward to the master class!
I have and currently on the waitlist.
message shot your way
Awesome video, dude! Thanks!
One of the very few good explanations of how the compression works!
***** I've been rapping since I was around 12, I have waited many years so I could get good before putting it somewhere. I made another channel where I'll be uploading music/lyric videos. Everything will be on English.
Where is that podcast
ua-cam.com/video/NH1tjTS4LwY/v-deo.html
Thanks for that very useful and great explained
I second the comment below. A very well made video, which clearly explains compression. Well done and thanks!
Thank you, this is very helpful! I have my first audio gig and it's podcasting. Love learning this stuff! All the best to you, sir.
Oh, wow. Bookmarked! Thanks for the great resource!
Great stuff! I'm really new in this but you made total sense out of this! Thanks!
Thanks Casey, glad you liked it! Hope you're well.
Good advice. I'm used to editing audio for music, not podcasts so this was helpful.
Very helpful video thanks! Just making the move from Garageband and trying to make my podcast sound better.
Good job explaining compression! Thank you :-)
I thumbs up because I learned something
That's a really good explanation of how compression work however I would say that it's better to get the right ratio then increase the threshold
Hi
Thank you for the upload.
I bought myself a compressor/lemeter from synq.
To morrow I will try your settings.
tnx a lot!
Regards from Belgium
All right
I will try this out.
I'm a totally beginner with no experience with that kind of things so
Thanks for the tip.
Regards
Thank you so much
I will! Stay blessed
Thank you. Would LOVE if you could explain how to properly side chain a voice over with music. Thanks again.
Well done sir.
Thanks John! Glad it was helpful. Was there anything I didn't cover that you're curious about?
@@aarondowdplaysdrums All good Aaron. Thank you. I have just subscribed and will be back!!
06:07 - DEFAULT SETTINGS. THANKS A TON, AARON!
Big help. Thank you very much
+HeSheWonderland Awesome, glad it helped! Also, I discovered that the Opto compressor setting works really well on vocals. Try that one.
Cheers!
+Aaron Dowd Just had a look at that setting. It really brings it up well. Also, when using the 'Clear' vocal preset for the channel EQ, it really gives each voice a nice tone.
+HeSheWonderland Awesome, glad it helped!
Do you have a video for EQ? I appreciate your work brother
Thank you so much. Better than most tutorials on compression. :)
RMS (Root-Mean-Square).
What I don't understand is the difference between
- makeup gain
- output gain.
The latter is obviously at the very end of the processing chain. But how does it affect the sound?
great video, I just had a question about auto gain. Do you leave it off at all times (recording, mixing)?
Nice tutorial, very helpful!
Quick questions: Do you use the "normalize" function at all for podcast audio? Also, do you have a video tutorial for using the EQ plug in? thank you!
Hey there! So sorry for the late reply. I don't use the normalize function, but there's a decent argument to be made for it. I do have an EQ tutorial: ua-cam.com/video/PBV4HO2m3hk/v-deo.html
Thank you! I'm still a little bit confused, If there are points in the audio file that are way louder, like short peaks would attack and release need to increase or decrease? I'm trying to mix vocals and also reduce the drum gain from an entire instrumental, one audio file
Hi Thank you for sharing your expertise. I have a question. I am just using Garageband and need a good compressor that will be effective for my podcast of chat and music. Can you suggest one? Thanks
Hello Aaron, thank you for the tutorial, I had a couple of quick questions if you don't mind, Why add gain and then reduce output gain, why not just add output gain?
Is reducing the output gain via the compressor the same as lower your audio levels in your timeline? Could I just not lower my output gain in compressor plugin and just lower my audio level in my timeline? Would that be the same?
Thank you so much
hey Aaron thanks for the video. Question about posting a video and legal do and dont's. ... I want to make a background track to some of my favorite spiritual teachers and not sure about posting it on here if that's ok or not. Got any pointers?
Hey aoron how are you can you plz tell me the best Plugins best effects to mix Vocals And Music
could this work for hip-hop vocals as well?
I'm sorta confused on the imput vs output and what is affected for the bounce?
Hey Man -- how can I fix a podcast where one voice is significantly louder than the other? How can I bring them a little closer together?
Once i get the quiet voice on a second track, what plugins should I use to try to make it louder, take out the hiss?
I was under the impression that you wanted to get the peaks as close to 0 without going over. What are your thoughts?
+The Podcast Dude yep, that sounds right to me.
How do u hear yourself while recording on logic
thanks
#TheLostJonasBrother
RMS = Root Mean Square
@@aarondowdplaysdrums Thanks for the good compression video!