Compressor question to Mr. Sneap!

[Niels]

Maybe this question has been asked before, but I couldn't find it...

...I found a thread about how to adjust the attack time and then I wondered how much gain reduction you use on Snare and Toms and/or where to put the threshold. (Let's say for a normalized track at 0dB)

Niels

P.S.: If someone knows a link to a thread about this, tell me!

 

[Sly]

I guess Andy uses several snare tracks, and mixes samples with the mics tracks.
He may work with different tracks and a general bus for the snare drum I guess.
On some of the tracks, I think there's no compression, and on others there's a huge amount of comp, with loud attack, fast release, something like -15 db threshold and 8:1 ratio
To get the snare sound he achieves, I think he mults the tracks and uses samples a lot, with differents EQ, gates, reverbs, comps...

 

[cobhc]

what i do with the threshold is set it low (-40 or so) so you get a really short smack from the snare, then play the track through, and slowly raise the threshold till the snare doesn't seem to sort of fade off during a series of quick hits, i normally end up using a -30 or so threshold, but obviously it all depends on how loud your snare track is before it hits the comp as to how you set the threshold.

 

[pharrell]

crush it

Also remember to get your snare to stick out when mastered you will have to mix it a bit louder. do the same with your kick

As you hear with a lot of sneaps mixes the kick and snare are very high in the mix with the OHs very low

 

[Niels]

...but obviously it all depends on how loud your snare track is before it hits the comp as to how you set the threshold.

That's why I assumed a normalized track at 0db.

Add: Played by a good drummer who knows how to hit the drums!

 

[Niels]

crush it

Also remember to get your snare to stick out when mastered you will have to mix it a bit louder. do the same with your kick

As you hear with a lot of sneaps mixes the kick and snare are very high in the mix with the OHs very low

Thanks! I already thought about asking a question about this. I always have to boost snare and kick in mixes before mastering. If you listen to it unmastered Drums seem to be too loud and I wondered if this is normal!

Niels

 

[chadsxe]

That's why I assumed a normalized track at 0db.

Please don't do that...

 

[Niels]

Please don't do that...

Don't be afraid, I don't do that!

I said 'assume'! I think it's easier to compare things with idealized Values.

Example: Someone says he sets the threshold to xy and the ratio to xy, this won't tell me anything about gain reduction or whatever, as long as I don't know which values the peaks in the track have. So I thought it would be more informative to 'assume' a certain Value(in this case 0dB for the Peaks).

Niels