Advanced Compression Tutorial: Setting Attack and Release

~More Advanced Processor Tutorials~
Ep.2 (Advanced Compression Techniques) : • Advanced Compression T...
Ep.3 (Frequency Sculpting) : • Advanced Eq Techniques...
Ep.4 (5 EQ Mistakes) : • 5 Common Eq Mistakes
Ep. 5 (Creating Sonic Space) : • Hot To Use Reverb And ...
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In this Audio Compression Tutorial we will take a look at how to set attack and release controls. This is and advanced compression tutorial as I do not cover how compression works. Check out my other video on how compression works here:

[@minwang8648]

Great vid, thanks.

[@kanishk_shrivastava]

such a great channel

[@KoZmaj]

What do you think about slow attack and fast release? is there use for those settings - i am asking particularly for some faster punk drums i am mixing.

[@JakeSusla]

Maybe for something like the snare that has a bit more sustain, and where you want to maintain the transient as is. However, If your attack is too slow the compressor will completely miss the hit because drums are mostly just transients and not a lot of sustain. Fast release is pretty normal for drums as well.

[@KoZmaj]

Thank you for the reply and explanation, maybe i like how the transient sound so it sounds good to me :D

[@JakeSusla]

Glad I could help, hope the mix goes well!

[@heavymetalmixer91]

I haven't see any other of your compression videos (besides the parallel one), so I would like to say something else about Release: it's like a tone control IMO. Not only determines how long the compression works (or how long it takes the compressor to stop working), but the faster it is the more bright and agressive the soung is, while a slower attack gives a more smooth and dark tone.

[@JakeSusla]

Yea, that is correct. Think about why it would seem brighter and more aggressive though. A faster release time will compress less of the full sustain and so the ear will naturally hear the compression nearer to the transient of the sound. Sound tapers off over time, and diminishes in level. So if we are only hearing compression towards the transient it will be effecting the most prominent portion of the sound and effect the most "brilliant and sharp" part of the sound vibration. This is a good point overall, I could have definitely made this video "4 Tips to setting attack and release."

[@bobsanders2145]

track with a hardware compressor.

[@bobsanders2145]

software compressors are not ready yet. maybe uad but that's it.

[@JakeSusla]

I've done some side by side comparisons with the Fg-stress and the distressor. Its pretty close, the hardware is still better but not everyone has 1,450 to spend on hardware so its a great alternative. I understand your point, but there are some halfway decent plugins out there for those that dont have the money for hardware.

[@TDDmusique]

You are completely wrong when it comes to attack. Attack is always "instant" and setting it to short or long just changes the time it takes to lower the volume to a certain level. Now, this technical point makes little difference, but "Advanced Compression [...]" it is not.

[@hosoiarchives4858]

I didn’t get anything out of this