Beginner's Guide to Compression (part 1)

In this tutorial, Dan Worrall explains the explains concept of audio compression and explores the most fundamental compressor parameters, like threshold, ratio, attack and release.

[@lifelesun]

I almost feel criminal receiving such a quality educational presentation for free

[@XiyuYang]

I've read and watched quite a bit about compression, but it wasn't until I got Pro C 2 that I understood just exactly how compression works. The visual interface on Pro C 2 is incredibly intuitive, to me it's even educational.

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

X Y it is so so good - and I’m watching the video 2 years later...

[@BillGraper]

No doubt! I just commented saying the same thing. Fabfilter has the best plugins.

[@MrClarkio]

Bill Graper for mixing yes definitely the most intuitive and sound quality is really good. Whether it's the best compared to slate digital or UAD plugs for sound is debatable but for useability they're tops. For other uses I think there's at least equally good and certainly better in some instances e.g valhalla for reverb, soundtoys for delay etc. But yes I think fabfilter and valhalla have the best guis, valhalla for clarity and simplicity, fabfilter for intuitiveness.

[@THEBDLOVER1]

Love the fact that Dan Worall uses reaper :D

[@devalah]

Bloody brilliant! Absorbing essential technical knowledge as naturally as a child listening to mesmerizing fairy tales.

[@sidx328]

I am gonna keep it real with you, I was trying to learn about compression for about a year now, and this is the best explaination out there. I hope more people find out about this!

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

SID M really good explanation, videos and plug-ins from FabFilter - agreed

[@onestop.studio2253]

Thanks Dan. No matter how much experience I gather in all things recording and mixing, I never get tired of your fantastic tutorials and this Beginner's Guide to Compression is no exception. When done right, as is the case with your series, I find them wonderful refresher courses and help remind me of what great plugin's the FabFilter plugins are. Thanks again.

[@fakshen1973]

I love the moment at the end. You literally have to do it wrong on purpose in order to really get a great feel for what is too much and what is "tasteful".

[@Basementdweller101]

Best Comp and guide ever. FabFilter and Dan Worrall is a match made in heaven

[@benwinch5338]

This is the most information-dense tutorial on this topic I have found. Thank you Dan Worrall for always cutting to the chase.

[@katabatica]

Some of the best tutorials on KZbin. And a damn good ad for FabFilter too!

[@Shareef2610]

all my life the read and watch about compression but I never understand it , till I watch this Video thank you fabfilter

[@thelastcell]

You really are the David Attenborough of Mixing Tutorials! Love the way you teach! Thank you so much for these videos

[@patchstep]

Man the demo track in this video is so good

[@kobalt77]

Dan the Man .................. thank you, and for all your videos, always greatly appreciated .

[@benzmobil]

Dan Worrall = Instant like

[@tomboard]

Your tutorials make each topic so accessible, even for a complete noob like me. I know your filters are complete overkill for what I need, but I LOVE the mastery that has gone into their design and that shines through in these tutorials. And that voice. It's like music.

[@AudioReplica2023]

just came here to hear the explanation of Dan Worrall. I feel this is the first time im gonna finally clearly understand compression even if I think I know already .LOL

[@bala_iyer]

Absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for this amazing explanation. I lost track of the explanation because my stupid musician brain was listening to the track. I guess it is a skill I need to develop to listen to it as sounds and not as music.

[@lordshiva83]

Glad you guys are posting videos again

[@BenKrisfield]

Best compression tutorial I've seen. Thanks

[@lumpyfishgravy]

What a great tutorial! I especially like the Gain Reduction trace this plugin has. While it's true ears are the final judge, when I was learning I found the trace helpful to suggest what I was listening for. Experimentation and therefore learning became faster.

[@ddi1976]

Fantastic job demystifying compression. Thank you for your incredible video tutorials!

[@chriscox7631]

This is outstandingly helpful and educational, thank you.

[@MemoriesOfTheSummer]

easily the best compression tutorial ive seen, thankyou, i will be buying your software :)

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

pestoman did you end up getting the plug-ins?

[@thegroove2000]

Man this is superb. Im grabbing this plug for the visual representation to see what is going on.

[@KitLaughlin]

A brilliant exposition, if I may say. Thank you.

[@pbenson56fran]

I love the music and the explanation is clear.

[@fdhfdh3310]

Fantastic tutorial. Finally I understand.

[@BIGpony777]

this guy has amazing tutorials theyre really helping me thanks : )

[@ItsAsparageese]

> Beginner's ... I have no doubt that this suits most people, because clearly it's helping other viewers, but I have never felt more pre-beginner in my life and I have no idea what's going on :( It's intimidating. Exciting! But intimidating. My ear isn't trained for this whatsoever so it's honestly hard for me to hear any difference between the examples, which doesn't help, but that can't be helped by any video until I just get more exposure. Thank you for the resource, I can tell I'll visit this a lot more often as I get the hang of things!

[@JorgeSilvestrini]

Emerald how’s it going with you Emerald? Have you ever tried to train your ear as well to listening to certain frequencies and such? I found that’s helped me a lot in terms of eq and other things along the way.

[@BillGraper]

I absolutely love this! I also use Reaper, but it doesn't have the great visual interface showing you exactly what you're doing with the controls. Even the multiband compressor in Reaper is lacking a bit. Fabfilter has some great programmers behind their plugins. It makes making music even more fun!!!

[@ricardodsavant2965]

Excellent explanation! Very clear. Thank you!

[@tothefinlandstation]

Would love a more advanced compression guide. Especially one that explains in more detail the differences between different compressors (or the "styles" in Pro-C2). What exactly, for example, is "opto" mode or a real hardware analog opto compressor doing differently to the signal than another compressor with the same knee, threshold, ratio, attack, release settings?

[@P.Gillett]

Go to kadenze.com. There is a free online Ableton course by Jordan Hochenbaum, in the dynamnics unit he briefly explains the difference between opto and analogue compressor emulators. basically, they make a software version of an analogue compressor to mimic natural distortion that occurs and mimic other imperfections that occur when using analogue gear. these imprefections are pleasing to the ear and that is why so many producers still use analogue compressors.

[@1NOnlyAdityaOfficial]

This is seriously worthy videos 🙌

[@lilrocklook]

love this tutorial

[@KarasamaBeats]

The moment i heard the voice , i knew it was Dan

[@redhaze9765]

Thank you, helped a lot making me understand what it is. Great presentation!

[@pardzzn]

best compressor i have ever used especially when sidechaining 808 bass drums with a kick

[@57muzic]

This is great stuff.

[@carlosbtlr]

Excellent guide. Do the attack and release parameters affect the makeup gain or just the gain reduction? Thanks.

[@grokulegrokic4720]

1st Dan Worall, 2nd Morgan Freeman period.

[@clanclanthelabel291]

Another good, informative video!

[@nikolaudio]

On second hearing, I kind of like the mix without compression? Maybe I’m just listening off an iPad and that’s why...

[@adobedirtblues1321]

Why is it in all the A.B. comparisons, the crappy one without the correct treatment definitely reminds me of my mixes?

[@tikaal]

the song is so good

[@gilbertsevdays]

Is it Humbar song in the background?

[@carlosfantube]

Best compressor in the solar system.

[@JoeBetro]

Thank you! 🌟

[@zankfrappe5145]

Cool track!

[@niganools1502]

Does anyone know the name of this song???

[@RichRobertsonMusic]

Anybody know what music is playing or the name of the band?

[@petervad]

thank you!

[@keeley4987]

What DAW is this?\

[@WestonTrefry]

I hope everyone took advantage of the 15 year fab filter sale, I don’t think that deal will be coming around again anytime soon.

[@benbrooker]

please link the finished tune

[@DanWorrall]

open.spotify.com/track/5ncBhW6cQ461wzMgY9wYRU?si=8BsQmyA9Qd6uosuhE115ow

[@vincegee6969]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZecnouQjtSKgdk

[@dlrss1v274]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXnKZoaAjrd7d5I

[@therealleafes]

What's that software you are using the plugins in ?

[@HugoRibeiroDrummer]

Cockos Reaper

[@krishnachoudhari.youtube]

I think I'm beginning to understand why it is called "taming" the mix

[@iainmackenzieUK]

great :)

[@nathanpirzek6200]

What song is this??

[@kgmessier]

Nathan Pirzek - “I Try” by Humbar

[@gilbertsevdays]

@@kgmessier thanks so much, huge Humbar fan because thia fabfilter youtube channel

[@emiel333]

Compressing an EDM kick be like: BONK!

[@raphaeloliveira2461]

Legend

[@pbenson56fran]

I can really hear the sound of those drums as if they are in front of me.

[@css172]

Pro C has slow attack max = 500ms but the Pro C2 only has slow attack max = 250ms does this make a difference?

[@canon5204]

Lmao you thought you were gonna see analog compressors get trolled

[@fancha831]

profound , just profound

[@alliebliitz]

2:15

[@elementalmusictk]

Excelen

[@zanngoc]

I wish you eq'd the narrator's voice, It is too hard to understand what he is saying due to ridiculous amount of boosted bass in his voice...

[@ThirdFocusMusic]

compressors were created for Telephones/TV best way to adjust volume is by automating the faders... (just like compressor..)

[@ry.albert]

rumor is she's still trying to be one of the guys

[@C-MAGs]

Great presentation, great video, absolutely terrible singer. :)

[@McEnroe911]

Rolica Net it’s not a singing tutorial

[@BukanIbuMu]

I love her out of tune voice

[@olegkonchenkov]

Thank you!