Is Parallel Compression On Metal Drums Worth The Hassle?

[@FrightboxRecording]

►► Download your FREE 5 Step Guide To Better Heavy Mixes: frightboxrecordingacademy.com/5-step-guide/

[@AgentMeat]

For metal and other aggressive genres, I typically use parallel compression as it adds weight and aggression.

[@Alexanderius]

I haven't used parallel compression before, and my mixes need that aggression, will use it on the next album :)

[@BukanIbuMu]

All three sounds good. That shows your mixing skill is insane.

[@matthewblackwell6366]

I like your minimalistic approach to mixing. When I first started out I wasted so much time and money trying to find the magic bullet to make my mixes sound like what I was hearing in my head. And nothing worked. It wasn't til I slowed down and started to really learn that less is more and now I can do great quality recordings with my real melda audio free plugin bundle

[@ehoc42]

I liked the non-parallel compression the best. I personally like how the cymbals react to subtle compression, and the drums sound very unified and energetic. Parallel compression is over used these days in my opinion. Super parallel compressed drum shells fatigue my ears after a while. Plus the individual drum tracks on this mix already sound like they're being compressed pretty hard, so there’s already enough punch in the drum shells IMO.

[@AlexeySolovievMusic]

I'm a fan of parallel compression use it everywhere i can in my mixes lol Great video Bobby!

[@akira_21_]

I use parallel compression when i can't acheive the sound i'm after without it. Also i'm not applying it to the whole drum bus but only to elements that need it

[@deathmetalglenn]

I've recently found the best results I've gotten so far (with my limited experience) has been to have my overheads and room mic without compression on a separate bus to the drums, run the drums with parallel compression and then balance the levels with the drum bus and overhead bus. So far I've only worked with drum samples n I've found it's given me the most realistic drum sound with a lot of punch and clarity

[@leearmitage]

great video and great explanation, I've used all 3 it all depends on the song and what mood I'm in haha

[@jeffbridges6110]

Cool video. Do you ever parallel compress guitars?

[@mondragon9282]

I've recorded a grand total of 1 song on my own on drums lol. But, I've learned a ton just from watching your videos, and I'm honestly pretty happy with how this track is coming out so far!

[@zeclomal2265]

My music style is pop punk and I use both, regular comp (-3 dB or so in the drum group bus) and parallel (-12 dB). I also use reverb through an aux send for the snare and for the whole damn drums xd

[@h.p.dominocus]

Properly recording and mixing drums alone is an art form in itself, especially on extreme metal recordings.

[@bradzillarocks]

I like the parallel sound for heavy stuff, then a little compression on the whole mix instead of just the drums. Sounds super heavy but not overdone.

[@GekkoGear]

Couldnt you just blend wet and dry signals in a compressor?

[@BrianWalis-Producer]

You can, but not all plugins have the wet dry knob.

[@BrianWalis-Producer]

It's a workflow preference for those of us that are used to working on live consoles or on analogue gear.

[@GekkoGear]

@@BrianWalis-Producer gotcha. I was just wondering if its the same thing. Thank you

[@heavymetalmixer91]

I loved the parallel compressed version, in the other two versions only the Kick and Snare feel powerful. When it comes to Metal I usually go with Parallel compression, but most of the time I'm not sure what kind of compressor is the best for it.

[@extrudersfx4571]

That last one made me wonder what would happen if the strings were ”scaled back” to sound more like early 90s death metal (Clandestine), and the whole mix was done in an old school way. I think it would work! Although I get that this band at this time want and need a more upfront, ”tight” and brutal production. It sounds great!

[@Yanthungbemo]

Noice! I needed clarification on this topic!

[@CrushingAxes]

I really like both, this mix sounds nice anyway, all 3 sounds cool. I think usually it's a hassle, sometimes a lot of problems can appear, it's a nice tool, but I would say it needs to be used very carefuly.

[@largeuselessness]

~~wat, no cymbal in parralle compession...?~~ I used to add a compressor on drum bus but adjust dry/wet, somewhat I think is same as parralle compression.

[@manuelharlander8604]

Hey Bobby, do you use for drum samples (ez drummer etc.) parallel compression too? Cause they already processed... greez

[@jacksmith4460]

Have not watched your vids in a few weeks(busy AF), but came here to say a huge thankyou. Been using a few of Your IR's you gave away for free in the past and I have to say they are some of the best I have. I have silly amounts of IR's but yours have been getting use on pretty much every heavy rhythm track on my new album, so huge thanks, they sound great, and I just wanted to tip a metaphorical hat too you

[@PASHKULI]

Parallel compressoring gives fairly stable RMS... or optimal loudness. It should be done for each instrument or sets of such instruments and maybe final and gentle over the whole mix. But people today use it as a boost tool, which is not correct and leads to unnecessary digital distortion, although super-sampling tames it down a bit. Yet still it sounds a bit overdone inmost modern "in the box" production.

[@dougleydorite]

Have you heard of “the machine”? He did lamb of god and clutch. He does this. He calls it “inside out mixing”. Will Putney (and many others I’m sure) does it as well

[@boobo3763]

@@dougleydorite Got a link to any vids illustrating this technique? Couldn't find any, myself....

[@dougleydorite]

@@boobo3763 couldn’t find any. If you buy mail the mix months for “lamb of god the machine” and “knocked loose Will Putney” they go over it in great detail. The Machine mentored Will Putney, so they do things very similarly

[@Eurodrummer666]

#TeamParallelCompression here.

[@AlbertodeVictoria]

PC is great for filling the gaps

[@icanrawrtooMC]

i never leave a compressors wet knob at 100

[@drumken]

acoustic drums, parallel comp. yes.

[@lukevontajikistan3929]

Or, to bring up the important question for our american viewers: is parallel compression racist?