Live Stream Audio Compression

Your live stream needs a lot less dynamic range than your in-person service, so how do you get it loud enough without the compressor doing funky stuff?
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[@benbarber2780]

Hey James, a super fast compressor is going to act like a limiter. I find that running a peak limiter on the stream is a good idea, as long as you don't hit to so hard it's squashing everything. Also, a multiband compressor, like one used in radio broadcast can help keep the bass and kick inline without pumping or ducking like a single band compressor/limiter will do.

[@AttawayAudio]

Good tip!

[@jimpemberton]

Good word. When I took over the audio team for my church, COVID was just hitting and the pastoral staff was looking to improve our streaming quality. We have a separate console set up in an overflow area to mix the stream. However, I found it had been set up to strongly compress the mono output that we were using for the stream. The first thing I did was reduce that to very little compression and compress individual channels. I set up a level goal for the tech to hit instead of relying on the output compressor. That level is checked by the tech who is managing the AV on our stream who can fine tune that signal as necessary. It was an immediate improvement. I'm meeting with our integrator tomorrow who will be quoting a new Worship system (audio, multimedia, cameras, streaming) and this is one of the very things we will be talking about with an eye (and ear) to making it even better.

[@rhinoreign1324]

Many thanks for sharing these tips and supplying examples. Great to have something to reference from.

[@jc72303]

I couldn’t click this video fast enough! Awesome content!

[@AttawayAudio]

event missing from The Office Olympics: Speed Clicking

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

My current Livestream audio is compressed on my Studio One DAW FX chain. It's going through serial compression from a pair of Waves plug-ins, (surprise!) CLA-76 & CLA-2A, and then my new toy the Pulsar Mu. The Waves units are doing about 2 to 3 dB GR each, with the Mu doing the rest of my compression, as it seems like the Mu allows me to get away with a deeper GR when it's necessary. It seems to work well for my setup. And since I'm not Han, I don't like solos. Great tutorials James, as always.

[@robfriedrich2822]

I found the right setting by using extreme ratio and extreme threshold and comparison with the untreated signal and tried the setting, where the treated signal sounds the closest. After this I reduced ratio, I set threshold that it may reduce dynamic between 6 and 10 decibel and voila, the only difference was, that the compressed signal makes little details better noticeable

[@michaeltablet8577]

Excellent as always!

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks James

[@deepakmadaiya5183]

Thank you so much sir, this was very helpful.

[@olanrewajuadagba955]

Thank you so much.

[@codymichels5360]

Hey man. What vocal mics are you using? And is this your live recording? It sounds a bit like a studio recording but if it’s not, i’m seriously impressed. I only ask because i would love a sound that clean out of broadcast

[@cee128d]

I leave humming the kick drum quite often, but then I started playing drums when I was 4 before transitioning to sound reinforcement.

[@AttawayAudio]

Yeah beatboxers leave humming the kick drum too

[@cee128d]

@@AttawayAudio Yep. 👍

[@s1mpl3me]

I'm gonna be mixing for outdoor live sound tomorrow. it will be my first time to use compressors!

[@AttawayAudio]

Have fun! If you find yourself overdoing it, just raise the threshold 🙌

[@s1mpl3me]

@@AttawayAudio Sir may i ask for an advice? im gonna be using a 24 channel analog mixer. i only have 2 compressors. where or what should i compress? what should i prioritize to compress? this is for live band set up. thanks! :)

[@ZSugarDaddy]

Hard to say, not knowing anything about the music or anything. Typically... on whoever your worst musician is... usually they will over and under play their instrument a lot. Meaning, they will play way to soft during quite parts and way to hard during bigger parts... I find this to be a Bass or Electric guitar or acoustic guitar most often... also remember that just because you have a compressor. Doesn’t mean you have to use one. If you’re outdoors your dynamic range can be broad... if you’re not comfortable with compression then sometimes is can hurt more than help. Definitely play around with it and learn, just don’t feel like you have to because it’s there!

[@s1mpl3me]

@@ZSugarDaddy that totally makes sense wow thank you! this is only my 8th time handling such big event. I've yet to use compressors but so far i made it sound " alright" :) thanks a lot Sir!

[@AttawayAudio]

Vocals get first priority. Bass comes second

[@NateDK]

Thanks for all that you do James!! I also could not find the link for the Broadcast specific course.

[@AttawayAudio]

It's in the description now!

[@rheubengreen8612]

Presonus

[@samgonza1975]

Great info! Personally struggled a little to hear the e changes you were making. I know some were drastic, but to the untrained ears it might help to exaggerate even more and then maybe talk about what to listen for?

[@AttawayAudio]

It's subtle and it takes time. Not to try to be a snob about it, but you definitely can learn to hear those changes. It's not out of reach.

[@samgonza1975]

@@AttawayAudio totally get it. Just saying for others that are new to all this. One of your other videos on compression made a great example of hearing the changes. Keep up the amazing work!

[@lmstudio5338]

what is the best way to connect your mixer to streaming/vmix computer?

[@AttawayAudio]

USB Audio interface with stereo line-level inputs.

[@bbender76]

Which link is the one for the Broadcast mixing course?

[@AttawayAudio]

It's in the description now, but here too www.attawayaudio.com/broadcast-audio

[@InktronicsBlog]

What would you recommend to use for practice when my church setup is not available?

[@AttawayAudio]

Try this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXOcn4tujaZlj9E

[@bayraktarrecep1]

👏👏