Pro Mixing Tips: Parallel Compression

Sit down with Justin Colletti from B&H’s partner Sonic Scoop and learn one the ins and outs of one of the most widely used techniques in mixing audio, parallel compression. If you’ve ever wondered how the pro’s get their drums, bass, or vocals to pop out, parallel compression might just be the trick. Justin goes over just what parallel compression is, how to go about setting it up in the box, and offers some examples of other types of parallel processing.
More info:
sonicscoop.com

[@jonmichaelswift]

Straight up the best lesson on compression imaginable. Knocked it out of the park.

[@thedirectorist]

This has help me immensely, I have been looking off and on for a video like this all day to day. It's 11:25 pm CDT and finally. Better late than never, I needed this for understanding for a class. You have made my day please keep making these type of videos Blessings to you!

[@BlakkSoulMusic]

One of the best PC tutorials I’ve seen. Very easy to follow and comprehend.

[@BandH]

Glad it helped!

[@jawnydabeste]

Besides Loudermilk, this KZbin is your best work yet! Joking aside I love your organized approach, makes it feel like I'm not gonna get lost. Lol

[@jaycastrosound2234]

Didn´t know Clark Kent was a mastering engineer, Great video!!

[@jarcauco]

Super tutorial!

[@GladysGrace001]

That's why they call him SuperMan😆

[@Vernk1980]

This is becoming one of my favorite channels. Thank you for the great content 👊🏼

[@RaymondPoston]

I love your teaching techniques. Very informative. Thank you.

[@mikaanttila9251]

Excellent video - one of the best concerning parallel compression!

[@Gorguruga]

Brilliant tutorial, the best one I've seen on this subject. Made the 26 minutes seem like 5 mins!

[@ulfrohdin]

Hi Mr Coletti, I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@rzr82]

Great video, thank you!

[@derikcorl3245]

Awesome video, appreciate the shortcuts and detail with bussing! Too often left out

[@suryamoorthy4924]

GREAT TEACHER THANKS GURU!

[@keithrowe1007]

Really great thanks. Best and most detailed demo I’ve ever seen. I must be odd, but I didn’t like the constant lo freq rumble the parallel compressed track added to the drum track at all. Just personal preference I guess.

[@scarfypedia]

using a slower release can help prevent this rumble while still adding some heft, or faster releases with less gain reduction, also internal sidechain filters/eq helps a lot as well to better shape the compression

[@GiannhsDaskalakhsLASER]

great video !

[@timmypena241]

Love how he changes the camera angel and he looks all surprised lol

[@1satisfactiongtd]

Could be interesting putting in the parallel compressed drums in slightly more every other 4 or 8 bars bars call and response style or just genrally increasing every other 4 or 8 bars bars and then even more when guitars come in

[@CTX125]

Great demonstration! Thank you!

[@RandyRan9545]

note：1.鼓的平行压缩： 10-12的压缩量／大压缩比／快的启动释放／压缩后挂eq，low shelf100 high shelf10k。 2.贝斯的平行压缩 低切1000hz，只针对以上频率进行失真处理

[@CameronSpencer]

Awesome video, really great explanation and examples!

[@kbjrecords7010]

Nice work on this vid. You got skills. Let me know when you upload fresh videos, maybe we can help in some way.

[@chaddonal4331]

Thank you! Question: Why not simply feed an Aux channel (with the Par. Comp and EQ) from each of your drum tracks, calling that Par Drms Bus? Advantages: Saves one channel (presuming the Drums bus in your example is set at Unity). And allows for individual track control; particularly allowing the usage of less or more cymbals and hi-hat, to taste. Anything lost here?

[@WavetableMetaphysics]

man you are the truth. great tutorial!

[@eyesshadowful]

Great job explaining! Could tell u totally love what u r doing :)

[@japrovost123]

Thank you for this excellent lesson on parallel processing - Great job! really :)

[@ariush_music]

im trying to make a video tutorial in my language (persian) i record the screen but i cannot record cubase too , so my tutorial is pointless cuz it has my sound and the video but not cubase instruments sounds ... please teach me how you do it ,

[@arpeggioblues5924]

Pre or Post from the Main Drum and/or Bass track??

[@BRBWaffles]

I enjoy parallel exciters on toms instead of boosting the high end. Especially on pop rock songs. The exciter really makes the toms feel airy.

[@heavymetalmixer91]

What about using a limiter instead of a compressor? How would the frequency response be affected?

[@RelatosFlix]

can you do parallel compression on all busses? i mean leads, fx, drums, etc?

[@MikeHeebz]

As always Justin is spot on with the secret sauce! Thanks for sharing the knowledge. #goingbaremusic =)

[@Mark_Williams300]

Were you working on a new Cure track at the time, Justin?

[@stephenfell4338]

Well presented thank you, but if you are to P compress say all you guitar tracks, that you have worked on by adding EQ, reverb and compression etc, to achieve the desired sound, are you then suggesing to remove all the compression added to the tracks, ( which maybe a little, maybe a lot)​ prior to performing the parallel compression tecnique?

[@BandH]

The process does not need to be undone at all. Keep it simple. If you have additional questions e-mail us: [e-mail] >Mark

[@stephenfell4338]

@@BandH The answer just required a simple yes or no

[@Monneez]

is the treble and bass boost good on vocals?

[@medwaystudios]

Thanks for the video. Might have been asked before but what analyzer suite is that in the background? Just got a license to the Flux one but that looks interesting too.

[@ookiemand]

Very interesting! I know it's about demonstrating the technique, but I'm missing the question about the goal of doing the mix. What kind of mix is asked for; for what medium and for what audience. The compression and eq make the drums very heavy, but does that fit the mood of the song? Still like the education! Thanks

[@BandH]

+ookiemand - This technique is used to enhance the mix, give it extra punch, life, or zing, making it just a bit more lively, exciting, or listenable. Please contact us via e-mail if you have additional questions [e-mail] >Mark

[@JustinColletti]

Thanks for the kind words +ookiemand ! It's true that when it comes to mixing, context and your aesthetic goals are the most important. No one tactic is going to be appropriate in every case. But I hope this is another useful tool for your toolbox.

[@KillTheJester]

Fantastic!

[@Roman_andtheprey]

If the plugin has wet/dry...then can you just slam the compressor and dial out a lot of the wet sound to get the same effect? Or is that not true parallel?

[@BandH]

May be too much comresssion. But if that is what you are looking for - give it a go! >Mark

[@supraroca88]

So can you leave the parallel drums like that while doing a new one to the bass you did?

[@BandH]

Correct! >Mark

[@Emotekofficial]

Just a quick question.. If I dont Boost bass and highs.. instead I go subtractive in the low mids and High mids... will it be ok to go.. and what would be a good or bad difference.. I am more of a subtractive guy when mixing so just asking... would be very glad if you clear my doubts..

[@Royazima]

Thank you so much, it's useful

[@athenahouse2882]

What engineer can use a mouse that sounds like that?

[@Evidenceandcompassion]

So wait... Can you parallel pre masters? Can I place one pre (leaving it alone) next to identical pre jacked with compression?

[@BandH]

Sure. Just bring them into your DAW. >Mark

[@BrianBiscione]

Tremendo!

[@siggidori]

Hmm... Parallel multiband compression ... here I come!! :D OK, I'll explain... he doesn't want the compressed signal to clutter the mids. Then you can use a multiband compressor like Pro-MB from FabFilter, set the bands at 100 Hz and 10 kHz ... or find the perfect sweetspot for the bands. And then compress the mid band more ... or just see if it doesn't happen naturally (might depend heavily on the part) ... or get a similar compression (GR) happening in each band and take it from there. Then you can easily increase the volume on the bass and treble bands. :)

[@JakeLewisReal]

Sigurdór Guðmundsson Well the point is to compress all transients so if you use a multiband and leave the lows + highs untouched you're essentially doubling the transients of those frequencies. The point of parallel compression is to bring out the weight in a mix

[@siggidori]

LOL? You can use parallel compression to achieve more than that... it depends on the EQ balance of the material (being compressed) how the outcome will be... among few other things. Remember that a compressor is ALWAYS either compressing or releasing. So the transients or RMS "high points" will always be compressed ... it's just a matter of "amount".

[@JakeLewisReal]

Sorry that was my little brother

[@siggidori]

Be nice to him :)

[@cuerzed]

excuse me what is the name of the application you are working on

[@chentiangemalc]

+Adnan Sakkal it's ProTools www.avid.com/US/products/family/pro-tools

[@jackabrams5859]

What is delay compensation?

[@djrevue4106]

Jack Abrams when the signal coming through is delayed and off beat

[@Dante-qf9yd]

This is where I bought my Canon t4i. I thought they specialized more in cameras. I want the Canon 80d, but the price is still too high, and the 200d pictures look smaller and the color doesn't look the same as the 80d.

[@frankb8616]

Hahaa I love the "just hit the arrow keys and .... its that quick". ProTools users = "I used to make your great grandma turn the crank in the front of the automobile and the car started.. it was that quick ... " ya 4.5 years is no excuse for bad coding.

[@alpegg75]

Cool vid although at bar 59 I hear a bad drum edit.

[@connielee4661]

looks like Golden boy dela hoya

[@jawadkazmi8856]

Why is it that (nothing personal my brother) that All theses "lesson" givers Never seem to understand the uglyness of there synthetic drum sounds as the repetition turns off most of us who grew up with listing to humans playing drums and all other Insterments. Hard to watch and learn when the click track drum is so mind numbing it gives us a headache 😝😂😘 so we can only conclude these folks ate Realy not spending time on song wrighting but using repetition and redundent methods as examples of a lack of artistic craftsmanship! Sad so sad.

[@zackarysmith2222]

Guy needs a drink of water or something. I hate dry mouth sounds, it automatically hits a switch that angers me.

[@jawnydabeste]

I love his voice tbh, really relaxing.

[@MichaelGuy]

You are doing it wrong

[@StudiosRooftop]

Everything you say and all the tips you give are very very viable. But in the end it's all BS. Of course, it's essential to understand all the tricks and techniques, but.... Successful Mixing is ART. Not Science. It's all about how you deal with People, how you understand what the Artist/producer wants to express, and how you gonna achive that. Techniques are just the very beginning.... It's a crazy market.