Production Basics 4: Compression

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[@austinstraza1231]

"And Here we have, a sausage" -Seamless 2014

[@Naku_u]

Dada Life Sausage Fattener

[@dkkilla09]

i've seen a lot of videos on compression but the demonstration of the two limiters really explained to me what's going on. lightbulb moment

[@dirkherk]

It is so much easier to follow your suggestions while also remaining intrigued with your video. I plan to tune in more often now that your focus seems to be helping as many people as you can. Thank you for caring...

[@harleydavid4963]

After 20 compression tuts Seam just body bagged all you tut posters Thanks bro i finally understand compression fully now lets see me take my knowledge in the lab

[@Yuck_Aroma]

Yo dudes, this is my simple way of defining compression quickly. You set a threshold of where you want your sound to be capped off at dB wise, depending on a ratio (eg, 2:1) meaning for every 2 dB that goes over the threshold, 1dB will come out. (Meaning 10:1 ratio, every 10dB over the threshold, 1dB comes out. This acts as a 'limiter' like Seamless explains, but there is actually noise that gets out of the tightening grips of the threshold/ratio relationship, because of a thing called attack. Every compressor has an attack and a release time paramater, which tells the compressor when to engage and when to disengage. Example: If the attack time is 40ms, the amount of time the compressor takes to engage or compress the audio peaks once the threshold has been breached, would be 40ms. The same is for release, which in a way is the opposite, but not quite. The release determines how long it takes for the compressor to disengage after the original audio has dropped below the threshold. TL;DR, compressors are great for making the quiet sound in audio louder. also, never use compressor presets! The designers of the compressors don't know what you're doing with your audio, or what it is. Just because a preset sounds nice, doesn't mean its the way to go.

[@Rawkus]

really awesome tutorial that explains compression very effectively. Thanks.

[@cook-music]

Always love vids SeamlessR. I would say I "know" the basics, but always pick up a tidbit here and there.

[@lukasmckenna469]

really sucks how we can't see your cursor when you're pointing stuff at at certain knobs. Not your fault, just slightly confusing, some sorta GUI glitch with your recording program.

[@yazunaikira9100]

Your tutorial are extremely helpful! Thank you!

[@MattWhite45]

"Right here..." right where???!

[@SweatMusicProduction]

Wait, it's still crawling around up there! :O

[@groundflowers]

and so here we have... A sausage - Seamless 2014

[@Groyoyoy]

these videos are pretty useful.... thank you based Seamless

[@eligryba1041]

love your music and vids Seemless

[@Rafaelinux]

Although I know the technical aspects of compression, and a couple of its uses, I thought this video would cover where to apply compression and to what end. :(

[@IAmTheTallGilo]

When you have too much dynamics, or when simply want to bring up harmonics. And don't mistaken a compressor with a limiter. Also you'll need a multi-band comp when mastering, unless you're incredibly amazing at mixing and you're mix is close to perfect, in which case you won't need mastering!

[@Rafaelinux]

Yeah, now.. When do I want to bring harmonics? is there a good example anywhere? Where do I want to use a compressor in a specific band? Are there any good normal uses for a multiband compressor? examples? :D

[@IAmTheTallGilo]

Rafaelinux Well to put you in context, i produce progressive/electro house. For my progressive house bass', i like to highpass my bass at around 80hz and layer a sub bass. The highpassed bass, i often like to compress simply because I like the harmonics it brings up. And trust me it sounds different than if you were to simply boost freqs with an EQ. Same thing goes for the kick, I like to compress it because it makes the kick fatter, simply by reducing dynamic range, which in turn lowers the peaks and raises the low components by adding some makeup gain. For specific band compressing, I assume you're talking about a multi-band compressor. And it's personal really, whatever you feel more comfortable working with. It can also be unnecessary when used for useless reasons. I usually only use a multi-band compressor while mastering, since you don't really split your master into 5 seperate tracks. You need those multiple bands just for more control over your end results. You can just use a regular compressor but it won't sound as good as compressing individual bands. And typically you don't really multi-band compress your master hard, you just use it to control freq bands. The limiter is what controls peaks and brings your track as close as possible to to 0dbFS. When I make electro house, i concentrate alot on sound design. So I like to put a multi-band compressor on my channel since it gives me more room to work with. You DO NOT want to compress your low-end (anywhere around 30hz-120hz) because that typically corresponds to a sine wave. The "energy" you feel in a club hitting you is the sub, and the sub isnt a square or saw, it's a sine.

[@Elnufo]

Just one thing to mention: That Mousepointer wasnt visible while you were explaining what was going on in the Graphic Analyzer Windows.

[@azfiu]

This is well-explained but you specifically Seamless use primarily expansion from watching pretty much all your videos. Are you going to do section on expansion, because you briefly mention it here. Like, you tend to move the points very far left and use some extreme settings in your projects, I'd really like to see your thought process behind all that. Thanks.

[@SeamlessR]

I am using expansion in that it increases instead of decreases, but the result is still compression of the dynamic range.

[@StarbeatOficial]

Well... I like how he explains things, but in this particular video I got pretty lost with all those technical explanations 😅

[@GrenadeGaming2014]

I was sooooooooooo looking forward with this compression tutorial and when I went to watch it I couldn't keep up with you because the cursor is invisible. I'm really on the fence on subscribing & I hope not all your videos are like this. I noticed your using FRAPS to screen record, there is a better screen recorder called "ACTION" it records with no lag and you have the option to mess around with your cursor.

[@Naku_u]

He uses XSplit & Fraps. Action isn't all that great in my opinion.

[@sharp.512]

Seamless is the OG

[@AstradTheCynic]

Always helpful!

[@rudeflex2659]

Me when I can't see what seamlessr is referring to : EVERYTHING'S SO STRANGEEE

[@ivorymars3845]

Laughed out loud😂😂

[@Dan-pq1tp]

Thanks for the video! Very helpful. Why do you need to turn off the time-based settings in the Limiter when raising the ceiling up all the way to disengage it? Could the attack on the master-Maximus band//Limiter band of fruity limiter be described as the inverse of the release knob?

[@Palach303]

seamless you have really great tutorials but just one suggestion, sometimes you have the tendency to mumble a certain part of a sentence super fast and super unclear and its almost impossible to understand what youre saying, like 6:35... I cant for the love of god figure out what the fuck u said even after several replays, which is a shame since i wanna learn as much as possible :D

[@MaxCreack]

Yeah he has that weird problem

[@planetxtk7567]

KnockCZ Yea that doesn't help the fact that I already don't understand what the fuck he's talking about, anyway.

[@ExoNova]

KnockCZ "or up depending on your settings"

[@CJH3D]

Your cursor seemed to disappear whenever you hovered it over the audio in/out graphs in the Limiter and Maximus.

[@finn264]

Can You Do a How To Bass on Sine Compression? I was experimenting with it and got some insane results :D

[@cambullen6770]

"we Can Bring It Way Far Down" Seamless 2014 :P

[@BirdFluJapan]

Great walkthrough. Would you say that to process drums, would the best way of compression be a multiband over the whole thing, a multiband over each drum, or compress each with a standard and then go multiband over the bus? Did you make a drum / punchy guide? ^-^

[@IAmTheTallGilo]

Typically each component of a drum set is concentrated in a certain freq band. So kick is mostly bottom kick (35hz-150hz) and click (2.5K), OH & hats are 2K+, snare (80hz-400hz) and air 10K, etc... So you don't need a multiband compressor. Also when using samples, those samples have already been mixed, so no processing is necessarily needed. But if you still want to compress, use an EQ before compression and then compress. A kick for example, i would highpass at 35hz and slightly boost at around 2.5K if needed. Then to compress, I would have a relatively fast attack, so like 15-30ms and the release should be the length of your kick. I'd bring the threshold down till I find it's good, each kick is different. And finally makeup gain since you're trying to fatten it up.

[@BirdFluJapan]

IAmTheTallGilo I'm working with the Steve Slates Drums plug. Usually just hit them up.

[@IAmTheTallGilo]

BirdFluJapan I'm not familiar with that plugin. But if it's sample based, then compressing would be most likely unnecessary since the drums are most likely already processed. If it's a drum synthesizer, then you can go ahead and compress what you feel needs to be compressed, maybe the plugin even has a built-in EQ and compressor, etc. But a multi-band compressor wouldn't be really useful for drums. It's more useful for in depth sound design when processing a sound covering a large portion of the spectrum.

[@hugovasquez5195]

I don't understand how could you limit something to below 0db, wouldn't 0 be silent? How could a sound be in the negative db's?

[@jayso9999]

Mason Williams 0db isn't silent, that's not how decibels work. I don't know the specifics as to why but I know it is not. Try looking it up if you're curious as to why.

[@hugovasquez5195]

Thanks

[@lucianoventurieri7628]

The scale of decibels is a bit different in music production, as it goes in the minus decibels as well. And in this scale "0db" is NOT the threshold at which we cannot hear anything, but the threshold at which the sounds starts to clip. Hope this helps

[@PastelEarth]

How did you get that Oscilloscope?

[@MovieMasterAl]

Could you give any advice on mixing and compressing vocals? I know you were experimenting on that vocal at the beginning, but could you explain how to do it in tracks?

[@alleniverson46]

whats the difference between the fruity parametric EQ 2 and maximus ? can you still do the thing you did in the fruity parametric EQ 2

[@sebastianlindgren7343]

parametric eq is used for equalizing, whilst Maximus is used for compressing. I would recommend that you use both plug-ins for their intended use, otherwise you'll just make things harder for yourself :)

[@salvadorvillamonte5302]

How is that your samples are already chopped when you drag em'?

[@messengercrow]

Seamless are those drum loops for sale? they sound awesome

[@TheGaoNan]

seamless please fix that you cant see the mouse in the video in some points.

[@xanderheeler402]

So like should the tresh hold ever go above 0db?

[@ITG4MiST]

would cutting low frequencies on a sound with an eq plugin be the same as compressing just the lows with a multiband compressor?

[@kame5271]

+ITG4MiST Remember, an EQ is a volume based plugin which is able to either boost or subtract a chosen frequency, if you were to use a multiband comp to compress a certain band, you would be compressing the signal, which would lower the output volume ( depending on your set ratio eg: 2:1 = 2db in, 1db out. ). So it is the same, in a sense that you can reduce the volume of your chosen frequency BUT compression and equalization are still two different things. Eg: I would use a multiband to 'tame' the low end of my master track ( Compress the loudest peaks ) But use an EQ to 'equalize' my master track or level it out ( Make sure my low end is not overpowering the mid-high end) Hope that made a bit of sense.

[@ITG4MiST]

i think so yea! thanks for the explanation :]

[@khrisnakhristian5419]

+Farai Sean dude thanks, i have a lot to ask. how can i contact you? i am not a spam and i came here often just to listen to seamless mumbling about the curve because he said "i am doing math, yeah whatever" i guess i am a little bit lost

[@kame5271]

I have no problem sharing what I know, my email is [e-mail]

[@DJTEHE01]

Yo Seamless(or anyone else who knows), can you please tell me what the fundamental difrence between Post-Gain ansd Pre-Gain Is???

[@Beatmaniacsde]

AUGUSTUS OCTAVIAN pre gain is the gain of the signal coming as original/uncompresed into the maximus and post gain is the gain of the signal wich has passed the plugin something like this flow: original signal(pre gain) ----------->[(maximus)]--------->compressed signal(post gain)

[@robinkarlberg4679]

Subscribed ;)

[@shabbagadoosh]

Cool beans... You must have watched Hot Rod!

[@TheOneLampire]

Great!

[@cyranoferguson1632]

:( my brain hurts !

[@noxure]

+Cyrano Ferguson No pain no gain.

[@cyranoferguson1632]

your absolutely right lol, which is why I'm sticking with it.

[@bigboobmasterbaiter69]

i'm afraid you might have a severe brain damage

[@himenesu93]

Great tutorial :-)

[@alimemari1646]

@6:57 Wow! What size of display were you using?

[@abishekraju8787]

Seamless did an awesome job in this one. But the visible mouse cursor would've helped much more.

[@hameddesign70]

mouse pointer not recorded somewhere :(

[@Frobbl]

Can someone explain the modifiable curve on the left in maximus to me again? I really didn't get it from this video.

[@abishekraju8787]

I was about to explain but then just realized, I'm 2 years too late.

[@bloodlord1989]

You left out the RMS compression feature. I'm not sure how to work with it,but i herd it's a transient shaper.

[@SeamlessR]

RMS is just a different way of measuring loudness. There are a few other modes used by mastering engineers out there for analysis, I am not particularly well versed in their uses.

[@thec4ke]

RMS volume level is computed based on the average volume of the signal for a small portion of time (known as the "RMS window"). It's not literally an average, but it's similar. The RMS switch compresses the signal based on this RMS level instead of the actual volume level. Your brain hears RMS, not actual peak volume, which is why this exists, it can sound more transparent on some material. One of the byproducts of RMS in general is it ignores sharp transients which is why it can sound like a transient enhancer or shaper. This also makes it ineffective if you're trying to compress those transients.

[@bloodlord1989]

so thats why they say it's a transient shaper and it's good for snares and kicks if you want to keep the snap or punch. Will be using that on my kicks.

[@AudioPhreak]

RMS stands for root means squared. It takes an average in a set amount of time.. similar to how your actual ear works. It's a better way of measuring loudness relative to how the human ear works.

[@ShopSongs]

How did you get the Drum loop to sync to the project tempo?

[@abishekraju8787]

12:13 - 12:19 Me when my teacher asks me why does my assignment have my girlfriend's handwriting......

[@KaizerhansenTM]

I really dont understand compression and shit.. I can make really good melodies and drums, but i cant compress, mixdown or master.. so enoying, make good tracks in fl studio, but as I export them, the volume is totally dropped. My tracks sounds so low, when I post them to soundcloud, my tracks hits a much lower db than other artist.. Anyone that can give me a tip if you know what I'm doing wrong? or any master/mixdown/compression tips at all? I have made music with fl for about two years, and i think that its time to make my tracks sound professional or at least better.

[@darshanvyas4881]

Throw a maximus on master channel :p That should raise the volume to 0 db and stop clipping :) Though I am not sure if its the right thing to do :/

[@gaborpalotas5721]

Darshan Vyas well... NO! you`re right about the 0 Db, but the mix still will be muddy and dirty. that`s why we have multiband comp. like maximus and EQ`s.

[@darshanvyas4881]

Gabor Palotas ok !! well I don't know how to use a compressor yet ;_; but soon :p

[@gaborpalotas5721]

watch SeamlessR and you will know the basics! He is good!

[@darshanvyas4881]

Gabor Palotas yea we are commenting on a seamless video only ;D

[@topography]

Your mouse disappears a lot in this video, mostly when you are pointing out something with it. Many thanks for all the videos though!

[@fangettes]

everything's so strange

[@2MikeyMike2]

+Matthew Carr xD

[@SMASHsmus]

Did he skip Production Basics 3? Where is the video?

[@SeamlessR]

Ron smus Production Basics 3: Mixing and Equalization (EQ)

[@SMASHsmus]

SeamlessR How did I miss that? Thanks!

[@TheKruum]

My dad asked for a lesson thingy from you >.

[@12pm92]

I've been trying for a year now to make this kind've music, any advice on my most recent "dubstep" song? soundcloud.com/centaron/overcharged

[@PHR3AK1]

dat laugh 12:18

[@bobsbigboy_]

stop mumbling! articulate!

[@jasonw222]

+Moshy You are telling someone who took time out of their day to help YOU... how to speak properly? Fuckin guy

[@bobsbigboy_]

Justin Williams Yes i am, what are you gonna do about it?

[@D1scNStuff]

+Moshy Your reply confirmed you are a troll.

[@bobsbigboy_]

FlyDragon360 Thank you. Mumbling isn't helping anyone soo...

[@christianwasik1094]

Comment.

[@alpaca5553]

You should have called it Bass-ics lol

[@hameddesign70]

today is monday ! XD

[@Christopher-ir8hb]

why do i feel like i'm getting tutored by Socrates?

[@abishekraju8787]

cuz maybe you probably are.

[@shanderlou8862]

So....Why we call it sausage? It makes me hungry.....

[@Obyvvatel]

Everything's soooo strange.

[@jahjahjah213]

am i the only one who didn't understand absolutely anything? )=

[@abishekraju8787]

Not really. The way seamlessR's video's (and a lot of other actually resourceful awesome production videos) work for me is that, when I watch it first time and don't understand it, I give it like a couple of months and then come back and everything makes total sense. Its like after a couple of months you know more things, and your comparison and understanding of different things is different and much better than before. Also its a way I find out whether a video is good or not and if its above my current lvl of production knowledge. If i don't understand shit, its probably an awesome video.

[@rohananurag5022]

This guy just talks alot...and ends up confusing me...

[@AstradTheCynic]

Always helpful!