Snare Compression - A Step by Step Tutorial

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Do you have a favourite compressor for snare? What is it that makes you keep using it? The compressor I use most on snare and kick...is an SSL channel strip compressor, with 3 dB of gain reduction. Then see how that works with my parallel stuff and add the 1176 if I need something more.

[@Mr_Tummy]

Currently using Analog Obsession Britpressor (solid state), OSS (FET) and Waves CLA-1176 (FET) compressor plugins on the kick and snare tracks. I also add a bit of the Waves Abbey Road RS124 (tube) on the drum bus.

[@firmans12]

Love ssl channel strip too. Especially after the v2 update

[@russell_szabados]

Cytomic’s The Glue…which I suppose is an SSL compressor emulation. For gates I also love Fabfilter’s Pro-G and Softube’s emulation of Valley People Dyna-mite. The latter adds a dirt & crack that works so well for aggressive rock styles.

[@txddyfarquh69]

Love that there are more females doing these Music tutorials, thank u for sharing knowledge 😊✌🏽

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for watching!

[@studiojakubka4753]

But still not enough non binary persons of non white origin experiencing disabilities, would not you agree? Having said that, disregarding creators sexual preferences or ethnicity, very interesting video.

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic video Sara! Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks Warren!

[@BillGraper]

Wow, I think this is the best video I've ever seen as far as compressing a drum sound. I'm definitely going to have to watch more! Great job explaining, and allowing us to clearly hear the changes!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rinosphere]

another top-notch, well-explained video. Esp: don't just jump in a twist dials and hope for the best - have an intent, and listen for what the snare needs/lacks.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@wyrlismike]

i like this woman, better tutorials then other channels

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

wyrlismike, thank you so much :)

[@geroiavin8199]

Hi Sara i love your tutorials. Greetings from the pacific Islands.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching

[@wojtekkrol544]

As usual, a very smart and classy tutorial. „…Love, love, love…”

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you so much!

[@duuchimee]

Sara, thanks a lot for such detailed videos! They do help to understand the principles of mixing rather than just show some 'exact' settings. They're helping me a lot to make my mixes sound much more professional!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad you’re finding them helpful!

[@wadehickam2458]

Best compressor video I've watched

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Wow, thanks!

[@wadehickam2458]

@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing I’m still a noob but getting better with every mix. Need to practice so thanks for that vid as well. My music is available at My Death Song. Please keep up the amazing content and be well.

[@Baker-ulendo]

You are the best teacher ever🎉🎉🎉

[@davebops2478]

I've just watched the bass and snare compression videos back to back; and though I've watched quite a few videos on this yours are easily the best. Thanks so much for sharing with us.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you so much

[@BillGraper]

Same! I'm used to seeing guys doing these videos. It's funny that a woman did a better job than all of the guys... not that the guys are bad. I think she just takes more time & allows us to hear the changes more clearly, and I can hear the differences even more in her videos.

[@rickyred001]

Brilliant tutorial Sara, really easy to understand and follow and take theose principles and apply them to your own mixes, just so good.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@williamtell1477]

Wow, not only very knowledgable but you have quite a knack for explaining things esp the why.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks, that's really nice feedback ☺

[@Willi-Wucher]

Everybody trying to learn music production and mixing should watch your videos about kick and snare compression. Using the strategy outlined in your videos it made such a huge (really!) difference in my current (albeit hobby) song production. (Even my wife now likes the overall sound, although she can't name the details but got a very good sense if something sounds "good" or "bad") In addition it is a pleasure to listen to a voice not coloured by the typical accent from outside of Europe🙂

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

That’s wonderful! I so pleased to have helped, resulting in a noticeable difference! Thanks for sharing!

[@hezekiahcharles6754]

Sara, you are an outstanding teacher....

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you!

[@philippgrunert8776]

Brilliant Video and explanation

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Many thanks!

[@gitarrenpost]

Great ear training course. So valuable. Thank you so much.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TraxtasyMedia]

thank you for this video, your voice is very well for following along. Seen many videos about Drum and Snare comps, but this one explains it so clearly and on points, all the others lack lots of.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Dustypye]

Many thanks Sara for a well thought through and presented video, I really appreciate that you give the listener time to audition the changes you are making, many other presenters do not do this and to me it really reduces the effectiveness and usefulness of those videos, it is so important to actually have the chance to hear what is trying to be achieved and is a significant difference between people who know how to do something but do not know how to teach it to others.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

You’re welcome and thanks for watching!

[@emuhanna]

So helpful. Thanks Sara.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

You're so welcome!

[@jmsdeco]

Excellent video

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks!

[@SergioBussPlaysGuitar]

I really enjoy your videos!

[@keithferris9574]

So helpful

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

So glad!

[@PipEastop]

Huge thanks for this excellent teaching!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

You're very welcome!

[@Big_Stewdio]

I'm just going to repeat what I said on the kick compression tutorial which is that no matter what your level of experience this is an absolutely essential video. If you're starting out then this is probably as good as it gets in terms of explanation and if you're long in the tooth then this reminds you of the basics that you almost certainly don't give enough thought to as you get lost in transient designers, eq'ing separate parts of the envelope, ducking, clippng and saturation. Keep them coming, Sara.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks Darren Stewart that means a lot 😊

[@bcdrummer1962]

Sara your videos are so good. I bought one of your courses on Produce Like A Pro and I highly recommend it to anyone reading this!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you! That's amazing, glad to be able to help

[@asappacsun9153]

Thank you very much, you got a new subscriber

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks!

[@paulcostello1635]

Another top video Sara. I would love videos on how you approach setting parallel compression on your kick, snare and overhead / room buses.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Haha! I just pretty much nicked Andrew Scheps’s . ☺️. I take a pick n mix approach because some mixes don’t need the full monty, so I may use one or two parallels rather than the lot.

[@CDEENT]

Excellent tutorial and great explanation

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Many thanks!

[@UNAI_IKER_Music]

So Good again Sara !!!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks!

[@rickhbrown]

Great tutorial Sara, many thanks!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for watching!

[@AntonovichHicksenbrau]

Love your channel Thank you Sara

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

So glad! Thanks for watching

[@fjn667]

One of the best tutorials i have ever seen

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Wow! Thanks

[@deepspacemusicofficial9671]

Binge watching your videos, so easy to understand videos you release, keep making more, thanks.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad you like them!

[@KingJusHipHop]

Thanks for this video Sara, I've watched many of your videos. I make Hip Hop but use real drum kits as well as drum samples. Great info about the craft. I really appreciate you for sharing your knowledge. This craft takes time as it should. I liked the 1176's punch more personally though. Subbed

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you!

[@undogmatic]

Loving the detailed videos on the subject of compression, Sara. Recent subscriber here. Another interesting subject, as a segway for these kick/snare compression videos, could be something about the applicability of some transient shaper plugins (like Waves trans-X, Audiority TS-1, or Eventide Punctuate), or even how to use saturation plugins to further enhance and/or fatten up all of the percussive elements. :)

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Great idea, thanks!

[@LuRojas]

Love your multiple bussing techniques! Great stuff!!!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you!

[@marceloribeirosimoes8959]

First of all... WOW!!! (The natural and obvious scene of some pulverizing (spitting) out the coffee) WHAT KICK IS THAT!!!!!!???? Now, back to the subject, thank you very much for another great tutorial video, Sara!!! And, yep! Mpressor sounds better...

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad you liked it!

[@markleyland2661]

Great vid, thanks Sara!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for watching!

[@russell_szabados]

Wonderful video, I’m so glad KZbin suggested this for me. Thank you, new subscriber!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@russell_szabados]

@Sara Carter - Simply Mixing you’re very welcome, looking forward to watching your videos. All the best.

[@jacquelamontharenberg]

Hello Sara. Excellent compressor tutorial. Your lessons are the best out there. I usually watch them 2 or 3 times and save them to a folder for future reference. Even though I am a veteran Pro Tools user, I try to learn something new daily regarding sound engineering, mixing or equipment. Your videos are spot on. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Wow! Thank you so much for your amazing feedback, I'm glad to have helped

[@mcsstudiosunderdevelopment6257]

Great Video! Really really informative! has helped a lot in understanding how to do this properly :) How do you do these videos? Like recording your voice like you are doing, and the recording of the program in real time with your adjustments so we can hear it in real-time?

[@MarcBecker_Music]

Great video, thank you, Sara. It helps me a lot to approach snare compression and to know what to listen for to achieve the sound I want. Your lessons are awesome.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Wow, thanks Marc, glad you like them so much

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Great, thanks 👍🏻

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

My pleasure!

[@TrueFallacy]

Such a fantastic video I had to watch multiple times. Thank you!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for watching!

[@garyshore489]

Sara- Had getting to this at the top of my "to do" list since you made it available..finally got a chance to sit down and spend a couple hours studying it,making my own notes/timestamps to add to the(always-appreciated)ones you had...invariably learn a lot from your excellent tutorials and this was no exception,needed a refresher course on things here and this was just what the doctor ordered...really liked your "start from here"default approach to arrive @ the settings for each parameter and your continued emphasis on things in a sound design context..will be adding this to all the other ones of yours I've checked out that immediately became part of my go-to's for whatever subject you were focusing on...BTW thanks for the holiday video message email-returning the sentiment!!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks Gary!

[@manuelcardoso5414]

Hi Sara. Best compression tutorial I saw! Great ... Thanks.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Wow! Thank you so much for your amazing feedback, I'm glad to have helped

[@manuelcardoso5414]

@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing Hi. I am an experienced producer and musician, but the clarity and taste of your video made me go back to my new álbum and review my snrs and indeed they improved. Sometimes se forget the basics and... You know. Take care & be safe.

[@seriksson9721]

You are very good.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you!

[@StratsRUs]

Proper teaching ! Thank you

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for watching!

[@johanjof5613]

Subscribed, bell activated, probably one of the best video for insights of shaping the sound with a compressor, as insightful as Kush after hour

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thank you! I'd love to be as cool as Gregory Scott 😎

[@peprubio6131]

Really nice videos. Incredible!!!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

pep rubio, thank you so much :)

[@thegroove2000]

Brill tut as always.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks!

[@hammincheese1310]

Thank you for another fantastic lesson. I'm new to mixing and trying to learn as fast as I can. One thing that does not compute for me is this... if you have a longer release time such that the compressor doesn't fully let go until right before the next snare hit then aren't you really compressing everything after the attack? It seems like that setting would continue to compress a large portion of the sustain such that when you then add makeup gain you're just bringing the sustain level back to where it was without adding anything. I think I need to draw this out on paper for it to click. 🤣

[@Kanblu]

Really great content and teaching style. Thank you so much for this!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

You’re welcome and thanks for the feedback

[@PatrickObiang]

Bravo!

[@albertorolon137]

Great like always!!!!!💪

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks!

[@motelflamingo]

Great content on the subject! Thanks for doing this!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@charmanrecordings1186]

Hi, thank you so much for your videos! I am a bit confused with what you said in the "Setting the release" section of the video. How are we supposed to raise the level AFTER the transient, as we have already let the transient to pass through unaffected by setting the attack slow? We are using a compressor, so it suppresses the signal after the attack setting. If we need to add sustain why don't we just squeze the transient with 0 ms attack and a 15-20 ms release? Your answer would be so much appreciate it. Thank you again.

[@voodoochili12]

This is awesome

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

dirtdirt, thank you so much :)

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

I mostly twiddle knobs hoping to have an aha moment. I will go through this and the kick video bit by bit.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Enjoy!

[@merkotan4679]

Thank you Sara for the video! To my ear 1176 puts the snare much more upfront in the mix then the mpressor.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

You could be right actually!

[@cabuffal0]

nice video. I didn't skip any part of it. what's the next, OH ? BASS? Thanks, Sara.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for watching!

[@oflittleconsequence]

I'm intrigued by what you did here and in the kick compression video in doubling up the live drums with counterpart samples. Do you actually play these in yourself with a drum machine/sequencer? Do you have the drummer create a second track on a machine? Is there an easier approach to achieve this doubling?

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

I create the samples using Slate Trigger and layer them in.

[@oflittleconsequence]

@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing Oooo... I wasn't familiar with Slate Trigger. I'll have to check it out. Thanks!

[@chris_share]

Thanks for the tutorial. I'm not sure that the mpressor is the best compressor for this example though as the Gain control deliberately adds noticeable distortion. From the manual "If you want your signal to stay clean, you should take care not to use lots of make up gain, but use a simple gain plugin from your host software directly after the mpressor instead. However, if added harmonics are just what you are looking for, apply a good amount of make up gain with the mpressor and use a following gain plugin to reduce the overall level." Cheers!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for the info!

[@firmans12]

Hey sara awesome video. I remember learning to hear compressiom on drums takes me 1 year to can really hear it lol. At the first time i use my headphone from my smartphone and i can't the difference even with 10 db of gain reduction until i buy a studio headphones and its a game changer now i can hear even with 2-3 db of gain reduction. I wonder what level in the meter you're aiming for the drum bus? Thanks

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Yes, it takes practise that's for sure! I don't really aim to set the snare to a level at the mix bus, I set it so it sounds right in the mix and also in mono. I make sure the snare transient is slightly lower than the consonants of the main vocal. Hope that helps!

[@thegroove2000]

Hi Sara ever tried devious machines duck?. You can adjust on the waveform visually to suit to taste, attack, transient, release,sustain etc.. Im rather visual orientated so for me to see whats going aids the process.

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

No I haven't, I'll take a look. I'm a visual learner too

[@gawel772]

If you want to compress snare, why would you choose long attack? Long attack misses a transient. I would choose fast attack and fast release to make the transient quieter. This way after matching the gain with the pre-compressed sound we have less transient, more sustain.

[@Normpercy]

How many Mics and tracks did you uses on the snare

[@nemzysound5348]

I love seeing a woman producing 😊😊😊😊

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Thanks for watching!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

What drum sample replacer do you uses and do you go with single samples for consistency, or multi velocity samples?

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

I use Trigger mostly and sometimes Drumagog. I use single and multi velocity, I just go with what sounds good.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

@@SaraCarterSimplyMixing Great thanks.

[@john8451]

These changes are quite subtle and sound more obvious when the volume is cranked. Maybe back your narration volume off to make for easier listening?

[@stevegeorge7773]

What’s the/a snare sample? At 7:30, is this an external source?

[@stevegeorge7773]

I notice that it’s stereo. Is it the two monos put through a stereo channel?

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

It's created in Addictive Drums and came with the multi track files as a printed audio track

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

No it's a stereo file with ambience

[@vloghajatan]

Saya suka tutorial yang analog bukan digital lebih banyak pemirsa anakog

[@WestcoastKings]

lol - right from kick to snare

[@Rick-pi9zn]

honest feedback here: your voice is too loud in comparison to the audio, everytime I want to hear the sanre, I have to turn up the volume and then your voice is way too loud! Otherwise great video und super understandable :) thx!

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Noted!

[@aidajam3294]

How it is possible to talk about snare compression 40 minutes. The life too short to listen it

[@SaraCarterSimplyMixing]

Bye then...