5 Most Common Compression Mistakes You'll Make

Compression and limiting are among the hardest music production skills to learn. Almost everyone makes these 5 mistakes when the first get into mixing audio. And for a long time after as well!
Justin Colletti gives you what you need to know to avoid the most common pitfalls of mixing with compression.
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[@davelordy]

My simple 3 step approach to compression. 1) Turn all the dials up to maximum. 2) Find the 'ratio' dial. 3) Very slowly turn this down until the engineer gets back from the toilet and tells you to leave his desk alone.

[@SonicScoop]

😂

[@MrGST360]

Of all the dozens of compression videos I’ve watched throughout the last yr or so , this is the one that made it click . Thank you , sir .

[@SonicScoop]

That’s so awesome to hear! So glad to be useful. Hope to see more of you around the channel. -Justin

[@MrGST360]

@@SonicScoop Definitely. I've already watched a few of your vids and most likely watch more tonight while I'm at work.

[@cwilliammusic]

After watching this video my approach to compression changed for good. The way you explain your topics is fool proof. Thanks Mr Colletti.

[@SonicScoop]

So awesome to hear! That's what I'm here for. -Justin

[@sgfdancecompany]

Great podcast Justin like always!!!! Thanks so much

[@Arsonloke]

Great video Justin. I always look forward to your videos.

[@mikebozik]

You nailed it. You have to understand and hear how a compressor works. You have to know how all the knobs work. You have to have an educated ear. Use a compressor that has the most control.😊

[@tortugulaproductions]

suuuper insightful, thanks justin. very cool and reaffirming to hear this. recognizing compressors not only as tools for dynamic control but also as tools to control the envelope, and therefore the depth relationship of instruments in a mix, was a huge breakthrough for me. 4 and 5 are also huge tips that number 3 has helped me understand. despite this i am still struggling with 1 and 2. cool to see that these tips are not entirely sequential, but something that i’d assume every engineer is perpetually engaging with and improving. im definitely going to do some more a/b comparisons to dial in my ability to hear each parameter of compression cause that is 100% the practice that i need inbetween projects.

[@Bluelagoonstudios]

Hi Justin, yesterday I did a little test, with the Brainworx bx_limiter True Peak, on every instance of the drums. There are a few settings that make this plugin so versatile. Saturation, tone control, filtering and a limiter. Only a 1 or 2db GR, it surprised me so much I let them there. There is a Timpani in it, and sounds now big and bold, without interfering with the rest of the drums. I didn't use this one before. Thanks for your learning lesson again.

[@sonnybrasco9735]

Thank you Justin. Nice video

[@SonicScoop]

What's the compression mistake you've made the most? Which ones have you learned to stop doing? ►Thanks to GPU Audio for sponsoring this podcast. Get FREE Early Access to their convolution reverb at gpu.audio/sonicscoop ►Thanks also to iZotope for sponsoring this episode of the SonicScoop Podcast. Get 10% off their plugins at iZotope.com/SonicScoop ►See free audio tutorial videos with Justin here: kzbin.info/aero/PL3yghKGBjggTkBYyc-1_larMT6K4rGwmr ►Get Compression Breakthroughs here: compressionbreakthroughs.com ►Get Mixing Breakthroughs here: mixingbreakthroughs.com ►Get Mastering Demystified here: MasteringDemystified.com

[@truBador2]

Thanks. I have been avoiding compression. This has inspired me. I will use this information.

[@SonicScoop]

Great to hear! It's definitely a tool to know how to use. -Justin

[@Rolandwave]

Thanks for your great videos and ability to teach! In order to train our ears to hear the compressed signal, should we apply compression on a soloed track or listen to the changes within the mix? Just like the EQ on a track, which should be fixed within the mix, and not on solo.

[@Fenekucci]

thanks J 💙

[@wiggesobk]

Great video!

[@creampuffwar2000]

What do I want to do to the sound = which compressor tip #5. Changed my life when I learned that. Unfortunately before I saw this video.

[@popwa6977]

GOOD JOB

[@soun.slayerTTV]

7:50 to 8:10 is gold 🔥

[@konradhoroszko255]

Hi, I cannot find any upgrade offer for owner of Mixing Breakthroughs and Matering Demistyfied, is there such an option?

[@SonicScoop]

Hi Konrad, please write to [e-mail] and they should be able to help with any questions on pricing or upgrades. Thanks! -Justin

[@thirteenonline9503]

Can you put the youtube chapter feature in your video so we can clearly go to each of the 5 mistakes

[@SonicScoop]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll take it under advisement! To be honest, it takes a while to do and, maybe it's just a coincidence, but it seems like every video where I do so gets less engagement and less views than the channel average. I really want people here for the whole journey so they can really improve their *mindset* and actually make changes in the way they work. I find a "quick tips" approach to learning and creating content doesn't really help with that. That said, if I did a Q&A where there are a lot of different questions being answered I'd probably want to hire someone in to timestamp it for me. Maybe I'm crazy though, so I'll definitely consider it. Thanks! -Justin

[@thirteenonline9503]

@@SonicScoop ironically you say that on a “quick tips” style video. You need to create content that will keep viewers engaged. Because you know chapters gives a better user experience but you don’t do it because it’s more work for you and you know people would skip the fluff and get straight to the good stuff. So why not just make more good stuff.

[@anonagain]

@@thirteenonline9503 There is no fluff in Justin's podcasts. ;-) Seriously, he's aiming for learning and understanding, not a list of "do this and don't do that'. Personally I find understanding a topics "why" far more useful than a list of tips.

[@thirteenonline9503]

@@anonagain But this video is a list of 5 most compression tips...

[@anonagain]

@@thirteenonline9503 No, it's an explanation of the 5 Most Common Compression Mistakes people make. Better listen again and quit skipping around. ;-)

[@christophervaca7116]

6:30 I set for the compressor level so that it turns for only a moment.

[@jarrodottinger3]

I know that, while mixing in the box, I’ve struggled with setting the attack time on certain instruments, usually drums, too fast because I thought that “X” milliseconds of attack was too high in an arbitrary way. It ended up taking the life out of toms and snare. I’m better at it now, but I still have to fight that instinct internally.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Stop looking.. use your ears.

[@DThompson55]

I'm proudly guilty of mistake #2.

[@DThompson55]

If a mix sounds bad it's almost always the compressor. Turn that way way down. Ah... Much better.

[@pollutedmindmusic]

“your PC not only has a cpu but also a gpu” huh, thats pretty interesting….. **eyes shift seductively over to my 2080 super**

[@HitWaveMusic]

It's probably a common mistake to rely on compression presets.

[@pollutedmindmusic]

i feel dumb, i deadass *forgot* that compressors come with presets lmao

[@anonagain]

IMO presets are a good place to start, then tweak using your ears...

[@Yurkinz]

Great video!

[@SonicScoop]

Thanks, glad to be useful Yuri! -Justin