The Magical Release Knob

[@HomeStudioCorner]

▶︎▶︎ Free 5-Step Mix Guide here: www.5stepmix.com

[@TJ-vt6rt]

Was that the cheat for Sonic ? It's been a long time.

[@kevinlittle7776]

Snare: at 50ms the compressing effect was so brief that it sounded like no compression at all. The tail of the snare hit was unaffected and took much longer to decay than when released at 200ms vs 50ms.

[@wagnerribeiro4061]

Konami Code compression method, by Joe Gilder. You made me laugh out loud and feel happy (and old!) with this reference - hehe. Great video, as always. Cheers!

[@gfaris666]

knew he was one of us!

[@WildAgainYT]

Joe, I love your philosophy with music. Using simplicity and efficiency is the most powerful concept. I would love to see you make some production/composition centered videos, because that's a side we don't get to really see from you !

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Great suggestion. Any specific ideas?

[@shan5445]

​@@HomeStudioCorner I agree let's see you work a production to completion. You have a good voice let's see what you can do. Or get Presonus guys to make a song with you if you don't feel confident enough to do it on your own 😂

[@HomeStudioCorner]

That's exactly what I do (three different times) inside my recording course. www.homestudiocorner.com/record

[@Detroitdogg]

Thanks Joe! That was the clearest description of compression I've seen. The up-down-left-right analogy helps keep it straight in my mind.

[@elisha4]

Man, you read my mind. I was just looking for a video about shaping snares with compression and this was absolutely perfect!

[@emstudiosLLC]

Going all "Konami Code" on us! Awesome!

[@ronallen2458]

On a full drum kit, I think of the release knob as the “room” knob.

[@andrewgilman8835]

A great piece of advice I heard from another KZbin mixer was to take a compressor and crank the input gain, max the ratio and then you can really hear how the attack and release are affecting the sound. Once you dial in the attack and release, then dial in the input gain and ratio.

[@officialWWM]

That’s great advice, thanks for sharing!

[@beachforestmountain4269]

That's a good way to train a person's ears how to hear the difference.

[@juanmacall3256]

Awesome tutorial like always 👌🏽

[@davebops2478]

Great video Joe. Release is the hardest setting to master

[@Joseph124269]

Very strong ability to explain. I am getting everything you are saying. ❤

[@thankyoudriver4219]

Interesting stuff. Up until now I'd just pushed the release knob into a middle position and hoped for the best. I will now start listening to the signal with different release timings.

[@BrentIraEnman]

Great info Joe!

[@MontegoBayApartment]

very helpful explained! give tanx Joe 🤜🤛

[@earle4370]

Thanks for a more laymen's terms in describing what a compressor does. I've watched a bunch of videos on compressors alone and was like, "I'll get it at some point." I'm listening on M1 iMac on my work break. The speakers are ok at best. What I hear when you shorten the release time is not only volume, but the resonance of the shell and the actual snare wires themselves. Pretty cool demonstration.

[@raymondspagnuolo8222]

A really interesting, helpful tutorial. Another good one!

[@cgsmithinnola]

I needed to hear/see this! Thanks, Joe!

[@MikeFromDownUnder]

Thanks for sharing this! 👍

[@herosbride2834]

Great video Joe. You make these things so easy to understand.

[@gregtapevideo1464]

Great vid as usual Joe! Thanks. I had a bit of an epiphany just last evening with the release knob on the limiter on my output buss. Instead of paying attention to the level meters i was focused on the numbers just above the output slider. They were bouncing all over. Adjusting the release just right and they didnt bounce so much. I like to keep the output around negative seven leaving the mastering engineer room to work with.

[@michaeltablet8577]

Thanks again Joe! Always helpful videos!

[@noamberger651]

That was a really helpful vid

[@DuncanMok]

Legend!

[@HomeStudioCorner]

I. MISS. YOU.

[@nuthinbutlove]

Great video!

[@houssemguedria6101]

Sometimes, the release knob help to sharp the groove in the track , on percussion, drums or others instruments and the nuance too. But technically its the speed to initialize the compressor, and I love to automate the release with some delay , and it make the snare fill bounce better... Thank your for explanation

[@JoeStuffzAlt]

I'm getting the hang of compressors, but going over it again definitely is a help for me,

[@premeditatedplan5417]

Thanks Joe, great explainer.

[@beachforestmountain4269]

I sometimes use a short release on the compressor, and then run the compressor in parallel with the source signal, adjusting the mix between the compressor and the source until it sounds like it fills out the song more. It gives the song a less hollow sound, filling what might have otherwise been emptiness in the sound of the song. And, to me, this glues the song together better. But it depends on the song. Having it in parallel means I can control how much of it I want to have.

[@vintileonardo2939]

In case of vocal compression, sometimes I feel uncomfortable with the harshness that arises when I apply too much compression to the voice. However, sometimes the voice needs this type of compression. When I have a fast release, this "grit" appears a lot in the mix, such as: initial breaths, strange frequencies, etc. Wouldn't this be solved with a longer release, right? Where the voice would become smoother, in terms of things that appear in the front of the mix, but still quite compressed as I always wanted from the beginning. I feel like there's a "trend" among KZbin producers to think that a long release kills the punch of the instruments. It's almost unanimous: want punchy sound? Slow attack, short release. But this is a very generic way to explain compression. Then you see countless songs sounding horribly dirty, especially the vocals. Quality content, man!

[@erickenn96]

Thanks Joe for all the help. I saw your video today talking about mixing virtual drums and was curious as to your pc setup if you don't mind.

[@bboymac84]

Perfect explanation BTW!!💪🏽💪🏽

[@jehoshuajephthah669]

Wow so educative. Please what mic are you using please?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Earthworks Ethos

[@BukanIbuMu]

I have the same mic as him and I still sound thin and whiny. I don't know why. Maybe it's his natural voice that's warm.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Here's a hint. I've been running this channel for 15 years, and I've changed my microphone many times, but for 15 years people have asked me what mic I use. The mic doesn't matter all that much. This is just what my voice sounds like. Also I know how to EQ it to make it sound good. That's it.

[@Wizitch]

"Rockness". My new favourite word!

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

I realized 5 months later I forgot to answer what I heard with the somewhat faster vs slower release. Faster release made the snare seem louder with more snap to the hit, while slower release pushed it back some.

[@VApplegate412]

Just add some nutmeg to that snare, it will mellow the Ph level... A very informative Video (as usual)

[@polaris911]

great tips. I've definitely mutilated some snares turning knobs on a compressor

[@lequidbit9385]

This is the way

[@el_ambient_dude7424]

I can listen all day to this guy… voice tone matters!!! lol 😂

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

The release knob is there for a reason, for the compressors that have it. My SSL bus and G3 I'll probably use Auto, but I can dial in a faster release manually on my 2 bus to go with slow attack. 2:1 ratio, 30 (30 ms) attack, Auto or .1 (10 ms) release, threshold to get about 1 DB Gain Reduction. Nice Nintendo code, probably Contra.

[@wyrlismike]

isnt the .1 on an ssl bus type comp 100ms? for the release i mean. not 10ms

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

I'm not sure, but I'll find out. OK looks like you might be right. SSL Bus Compressor 2 release looks to be measured in seconds, so .1 equals 100 ms, etc.

[@NatureSleepSerenity]

Hi Joe, just wondering if you were going to keep posting on the recording revolution or not? Many thanks and been following for a long time!

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Nope.

[@REX-007]

Thanks for the video Joe. If I hadn't watched this one, it would've taken me longer to realize that the fast release is actually to the right side of the knob. 😂

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Yeah Presonus put the actual time (in milliseconds) on there, which isn't on the original hardware. Super helpful.

[@aeroprof]

What I heard: Faster release preserved some of the "echo/reverb/tail" of the snap sound

[@DjBydLo]

Amazing explanation, but what about other instruments? I guess that for non drums a faster release gets the more natural results...

[@Crispymusic7]

Longer release time made the Snare sound more squashed. When the release time was shortened I felt like the sound of the snare was more open. Feels like the longer release time made the Snare sound tighter.

[@jimgraczyk6991]

I have seen a lot of videos on compression, but none of them give examples of the desired result of compression. Can you tell us what is so good about it. How can it make our recordings more pro sounding?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

This is a great question. Just so I understand you, you're asking for a more fundamental video about what actually compression DOES to the sound and why we use it in the first place?

[@SConway-v4x]

PUMPING

[@bboymac84]

I feel compress is the difference between talking outside in NYC traffic in the middle of the day and talking in a library

[@trevortjes]

If you use your comp on snare purely to shape the envelope (which makes sense), have you ever considered using a transient shaper instead?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

I haven't. I'm sure they're awesome. I've just never used 'em.

[@hextatik_sound]

It's very important knob on compressor indeed. As important as attack, ratio and treshold.

[@greatarcadeofficial]

I also use a compressor to skip levels in Sonic. 🙃

[@RJEnriquez]

Joe! What is the zooming plugin or app you use? Haven’t been able to find anything like it. Please.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

It’s a built-in Mac function. Set it up in Accessibility. I’m just using Ctrl+scroll

[@RJEnriquez]

@@HomeStudioCorner You’re the man! Thanks Joe!

[@mrdali67]

What about those mixer where you have a "one" knob compressor, it's kinda changing several settings at once. Does this mean those are "trash" or can you actually get decent result with these things ?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

They are not trash. But they are more binary. You either get the sound you want or you don’t. Since you can’t adjust all the individual settings, you are left with simply not being able to customize the sound at all. I would imagine it either works or it doesn’t on a specific track.

[@ErixSamson]

@5'30'': When you move to 50ms I can hear much more harmonics or at least more treble, right? And it's a bit louder too.

[@dalenihiser7766]

At 50ms the audio sounded louder and more sharp while the other 100ms setting the audio sounded softer and maybe more natural.

[@lar57jsy]

The longer release time sounded tidy and short. The 50ms sounded like it had a delay on it, like a fainter repeat tagged on to it.

[@petergiersch2387]

When you speed up the release it sounds louder and I would guess that's because you're letting the sound out faster. It makes it slower release time feel almost gated.

[@noamberger651]

Short release caused the snare to preserve its tail while longer release caused the tail to be more contained and tight.

[@bobshadix8591]

The slower release time tightened the sound on the snare.

[@ric8248]

I heard like the 50ms allowed some sort of short reverb, whereas 100ms sounded like a treated room.

[@scottrowan200]

It got louder, some rattle and grit came out and it felt like longer tail or sustain ( hope this makss sense and i am describing it correct)

[@badenhill1487]

Brighter & longer ,less stifled Joe

[@anthonysmissions]

Just wanted to say Joe... You are looking really good. looks like you have lost STACKS of weight. Good on ya.

[@jonathancomer1185]

A "clean knob" is essential, especially when you're "pumping" those beats 🤭

[@andore8639]

The sound became more expressive, a bit louder and the duration was longer, less dry

[@Kunibert_Knatter]

To my ears, the shorter release time added some sound of the room. The longer releases made the snare sound more kind of blupp.

[@raymondmeers]

sustain

[@aceventura5398]

Don't think I will ever ask you for directions joe

[@Time-Trvlr]

We had a drummer that used hydraulic heads on his drums to me those were the best id ever heard. the ringing tones on some standard heads is not color i seek, most the time they are out of key to the music material.

[@Take-the-Ticket]

I think syncing the compressor to tempo can do wonders in electronic music. Rock/metal not so much.

[@Mtb_American]

I found your secret brawl stars channel. It’s so fire.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

🔥

[@JMSDyt]

It's like a volume knob for the tail of the sound

[@HomeStudioCorner]

^^^ THIS

[@gatherstudio5219]

A tad louder and longer decay

[@stevel5650]

Snare is more up front when it is released at 50ms.

[@thomashinds5668]

At 50ms it sounded louder and more bright.

[@GeorgeAmodei21]

Hear more SPlASH/Ring w/short Release.

[@anievestor]

The sound was kinda sustained more at 50 ten the other setting

[@federicgubsburn]

Im first!

[@scottgreuel548]

The 50ms sounds snappier and louder

[@MSGadded]

Slower sounds like whaaaapt. Faster sounds WHAPT

[@musicaleltd]

much longer decay time at the end of the snare lick

[@Ray-um3if]

When moved to 50ms the snare gets bigger.

[@marcvanhie4425]

shorter release, longer tail

[@LemonesqueStudio]

faster rekease = longer tail

[@Time-Trvlr]

50ms sounded brighter

[@woutermissiaen4745]

50ms is louder and longer.

[@JonathanThrift]

Contra...30 lives for 2 players

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You win everything.

[@JonathanThrift]

@@HomeStudioCorner 😆 Great video btw. Thanks for the instruction.

[@mrsnapple5827]

Im unsubscribing just for this dumb thumbnail, the shock trope🙄

[@HomeStudioCorner]

👋