Single Cell Software

I need to make a video about Comp/Limit.

Actually I may do a video running through each DSP module, explaining and demonstrating how each module works and how to use and proper placement in your DSP chain -- if you want to "follow the rules" of good audio handling of a music project. I love doing stuff like this, for decades now, and Rej's app really gets you close to pro-audio quality, and this powerful tool will cost you a cup of coffee (WaveLab and other desktop programs will cost alot more)

I intend to have a very active YouTube presence this Spring, I think will really help alot of you out, as all of these new apps start surfacing....

Here you go  (attached file)

The UI for the compression module is quite limited, as there are no real visuals to settings.

For quick reference, the Threshold Knob sets the ceiling that we will start to compress or limit the volume of the sound fed into it.   The Ratio sets our Knee, of how much we want to squash our sound.   The Attack is how much of the initial signal we want to go through before the compressor starts to lower or squash the volume of the sound fed into it.   The Release is how much time we want that volume lowered before we let it come back up.

The tasteful use of these settings can do many things to your signal.   From normalization of that channel for less dynamic range, to give better control of an instrument, and especially vocals for untrained singers with poor mic handling, to adding "punch" to a channel, such as drums or groovy e-bass line.   For true stereo drum channels, using this can bring out the stereo tail of the drum room, by setting your release to a certain setting, to bring it up in the mix, giving a more lively performance for that channel.

To get a better understanding of how it works, try this:

Set the Threshold setting as low as it can go.

Turn the Attack all the way down until it sounds really bad, and then slowly sweep it up and listen to how the hits change in character.

Next turn the attack almost all the way back down, and now slowly sweep the Release knob and listen to how the sound changes.

Once you learn this, you can now learn how to shape your channel's sound, or overall mix into a Compressor.

Using a Compressor in the Master Section can be a very handy tool to clean up your mix and add a good sense of rhythm, but not so much to where it "pumps"

One thing to consider, is to feed a clean solid mix into the Master Section, without a bass-heavy presence, as this can have  a really bad affect on the Compressor and how you want it to work.   I usually roll off the Low EQ in all mixer channels by -2db, then set up my Master Comp's settings, and then compensate my Low EQ in the Master EQ section (post Comp) and you will then find your mix sounds much cleaner, punchier, and more pleasing to the ear.

The Master Limiter should largely be left alone, unless you still have sudden spikes in your master signal feeding it.   Setting your Threshold to capture just those peeks (this may take a while to find that sweep spot) and set your Attack Knob to approx 8:00 and your Release Knob to approx 8:00 position, should set up your last line of defense for clipping control.   

Now you can adjust your Master Fader to taste, so your VU's are hitting just shy of "red"  (if you export to 24 or 32 bit, a little bit of "red" here is ok -- Rej allowed for some extra headroom for those bit depths in the rendered WAV for DAW work later, if desired) so your rendered track won't clip and sound unnatural.

Hope this helps.   I'll add this to my YT Video to-do list, so you can see and hear it all at the same time, may make more sense, than just reading this here.