Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

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dan_halen
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Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by dan_halen »

How would I go about using this technique for drums, otherwise known as New York compression? I know one drum mix is supposed to be little to no compression and the other overly compressed, but does that mean two tracks panned center? I don't know that I am understanding this technique correctly and advice would be appreciated!
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Acoustica Greg
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Acoustica Greg »

Hi,

One way to do it would be to add a Send track to your project. Put a compression effect on the Send track, crank up the compression settings, then edge up the Send knob on the drum track until you get a good beefy sound, but not so high that you clobber it with compression.

You'll be hearing the audio from the original track and the compressed audio from the Send track mixed together.

Greg
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Acoustica Greg
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Acoustica Greg »

Here's a visual.
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dan_halen
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by dan_halen »

Thanks, that makes sense. Would I compress any of the individual parts like the kick or the snare?
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Acoustica Greg
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Acoustica Greg »

Hi,

It depends on the sound you want. Play around with it!

Greg
aj113
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by aj113 »

Another way to do it:

1 Add your compression.
2 "Mix to new track"
3. Take the compression off the first track.

Now you have two tracks, one compressed, the other not. Mix them together as desired.
Vibrant Audio
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Vibrant Audio »

So, to sum up the advice above...

"New York" drum compression:
1) create a send or copy of a track
2) compress the send or copy heavily
3) subtly mix in that compressed track with the original

You can use a send track, a duplicated track, a bounced track...

Here's a decent summary article with some history and other types of parallel compression.
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Ianpb »

Or if you want to be lazy about it, just get a compressor that has the feature built in.
dan_halen
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by dan_halen »

Thanks a lot for the suggestions! I tried the send thing and it works pretty well. It sounds good with the Waves and T-Racks compressors I've used with it. Do you usually leave the dry drum track totally uncompressed or with some compression in certain places? Just want to know what's typically done.
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by gypsy101 »

Ianpb wrote:Or if you want to be lazy about it, just get a compressor that has the feature built in.
:wink:
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Acoustica Greg
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Acoustica Greg »

Hi,

I believe you'd leave the original audio dry, at least as far as compression goes.

Greg
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Vibrant Audio »

Acoustica Greg wrote:I believe you'd leave the original audio dry, at least as far as compression goes.
Greg is absolutely right. And you probably only want to use compression and eq on the duplicate track, no reverb.

But you mix and use effects on the original drum track just like you might do normally, so a little compression is ok on that original track. Then mix in a little of the highly compressed version to help the track cut through or sound more in your face without losing all of the dynamics like you would if you only used a highly compressed track.

Experiment to see what you find fits your song best!
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davefk
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by davefk »

gypsy101 wrote:
Ianpb wrote:Or if you want to be lazy about it, just get a compressor that has the feature built in.
:wink:

http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2010/11 ... t-plugins/ :D
Vibrant Audio
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by Vibrant Audio »

davefk wrote:
gypsy101 wrote:
Ianpb wrote:Or if you want to be lazy about it, just get a compressor that has the feature built in.
:wink:
http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2010/11 ... t-plugins/ :D
Oh, yeah! That reminds me - the Terry West free plugins.

There's a NY Compressor VST there.
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gypsy101
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Re: Parallel Compression on Mixcraft 6

Post by gypsy101 »

Vibrant Audio wrote: Oh, yeah! That reminds me - the Terry West free plugins.

There's a NY Compressor VST there.
to this day I haven't been able to get that vst to work right. only one preset works & all the rest including the NY compression are mute when engaged. :?
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