Compressor: Smooth Vocals

 

By Brent Hurtig

(from "The Engineer's Notebook: Twelve Ways to Use Dynamics Processors")

 

 

▲ An Application of Compressor: Smooth Vocals © Brent Hurtig

*Compression Setting:
Compression Ratio: Between 3:1 to 5:1

Attack Time: Moderately fast

Release Time: Slow

Threshold level: 2 dB to 6 dB below peak

Alternate Sources: Brass and woodwinds, guitar 

 

 

- The classic compressor application

- Effect should be subtle and even

- For background vocals or horn sections, apply this same compressor setting to a group (bus) output, fed by all the vocals or horns

- Use a "slaved" stereo compressor if background vocals or horns are in stereo

- For excessive peals run source into limiter first (fast attack time and release time). Adjust threshold to limit troublesome peaks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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