Audio Foundations: Compression and Dynamic Processing

Shows how to improve the sound of a mix using compressors, limiters, gates, de-essers, and other dynamic processors.

Introduction

• Welcome
• What you should know before watching this course
• Using the exercise files
• Using the "Get in the Mix" Pro Tools and Logic Pro session files

1. Audio Dynamics

• What is amplitude?
• Measuring amplitude
• What is dynamic range?
• What are dynamics processors?
• Hardware and software dynamics processors

2. Compressors

• Introducing compressors
• Understanding threshold
• Utilizing compression ratios
• Understanding makeup gain and gain reduction
• Understanding attack and release
• Applying attack and release
• Demystifying compression controls: soft knee vs. hard knee
• Get in the Mix: Using compression to even out a vocal performance
• Get in the Mix: Using compression to add punch and sustain to drums
• Intelligently using compression presets
• Recording with compression: Why or why not?
• Recording with compression: How to do it

3. Limiters

• Introducing limiters
• Types of limiters
• Get in the Mix: Maximizing mix loudness with brickwall limiters
• Solving common mix problems with limiters
• Using layered dynamics processing

4. Special Dynamics Processors

• Understanding and using de-essers
• Get in the Mix: De-essing a vocal track
• Understanding and using gates
• Understanding and using expanders
• Get in the Mix: Gating a drum track
• Understanding and using multi-band compressors/limiters
• Controlling frequency content with multi-band compressors
• Understanding and using transient shapers

5. Advanced Topics

• Effectively using side-chain inputs
• Using side chains creatively
• Keying gates and compressors (and/or ducking)
• Managing gain staging and headroom and fixing over-compressed tracks
• Compression first or EQ first?
• Understanding mix bus compression
• Get in the Mix: Using mix bus compression
• Get in the Mix: Working with parallel compression
• Working with "modeled" vintage compressor/limiter plug-ins
• Building healthy compression/limiting habits

Conclusion

• Goodbye

An Interview with the Author

• A session with Brian Lee White