Step by Step Mixing: How to Create Great Mixes Using Only 5 Plug-Ins by Bjorgvin Benediktsson

Author:Bjorgvin Benediktsson [Benediktsson, Bjorgvin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Music Production, Mixing, Reference, Education
Amazon: B01NC30DNW
Publisher: Audio Issues
Published: 2021-10-31T08:49:59+00:00

Parallel Compression

A great way to add a bunch of punch to your mixes is to use heavy-handed parallel compression alongside the compression you add to the individual tracks themselves. You may only want to gently ride the gain reduction on the tracks, but if you add parallel compression on a separate track you can get very creative.

How you do it is simple. In this case let’s imagine you’re adding parallel compression to drums to get them really rocking.

Send your drum bus to another aux track.

Add a compressor to the aux track.

Hit the compressor hard, with a high ratio, lots of gain reduction, a fast attack, and a slow release. You want the drums to be really compressed and pumpy on the aux track.

For added measure, add an EQ to the aux track after the compressor. Boost the highs and the lows. This makes the highs and lows more present without adding to the transients of the drum track. Because the attack is so fast and the release is so slow the compressor eats all the transients up so that all you get is this thickness in the lows and sheen in the highs.

Blend the compressed aux track with the drum bus to taste.

Usually, this results in a sound that cuts through the mix without getting in the way of the rest of the instruments. It just adds extra presence to everything.

You don’t need to limit this technique to only drums. Try it on vocals to get them very present in the mix. I’ve had great luck with multiple types of parallel processing on various instruments, so if a track is lacking some punch but it reacts poorly to your compressor on the insert then try it in parallel to see whether it adds the punch you need.

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