Compressor Master Class WITH GRAHAM COCHRANE

COMPRESSOR MASTER CLASS

Session 1 - Why Compress? • Example of a compressed mix and uncompressed mix • The fear/abuse of compression • How compressors came to be • The automated volume control concept • Why we use compression • Why use compression in tracking? • Why use compression in mixing? • Why use compression in mastering? • Threshold • Ratio • Attack/Release • Makeup Gain • Knee • Meters (input, output, gain reduction) • Example using a vocal track

Session 2 - My 5 Favorite Compressor Moves Part I • Glue your mix together (mix buss compression) • That upfront vocal sound (stacking compressors)

Session 3 - My 5 Favorite Compressor Moves Part II • Fatter drums (fast attack settings) • More energy in acoustic guitars and pianos (slow attack settings) • Get louder mixes (using a limiter)

Session 4 - Beyond The Basics • Parallel compression - this is great! • Compressors as EQ (compare tones of different comps) Other styles of

compressors (la-2a or 1176 for example, fewer knobs) • Final warnings (the loudness wars, a little goes a long way, etc)