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Tim Armstrong · March 13th, 2007, 12:35 PM

Hey, it seems "that compression trick Tim Armstrong told me about" is a commonly-used technique called parallel compression. There's a great thread about it HERE.

It's also sometimes called Motown compression (in the Motown version, they'd also boost some of the higher frequencies on the heavily compressed track to add presence to the vocals).

Just thought I'd mention it, so we can stop calling it "Tim's compression trick"!

Cheers, Tim

Ben Harmless · March 14th, 2007, 02:32 PM

Well, Tim, you've always been an innovator. Can you help it if others have innovated previously?

Oh, and the video they mention in that thread is interesting, along with the others posted. It's a lot of stuff that folks may be aware is possible, but don't really ever explore much. It's done in Pro Tools, but in most cases, everything is directly compatible with other DAWs as well. Check it out.

Also, I've linked it up before, but I like this article on parallel compression/aural excitement.

EDIT: I take it all back. Sonar sucks. You can't do half this stuff in Sonar. I hate Sonar now. Looking for new DAW....

woodman · March 14th, 2007, 02:47 PM

great article, Ben! as soon as i finish getting my garage torn up and rebuilt (as a studio), i'm gonna try that. right now, that project (plus trying to get the bands booked through the spring and summer) are blotting out the sun, so i'm compiling a list of cool stuff to try when i'm back up and running, and that's gonna be the first thing!

fingers23 · March 15th, 2007, 06:32 AM

"Tim's compression trick"! it is and it will be so..............

When "compressing the hell out of a track", what sort of parameters do you use on vocals...................do you compress to -12db and have a high ratio of, say, 10:1 and an aggressive cut in? Or would you compress down to e.g. -20db....or even more?

Could you suggest some numbers for guidance...............

Tim Armstrong · March 15th, 2007, 10:28 AM

I've been compressing at around 10:1 with a fairly sharp knee. Not sure about dbs (my stuff is on my desktop computer, I'm using my laptop right now). Now that I've read the article Ben posted (thanks, Ben!!!), I'm gonna try some of the e.q. presence boosting, too...

Cheers, Tim

photoweborama · March 15th, 2007, 11:58 AM

great info.

It gave me a great idea. I've been buying and transferring cassettes to digital for CD and MP3 player.

I was having a problem with the muddy sound of the cassette, but when I added some high end, it seemed to lose some of the fullness.

So I'm going to multi track the song, split the stereo track and make 2 sets tracks. boost the highs on one and leave the other raw.

Thanks Tim!

March 13th, 2007, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,148	Parallel compression... Hey, it seems "that compression trick Tim Armstrong told me about" is a commonly-used technique called parallel compression. There's a great thread about it HERE. It's also sometimes called Motown compression (in the Motown version, they'd also boost some of the higher frequencies on the heavily compressed track to add presence to the vocals). Just thought I'd mention it, so we can stop calling it "Tim's compression trick"! Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

March 14th, 2007, 02:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 4,344 13 Photos	Well, Tim, you've always been an innovator. Can you help it if others have innovated previously? Oh, and the video they mention in that thread is interesting, along with the others posted. It's a lot of stuff that folks may be aware is possible, but don't really ever explore much. It's done in Pro Tools, but in most cases, everything is directly compatible with other DAWs as well. Check it out. Also, I've linked it up before, but I like this article on parallel compression/aural excitement. EDIT: I take it all back. Sonar sucks. You can't do half this stuff in Sonar. I hate Sonar now. Looking for new DAW.... __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson "...Because we all expect the truth, we must be the best of fools." - Stiff Little Fingers Last edited by Ben Harmless; March 14th, 2007 at 03:54 PM.

March 14th, 2007, 02:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 63 Posts: 8,124	great article, Ben! as soon as i finish getting my garage torn up and rebuilt (as a studio), i'm gonna try that. right now, that project (plus trying to get the bands booked through the spring and summer) are blotting out the sun, so i'm compiling a list of cool stuff to try when i'm back up and running, and that's gonna be the first thing! __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Woody & the Stragglers - Western Swing/Roots-rock)

March 15th, 2007, 06:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
fingers23 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: On the Edge......... Posts: 264	"Tim's compression trick"! it is and it will be so.............. When "compressing the hell out of a track", what sort of parameters do you use on vocals...................do you compress to -12db and have a high ratio of, say, 10:1 and an aggressive cut in? Or would you compress down to e.g. -20db....or even more? Could you suggest some numbers for guidance............... __________________ 52 Re-issue Vintage Natural with 'Lollar' H/B, Affinity Butterscotch with 'Seth' H/B, Epiphone Sheraton in Ebony PRS Santana, Peavey Strat, Brian May Red Special, 1979 Yamaha FG345II acoustic, 1976 Kimbara 12 String acoustic, 5 String Banjo www.myspace.com/rocknrollshaman

March 15th, 2007, 10:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,148	I've been compressing at around 10:1 with a fairly sharp knee. Not sure about dbs (my stuff is on my desktop computer, I'm using my laptop right now). Now that I've read the article Ben posted (thanks, Ben!!!), I'm gonna try some of the e.q. presence boosting, too... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

March 15th, 2007, 11:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
photoweborama Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Age: 51 Posts: 1,797 15 Photos	great info. It gave me a great idea. I've been buying and transferring cassettes to digital for CD and MP3 player. I was having a problem with the muddy sound of the cassette, but when I added some high end, it seemed to lose some of the fullness. So I'm going to multi track the song, split the stereo track and make 2 sets tracks. boost the highs on one and leave the other raw. Thanks Tim! __________________ Best guitar photos on the net! photoweborama.com!

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