Some compressors will offer independent control over the knee. You can use your compressor’s gain reduction meter as an aid to help set the release time Dialing In The Knee This approach typically works better for softer, mellower styles of music. It can often sound more transparent than option #1. Tweak the release time until the gain reduction meter bounces back to zero right before the next note hits. This will help even out the dynamics of the bass, while retaining more of the natural ebb and flow of the performance. You can use your compressor’s gain reduction meter to pull this off.
Look out for distortion, which can creep in with fast release times. To get rid of any distortion, slow down the release time until it goes away. This approach will make the bass sound denser and thicker-a sound that works well for many styles of music. This will enhance the sustain by bringing out low-level details in the performance.
Set the release time as fast as possible.There are really only two choices for this control: It can also make a performance sound flat and lifeless, so be careful! Choosing The Right Release Timeįinally, adjust the release parameter while listening to the sustain of the bass notes. This can push the bass back in the soundstage, and make it sit more evenly in the mix. If you want to make the bass sound smoother and softer, speed up the attack. This can help the bass cut through a mix, and it’s often a good approach for parts that are highly rhythmic. To make the bass more punchy and percussive, slow down the attack. Next, adjust the attack time while listening to the front end of the bass notes. If the compression sounds too aggressive, turn down the ratio. If you’ve turned the threshold down very low but you still can’t hear certain notes, turn up the ratio. Next, adjust the threshold and makeup gain in tandem until all of the notes in the performance sound fairly even and consistent. Flip the compressor in and out of bypass, and add makeup gain until there is no difference in level between the two. Then, turn down the threshold (or turn up the input gain) until compression starts kicking in. Remember-you’re trying to make the bass fit with everything else, so you need to listen to everything together in order to make the right decisions! Getting Started When you’re dialing in bass compression, it’s important to listen to the track in context with the rest of your mix. However, in genres like EDM, they can often be desirable-if carefully timed to enhance the groove.Ĭlick here to learn 6 ways to use compression like a pro. In general, these artifacts are a sign that you need to back off on your threshold or ratio. There are no hard-and-fast rules here-use as much as you need to achieve the sound you’re looking for.īe on the lookout for some of the negative side effects of compression, such as the pumping and breathing that might occur when the compressor grabs onto and pulls back from a note. On the other hand, softer styles like jazz and folk typically need less. Modern, more aggressive genres will often warrant heavy compression. They’re often dynamically consistent enough as-is. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! How much compression should I use?Īgain, it depends on how the bass part was played, as well as the mix you’re trying to fit it into. Programmed bass parts may not need any compression.
If certain notes are getting lost in the mix, while others are too loud, this is also a clue that some compression might be needed. If you find yourself continually adjusting the bass fader during the course of the mix, this might be a clue that you need to compress the bass. This means it will need less compression. If the part was played well, its dynamics will likely be fairly consistent to begin with. It depends on how the part was played, as well as how it fits with the rest of the tracks in your mix. Pro Tools’ stock compressor Should I compress the bass?
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