Mixdown, Dynamics & EQ (and related) Topic

[Xenome]

Isn't compression kind of essential in EDM production? To my knowledge, without compression, you'll never get the pumping, loud, aggressive music that hardstyle is, or any aggressive EDM for that matter.

On top of that, compressing the sub bass is basically a rule of thumb. You need a static/straight waveform when creating the sub bass. Kicks are what the crowd moves to, so - at least the sub bass of the kick - has to be consistent in order for people to move to the beat rhythmically.

Short answer is: yes, always use compression. On which tracks? Now that's up to you, but the sub bass should always be compressed, so AT LEAST use it on the kick-track.

You obviously have no clue about what you're talking about.

At least I contribute something to the topic. Explain what's wrong with the post, you could see from my choice of words that I'm not sure of what I'm saying.

*Edit I hope you're still reading this topic and are able to reply, cause just 'shooting down' a post with a generic statement that adds nothing to the discussion isn't helping anybody. We're here to learn EDM production, so discuss it.

[Echidna]

compressors are essential in all forms of production, not make something more aggressive or pumping (i think you are confusing compression with sidechain compression). Compression holds a track in place, read mike seniors book, a really useful section on what a compressor is, what it does and how to use it!

[ljk32]

If you used a pure sine as a sub, it only has a single peak, and therefore all compression will do is give it additional harmonics. Unless you wanted the additional harmonics, compression wouldn't do anything since it's already a 'straight' waveform(I assume by straight you mean consistent in volume). Of course in many cases a person isn't going to be using a pure sine as a sub, but that doesn't mean compression would be essential. Nor it is essential to get 'pumping, loud, agressive music'. Don't get me wrong, it can help a lot, but by no means is it essential.

[ljk32]

(i think you are confusing compression with sidechain compression).

Which isn't compression

[Xenome]

If you used a pure sine as a sub, it only has a single peak, and therefore all compression will do is give it additional harmonics. Unless you wanted the additional harmonics, compression wouldn't do anything since it's already a 'straight' waveform(I assume by straight you mean consistent in volume). Of course in many cases a person isn't going to be using a pure sine as a sub, but that doesn't mean compression would be essential. Nor it is essential to get 'pumping, loud, agressive music'. Don't get me wrong, it can help a lot, but by no means is it essential.

Alright thanks for the info man

[D-Verze]

Yes, they use it. I, as an amateur, use it on almost everything. Screeches, claps, cymbals(percussion) and on leads.

That's just plain wrong. You do need compression on your kick, as you want that one to be constant in volume (or atleast not too much peaking), but other than that, using compression on anything kills the dynamics in your mix. Of course there's a taste question involved in this as well, but I tend to use compressors only on sounds which I keep adjusting the volume of.
Also, merged this into the general mixdown topic.

[Cloud]

Yes, they use it. I, as an amateur, use it on almost everything. Screeches, claps, cymbals(percussion) and on leads.

That's just plain wrong. You do need compression on your kick, as you want that one to be constant in volume (or atleast not too much peaking), but other than that, using compression on anything kills the dynamics in your mix. Of course there's a taste question involved in this as well, but I tend to use compressors only on sounds which I keep adjusting the volume of.
Also, merged this into the general mixdown topic.

You can use a compressor to make the clap have more punch/adjust the sustain. You can use a compressor for side-chaining for various reasons and you can use compressor on various samples like a piano. A compressor is very useful IF you know how to use it. It can fatten the sound for like a screech or lead or whatever without taking too much dynamics. Also note that a compressor can be used for parallel compression. It can be used more than only kicks
But yeah.. it depends on someones taste.
If I am wrong.. please correct me

[Cardioid]

Yes, they use it. I, as an amateur, use it on almost everything. Screeches, claps, cymbals(percussion) and on leads.

That's just plain wrong. You do need compression on your kick, as you want that one to be constant in volume (or atleast not too much peaking), but other than that, using compression on anything kills the dynamics in your mix. Of course there's a taste question involved in this as well, but I tend to use compressors only on sounds which I keep adjusting the volume of.
Also, merged this into the general mixdown topic.

You can use a compressor to make the clap have more punch/adjust the sustain. You can use a compressor for side-chaining for various reasons and you can use compressor on various samples like a piano. A compressor is very useful IF you know how to use it. It can fatten the sound for like a screech or lead or whatever without taking too much dynamics. Also note that a compressor can be used for parallel compression. It can be used more than only kicks
But yeah.. it depends on someones taste.
If I am wrong.. please correct me

If you're only using a compressor for sidechaining and boosting your sounds, you're doing it terribly wrong my friend... I'm sorry to say, but you've also got EQ to boost the punch in the clap, and there's no such thing as a sustain on a compressor. (Attack, Release, Make up Gain, Treshold & Ratio are most common) Surely a compressor can boost your sound, but i don't use a compressor quite often in my mixdown ''just to boost'' that particular sound, you've got other techniques for that (EQ, fattner, volume knob, etc.). I mostly use a compressor to get that sound which doesn't really fits well in the mix, to fit it IN the mix, by dimming it down a little bit together with some corrective EQ'ing. So if some sounds for instance have got a huge peak somewhere, i'll compress it so that it won't have that enormous peak anymore, and will fit more nicely in the mix. But a compressor just for sidechaining and boosting isn't really what's it all about...

[Cloud]

That's just plain wrong. You do need compression on your kick, as you want that one to be constant in volume (or atleast not too much peaking), but other than that, using compression on anything kills the dynamics in your mix. Of course there's a taste question involved in this as well, but I tend to use compressors only on sounds which I keep adjusting the volume of.
Also, merged this into the general mixdown topic.

You can use a compressor to make the clap have more punch/adjust the sustain. You can use a compressor for side-chaining for various reasons and you can use compressor on various samples like a piano. A compressor is very useful IF you know how to use it. It can fatten the sound for like a screech or lead or whatever without taking too much dynamics. Also note that a compressor can be used for parallel compression. It can be used more than only kicks
But yeah.. it depends on someones taste.
If I am wrong.. please correct me

If you're only using a compressor for sidechaining and boosting your sounds, you're doing it terribly wrong my friend... I'm sorry to say, but you've also got EQ to boost the punch in the clap, and there's no such thing as a sustain on a compressor. (Attack, Release, Make up Gain, Treshold & Ratio are most common) Surely a compressor can boost your sound, but i don't use a compressor quite often in my mixdown ''just to boost'' that particular sound, you've got other techniques for that (EQ, fattner, volume knob, etc.). I mostly use a compressor to get that sound which doesn't really fits well in the mix, to fit it IN the mix, by dimming it down a little bit together with some corrective EQ'ing. So if some sounds for instance have got a huge peak somewhere, i'll compress it so that it won't have that enormous peak anymore, and will fit more nicely in the mix. But a compressor just for sidechaining and boosting isn't really what's it all about...

Ok, my fault then, thanks Like I said.. I don't know everything. And I never intended to say that a compressor can only be used for side-chaning or boosting

[ljk32]

Why do you guys say stuff when you don't know what you're talking about?
@Cardioid, you can use a compressor to bring out the 'snap' in something, and whether you eq or not is just preference/what is required. Yes, if Cloud is referring to increasing only the gain through the compressor, and not using any of its other parameters, then you could argue that it isn't really what it's about. Though, by using a compressor solely for sidechaining, you're not misusing it by any means, and since so many compressors provide the option to sidechain, I'd say it is 'really what it's about'. Of course, sidechaining is only one of many things you can do with compression, but it sure is there to be used mate.