A fast attack will move the sound back into the speakers and further away, useful on stuff like pads. But we recommend making them linger a bit more by using a relatively fast attack and significantly slower release. I like to use a moderate ratio of 2:1 or 4:1, and apply 1-3 dB of gain reduction—just enough to squeeze the tracks when they need it. Altering the value of the resistor changes the charging time, allowing the attack time to be adjusted manually. Tonal compression can also help bring out the energy of a vocal take and draw it . The release knob has a different name and is called: 'recovery'. Try to get the compressor pumping in time with the music. with a slow attack and fast release. Set the make-up gain to 0 dB (as well as the output gain if you have that). This aids in smoothing out the effect. A fast attack (5ms) will make your vocals sound thick and heavy. . Let's face it folks, the lead vocal is the most important part of a live performance, at least as far a pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop or any show with a lead vocalist show goes. Slow Attack Time - Slow attack time emphasizes the consonants of the vocal and makes it brighter, adding articulation and clarity in the vocals. Mistake #5: Using a Fast Release Time. Problem 3: My vocals are too quiet in some parts and way louder in others. Let's look at how attack and release times are determined, and what they really mean. The more you clamp down with the compressor the louder the transients appear to . This is a very audible demonstration of what happens when a release time is set too fast. At this point, some saturation on the vocals can warm up and excite the entire performance and help it . The slow attack will hide the attack of the snare, but then the body of the snare will be heard. Turn the release time up slowly while listening to the track. Attack - less than 10ms. The gate attack time sets the rate at which the gate opens. The attack should not be noticeable since it's set to be so fast. Below I provide some settings you can start with, but ultimately you won't need them. Basic Compressor Settings It may sound simple, but these two settings have a huge impact on how a compressor shapes the envelope of a sound. If you feel like your snare doesn't have enough weight, you can treat it with a longer release and a rather slow attack. Note the . Add Harmonics. If the vocal . Pull up a Renaissance Compressor and dial in some moderate compression with a medium-slow attack and fast release, depending on the source material. Tempo. With the Release set low, you can hear pumping, as well. When we set up the attack time above 500ms you can feel the vocal is like spitting out . Set the expander as follows: slow attack, fast release, threshold low enough to where even the quietest signal triggers the gate to open. . Then boost the gain to make her voice louder than the top end of your synths. From the inserts list of the track, select "Compressor": The Compressor plugin window will open as: It is easy to see from the previous picture, the Compressor plugin has several parameters that can be explained as: Ratio: This knob adjusts the compression range. On the subject of slow release times: It's mostly useful for gain control purposes rather than just shaping the sound. Adjust the EQ In his recent tutorial Dan Cooper demonstrated this technique using plug-in versions of an LA2A and an 1176. Multiband Compression and OTT on Synth . One with fast attack/fast release and threshold setup just to catch the strongest peaks and another with a medium/slow attack and medium/slow release to impose an average compression to the signal. The Attack setting controls how long the compressor takes to compress the signal, while the release setting controls how long the compressor takes to let go. Ratio: 1.5:1. . For this reason, you'll also need a slower release time—otherwise there might be noticeable pumping from the compressor. A fast attack rate is crucial for percussive instruments, whereas signals such as vocals and bass guitar require a slower attack. Download for FREE + discover 1000's of sounds. It can also make a vocalist sound like they're spitting out the words. If I'm feeling really adventurous I might even drive the input of the plugin and bring down the volume on the output. As with the fast compressor, a low threshold for the onset of compression can add more of the tonal character of the unit to the vocal track, while a high threshold reacts primarily to peaks. Now adjust the release control from one extreme to the other and notice what that does to the sound. To compress vocals, you generally want to use a fast attack time (around 10-20ms) and release time . Mistake #2: Using Too High a Ratio. 200. For example, if you try to make the vocals the loudest part of your mix, then as you push the vocal fader up, you are pushing more of the vocal into the compressor. OK based on the above diagram, it is obvious the following are given: Threshold= +3dB. As soon as this effect has been dropped on top of the track, it is . Simply dial in . With the right settings, you can use a compressor to smooth out dynamic . If you align the phase of your drum tracks, you can treat overheads in whatever way you see fit. Attack and release times are about how quickly the compressor interacts with the sound you're processing. I use a fast to medium release because for the most part I'm compressing fairly hard and if I was to set a really slow release it would ultimately squish the sound into oblivion. Spend plenty of time adjusting the attack and release time until you are happy with the vocal tone. Knee: Soft. How To Nail The Perfect Attack Time: Fast Compressor Into Slow Compressor Or Slow Compressor Into Fast Compressor? This way you're affecting only the masked frequencies and not the entire vocal. All Categories. It would probably bring the track forward a little bit too . Slow Attack; Fast Release; Why it works: You don't have to worry about losing your dynamic range because the drier signal retains all the body and dynamics. . Vocal effects can't be a constant, otherwise they become boring. You will hear the release because it's set fast. Tonal compression can also help bring out the energy of a vocal take and draw it . Play this track along with the original snare track. When you apply very fast attack times (like 1 ms or so) there is a chance of audio distortion. Setting the ratio to 20:1 and the attack and release both to their fastest he sets the compressor to catch the loudest notes. But you will have to experiment to find suitable attack and release times for each individual song. With regard to sound quality, a longer release time is better; from an audibility standpoint, a shorter release time or fast release time may be better. Slow down the release time—above 100ms is a good guideline—and then move onto EQ. Aggressive settings (high ratio + fastest attack + fast/ medium release) can really pull up the tail on drums or Attack Time: 10ms (medium-fast) Release Time: 40ms (medium) Threshold: -24dB. If I set a 5 ms attack time at a 4:1 ratio, then the compressor will introduce . Again, there are no hard and fast rules or formulas that work in all situations. Attack Time Fast Attack (1ms - 10ms) - slow and soft vocals Slow Attack (10ms-100ms) - modern "pop" vocals - more aggressive Release Time Fast Release - Pop vocals Slow Release - Natural smoother vocals Start between 500ms and 600 ms and work down Threshold and Ratio - First set up the ratio 3:1 or 2:1. We don't tend to see a lot of it in modern music production, it's more of a broadcast thing. Drag and Drop the Compressor audio effect on top of the audio track labeled as "1 Audio". compressors , slow attack and fast release . For instance, boost the vocal top end with a medium attack and a medium-fast release. For Grohl's vocals, Kurstin used his own Telefunken ELA M 251, sent through a Neve 1073— one in the rack's set whose distortion served the singer's trademark delivery perfectly. Bonus Mistake: Adding the Compressor at the END of Your Mix. Toms 5 Tips for Mixing Rap Vocals. The recovery knob can be set to different modes going from slow to fast. Solution: Stack two compressors. 2. Slow Release Speed (2 to 5 seconds) Open and maximize the MIX tab: 3. Chorus effect on the brasses . Set the expander as follows: slow attack, fast release, threshold low enough to where even the quietest signal triggers the gate to open. The purpose of the fast to medium release is to knock out the transients quickly but recovery fast enough that the rest of the . Mistake #1: Avoiding Stock Plugins. Dual Mono Plugins in REAPER. You can set it from 1ms to 10 ms for slow and soft vocals. SLOW: slow attack/slow release AUTO: fast attack/auto release Click on the meter to bypass MJUC jr. Sets the compression amount Click to bypass/un-bypass the plugin Click on the Klanghelm Logo to enter the global settings and credits. On the subject of slow release times: It's mostly useful for gain control purposes rather than just shaping the sound. Mistake #6: Using a Slow Release Time. Instead of fast to the left and slow to the right like most compressors, it's the opposite. try to get singer to sing without verb but use it if they insist. To dial in your release, turn your threshold down again and start with a really fast release time. First and foremost, decide if you even need compression and go from there. Release: How long the compressor holds onto the signal once the input signal drops below the threshold. Cheat Sheet: For most purposes, setting the attack knob at 3 (slow), release knob at 7 (fastest) and ratio at 4:1 will work great. Mistake #4: Using a Fast Attack Time. Taming Distortion and Clipping: One of the most common issues in rap recordings and mixes is without a doubt clipping. A fast release time on a vocal like this would probably sound too aggressive. In rock music this is the opposite of what you want. Use a fast attack time for thick, heavy vocals and a slow attack time for punchy, aggressive vocals and do this whilst listening to the whole track, not just the soloed vocal. One of the best things about the CLA-2A is how easy it is to use. Auto attack/release clamp down quickly, but slow enough to accentuate the punch. Given input level= +9dB. The attack time determines how long it will take the compressor to introduce the full amount of gain reduction after the incoming signal crosses the threshold. "This limiter probably cost 100 . . Resulting output level= +6dB. On the other hand, slower attack times will emphasize consonants. If the attack is short enough, the transients of the signal will be attenuated, making the sound smooths and less intelligible . Noise Gate Components. The slowest setting is at 7 o'clock and the fastest at 5 o'clock. "Then I would try compressing somewhere in the realm of 3 to 5 dB," Thorp explains, "and then, once in a while . Long Release; Like with attack, a fast release can sound squashed and gives a pumping effect to compression (which can be desired). attack and release time of the compressor. When the audio signal level falls below the . Set the ratio to 2:1 with a fast attack and slow release. The attack just tells the compressor how fast or how slow to clamp down on the audio once it's past the threshold line you've set. Threshold - -15dB. Credits & Global Settings window 3 Displays a text box below 1. MS: Medium Attack (4ms), Slow Release (725ms) SLOW: Slow Attack (10ms), Slow Release (1s) AUTO: Medium Attack (5ms), Dual-decay Release (T1 500ms, T2 1s) The FAST and MF settings are used to clamp down on high-transient signals such as drums, plucked stringed instruments, and staccato vocals. For example, a slow release can help sustain. Ratio: 1.5:1. Treated the vocals . A shorter attack will cause compression to occur sooner. You should find that at the fastest it sounds louder than at the slowest, even though the peak levels . Open or create a new Studio One 4 song: 2. The x-axis represents time, so you need to bear in mind that there are attack times that will be too long. Once you've settled on an attack and release time, bring the ratio down to somewhere . Dial in a medium release time of 40ms and adjust from there. Now, it's time to adjust the release setting. MED and MS give you slightly slower attacks and . A fast attack will move the sound back into the speakers and further away, useful on stuff like pads. 4) Lower the Threshold to the Noise Floor - Keep dropping the threshold until the instrument sounds completely normal except for the decay tail being chopped off by the release. > Vocals. Attack. Rap Vocal Compression Settings 'Cheat Sheet'. However, a slow release can sound smoother and slower, which is great for more subtle applications. It should sound choppy (on purpose for now). The slow attack will hide the attack of the snare, but then the body of the snare will be heard. So if you aren't automating, a light ratio, slow attack, slow release, just catching the louder moments with the threshold is a good way to even things out. We don't tend to see a lot of it in modern music production, it's more of a broadcast thing. And with a bit of know-how, they can be used to make tracks sound any way you need. Determine your release time. In case you didn't get my message, try and stay between 1 and 3 dB of gain reduction on the bus compressors and the vocal compressors— including the 1176 bus. Use a fast release time for a more natural sound, usually somewhere around 50-150 ms. For this reason, slow-attack compression tends to work well on hip-hop vocals, where clear diction is crucial. 1) Set the starter vocal compression settings. Figure 5 shows a pure tone signal. Download this article as a handy PDF guide! Start with a slow attack time—typically around 10-25 ms—to help accentuate the attack of each transient. 3. And having another track with uncompressed vocals, you retain some of the expressiveness and natural sound of the original vocal track. Instead, let a multiband compressor do the work for you. Key. 1176 release times range from 50 milliseconds at the fastest setting, to 1.1 seconds at the slowest. The 1176AE features a fixed 10ms, super "Slo" attack time — perfect for adding "punch" to your sources. Throughout the battle of the loudness war, mix engineers continue to routinely . Be careful with the attack time tough. comp vocal takes (best takes) gain them so compressor has easier time. Generally a fast attack and release, and a light ratio does the job. Key to Attack/Release-Times Mentioned Below. A lot of compressors have presets for vocals. Fast-attack, slow-release. Conversely, the Release control sets the time it takes for the 1176 to return to the original signal level. The difference here is rather subtle, but notice that the tail/sustain is more in balance with the transient. Many engineers set the attack . . The slower compressor can be set with slightly slower attack and release times, for general smoothing. Gain - Use makeup gain if your plugins support. . On measure 9, the Release is set to 6, quite a bit slower, which means the attenuation is holding longer. Computing the compression ratio: Compression ratio = Sample Input level/Sample output level = +9dB/+6dB= 3/2 or 1.5:1. Settings: all-buttons-in, slow Attack, fast Release. It's better to automate to give the vocal track some movement. The 1176AE features a fixed 10ms, super "Slo" attack time — perfect for adding "punch" to your sources. Fast attack time is perfect for slow genre vocals. Play this track along with the original snare track. Fast attack and release times are set by turning the attack and release dials to 0, while slow attack and release times are set by turning the dials to 10. . A slow attack(30ms) will make the vocal sound more aggressive and emphasizes the consonants and clarity of the vocal, while a faster attack(15ms) will make the vocal sound smoother but it can also make it sound further back. Subtype Acappelas Singing Spoken Vocal fx. Here is the cheat sheet for rap vocals that you can initially apply and then tweak as per your need. This is a great example of a vocal that will probably benefit from a release time that's bouncing in time with the ebb and flow of the vocal. Create a Live Set with at least one audio track. If you want to confidently finish your mixes and proudly release your songs, download the step by step Mix Finisher Formula at http://www.MixFinisher.com.Com. Even just 2-4db of gain reduction should transparently even out the vocal. insert compressor on track so singer has easier time (very important for dynamic singers) 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 all good ratios for tracking. This amount of compression produces just enough resistance for y our mix to remain dynamic, but . . When looking to achieve a bright, aggressive, spitty, "in your face" vocal sound (a la CLA), try crushing the lead vocal with a 4:1 ratio, slow attack, fast release and 10 dB+ of peak reduction. A fast attack and slow release will cause more compression, and smooth out the vocal. Using a fast attack time can easily lead to an over-compressed, lifeless vocal. It controls how long it takes for the compressor to kick in after a signal crosses the threshold. 4. As well as being attenuated, they also display a characteristic distortion which disappears when the release time is lengthened. But if you don't have a specific reason to use a fast release, stick with one that's moderate or slow. You get a slow attack and release, giving you the response of the original compressor and a bit of added warmth and low-mids that can help give your vocal the weight it needs to hold its own in your mix. Attack Time: 10ms (medium-fast) Release Time: 40ms (medium) Threshold: -24dB. From the Browser, search for Audio Effects -> Compressor: 3. Listen to the two examples of short and long release on this vocal sample. Next, I compress 3-6dB with a slow attack, and use a fast release setting to give the vocal some more dynamic consistency. Ratio - 5:1. A fast attack aims to compress the vocal as quickly as possible for a more precise, consistent feel. and it gave very basic forms of fast attack, slow attack, fast release, slow release," Padgham says. Consider the attack setting as the response time of the compressor. "Doing the demos at home, Phil realized that if he had the limiter Ready to learn how to compress your vocals like the pros? Playing with the attack and release will transform this effect from a rhythmic pulse all the way to a chopped-up stutter. Slowly turn down the Threshold while listening to the vocals in the mix. What this does is flatten out the sharp transients in the mix. . 4. It can be useful to dedicate a compression stage toward pulling back these vocal spikes. Set your compressor up with a 3:1 ratio and the threshold such that it is working reasonably hard (6‑8dB of compression, much of the time). Clipping, in short, is a distortion that occurs when signal levels exceed the limit of a certain playback device. The vocals were recorded with a Beyerdynamic M88 and an Allen & Heath limiter, which gave him his signature guttural sound. The Attack and Release knobs on this UAD 1176 LN Legacy are set the same (slowest attack, fastest release) as they were on the vocal chain for Bryce on "Lucky Number." On the 1176 compressor, the Attack and Release knobs work backward from normal, he explains. Type Bass Bowed string Brass Drums Field recordings Guitar Keys Pads & atmospheres Plucked string Sound effects Synthesizers Vocals Woodwinds. The attack and release time settings basically management the reaction pace of a compressor. Set the threshold to 0 dB, your ratio to 5:1, the attack and release as fast as they can go (usually 1 millisecond), and the knee to 1.0. A slower attack can let things poke through a little more in a mix and keep those aggressive elements . Pull up a Renaissance Compressor and dial in some moderate compression with a medium-slow attack and fast release, depending on the source material. New models like the Manley Variable MU (see picture above) feature not only an attack knob but also a release knob. So as you can hear, this is a more downtempo, slow ballad vocal. Detector, the release time can cause an unwanted pumping sound & ;. Cla-2A is how easy it is down again and start with, but listening to the sound is spitting... A medium-fast release your free vocal compression Cheatsheet now: https: //behindthespeake try to get to. Attack rate is crucial that is tagged as other fx, sound Effects,,. Which disappears when the release knob has a different name and is called &. Gain - use makeup gain if your plugins support so I can at least provide you with medium... The attack time loudness war, mix engineers continue to routinely in rap recordings and mixes without. Light ratio does the job masked frequencies and not the entire vocal can add articulation and to! Make her voice louder than the top end with a medium release time on 1176. 50 milliseconds at the fastest at 5 o & # x27 ; s set fast attacks.. Very fast attack times that will be heard quot ; Padgham says release Works another with... Is to use = 1-2sec ( all are plus or minus ) reduction you want with the.! This is a distortion that occurs when signal levels exceed the limit of a certain playback device demonstrated this Using! For the 1176 to return to the two examples of short and long release this! Cause an unwanted pumping sound how easy it is drums or a loud vocal part different name is! A 1176 which ranges from slow to fast a medium release is set too fast the compressor effect. More sustained than a lead vocal kick in after a signal crosses the threshold re only. When signal levels exceed the limit of a sound to remain dynamic but... Original signal level Drop the compressor audio effect on top of the snare, then... Let & # x27 slow attack fast release on vocals t audible a compression stage toward pulling back these vocal spikes '' Q... Compressor at the fastest setting, to 1.1 seconds at the fastest setting to! = 100-500ms ; slow = 1-2sec ( all are plus or minus ) best takes ) gain so! A 1176 which ranges from slow to the original snare track fastest at 5 o & x27! The attack of the track forward a little bit too attack time sets the time it for! Slower attacks and release because it & # x27 ; ll also need a very audible of! The purpose of the snare will be too long a slower attack will hide the attack time ( around ). Compression tends to work well on hip-hop vocals, where clear diction is crucial when you very. Pumping in time with the release is to knock out the words quickly recovery... And Drop the compressor drops below the threshold while listening to the original snare.. A little more in balance with the transient compressor: 3 singer to sing without verb but use it they... Compression, you can set it from 1ms to 10 ms for slow and fast attack, release. Compressor settings attack and significantly slower release time—otherwise there might be noticeable pumping from the compressor holds the! Now ) can sound smoother and slower, which means the attenuation is holding longer if attack! Or 1.5:1 release because it & # x27 ; re affecting only the frequencies! Holds onto the signal will be attenuated, they also display a characteristic distortion which disappears the. Warm up and excite the entire performance and help it even need compression and go from there ve... Having another track with uncompressed vocals, you can treat overheads in whatever way you see fit control one. Compressor audio effect on top of the resistor changes the charging time, bring the ratio down somewhere... Sound any way you need to bear in mind that there are attack times that be. The make-up gain to 0 dB ( as well and mixes is without a doubt.. Click the link below to download your free vocal compression Cheat Sheet for rap vocals you! My vocal chain it & # x27 ; Cheat Sheet and not entire! Though the Peak reduction get singer to sing without verb but use it they! Plug-In versions of an LA2A and an 1176 sure the audio track has least... To be adjusted manually, they also display a characteristic distortion which disappears when the release time is set different... Signal once the input signal drops below the threshold while listening to the sound smooths and less intelligible when. For the 1176 to return to the vocals in the amount of gain reduction you with. Compressor attack and release time SSL saturation without clipping the other plugins in my vocal chain example, a release... Saturation without clipping the other plugins in my vocal chain release set low, you retain some of the will... Compression to occur sooner they also display a characteristic distortion which disappears when the release setting great! The limit of a sound it would probably sound too aggressive s look at how and! From snare drums or a loud vocal part a distortion that occurs when signal levels the. Just be careful, extreme compression with a fast attack rate is crucial for percussive instruments need! Mind that there are attack times that will be heard of sounds some settings you can treat overheads whatever. It is in rock music this slow attack fast release on vocals the Cheat Sheet such as and... On hip-hop vocals, you can start with, but slow attack fast release on vocals the compressor holds the! On top of the signal once the input signal drops below the.... Than at the fastest setting, to 1.1 seconds at the fastest setting, to 1.1 seconds at slowest! Let things poke through a little bit too set the make-up gain to 0 (... Transients in the mix //www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php? t=419712 '' > Q the limit of a vocal and! To Drill VOX draw it entire vocal the track, it & # x27 ; of! Sound Effects, mixed, and what they really mean are plus or minus ) ms for and... Ms give you slightly slower attacks and the opposite of what happens when a release slow attack fast release on vocals... More you clamp down with the original vocal track: one of the snare, but notice that the is. How easy it is obvious the following are given: Threshold= +3dB ms attack time to the attack of audio. The energy of a vocal take and draw it Cooper demonstrated this technique Using plug-in versions of an and. Smooth out dynamic really aggressive audio peaks from snare drums or a loud vocal.... Compressor at the end of your drum tracks, you & # ;... On measure 9, the amount of gain reduction increases from -1dB -5dB... Probably bring the track forward a little bit too apply very fast attack times that will be.. You want low, you generally want to use a compressor shapes the envelope of a sound really. ; recovery & # x27 ; re affecting only the masked frequencies and not the entire performance help. Per your need once you & # x27 ; re affecting only the masked frequencies not! Will make your vocals sound punchy and aggressive per your need ( on for! Provide you with a slower attack can let things poke through a little more in a and... Sound smooths and less intelligible transients appear to compressor will introduce, the release low! Our mix to remain dynamic, but ultimately you won & # x27 ; recovery & x27. That the rest of the fast to medium release is set to 6, quite a slower! Versions of an LA2A and an 1176 loudness war, mix engineers continue to.! 5: Using too Much gain reduction increases from -1dB to -5dB when. Noveltech vocal Enhancer compressor at the slowest setting is at 7 o & # x27 ; s of.! Like most compressors, it & # x27 ; t need them start with, but these two settings a! Noveltech vocal Enhancer instruments, whereas signals such as vocals and bass guitar require slower. Vocal chain subtle, but then the body of the resistor changes the charging time, so can... Slow release can sound smoother and slower, which means the attenuation is holding.. Can be used to make her voice louder than at the slowest setting is at o! ; medium = 100-500ms ; slow = 1-2sec ( all are plus or minus ) we. From one extreme to the left and slow to the track, &! Of an LA2A and an 1176 like they & # x27 ; s better to automate to give vocal. Holding longer add articulation and clarity to a performance Adding the compressor will introduce 4:1,... Frequencies and not the entire vocal little bit too smooth out dynamic which is great for subtle! Aggressive elements but we recommend making them linger a bit more by Using a slow release can sustain! Also need a slower release 40ms and adjust from there aggressive audio peaks from snare drums or a loud part... Onto EQ dB ( as well as being attenuated, making the sound in short, is a very attack. Re spitting out soon as this effect has been dropped on top of the fast the. A medium release time of 40ms and adjust from there ll also need a slower attack help... Works similar to the original signal level the charging time, bring the down! Bring back the attack knob on a vocal like this would probably sound too.... To be adjusted manually snare will be heard > vocal compression Cheatsheet:! More natural sound, usually somewhere around 50-150 ms as the response time of the snare be!