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Audio Cheat Sheet

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Compression https://audiosorcerer.com/post/compressor-cheat-sheet/

Vocals

  • Moderate ratio (4:1)
  • Fast attack time (1ms)
  • Fast release (50ms)
  • Adjust the Make-up Gain as needed
  • Shoot for between 7 and 10 dB of gain reduction on first compressor in the chain

Guitar

  • Ratio of 4:1
  • Medium attack (5ms)
  • Medium release (200ms)
  • Appropriate Make-up Gain can help to even out the guitar and give it a stable place in the mix.
  • I typically don’t compressor rhythmic electric guitars
  • Look at getting around 3 dB of gain reduction on acoustics

Bass

  • Higher ratio of (6:1)
  • Fast attack (7ms)
  • Slow release (600ms)
  • Adjust the Make-up Gain as needed
  • Look at achieving at least 6 dB of gain reduction
  • The bass needs to be steady because it is the easiest instrument to get lost in a mix

Piano

  • Moderate ratio (3:1)
  • Fast attack (2ms)
  • Fast release time (50ms)
  • Adjust the Make-up Gain as needed
  • If you are going after a natural sound, then look for 1 to 3 dB of gain reduction
  • If the piano is in a modern pop style song, then you might want 6 dB or more of gain reduction

Synths

  • Ratio of (4:1)
  • Medium attack (10ms)
  • Medium release (100ms)
  • Suitable Make-up Gain
  • I do minimal compression on synths and shoot for a max of 6 dB of gain reduction.

Strings

  • Low ratio (2:1)
  • Slow attack (20ms)
  • Slow release time (500ms)
  • Shoot for 3 dB or less of gain reduction