Sinister: compression

[Mark Kolmar]

Someone mentioned something earlier about TBWTAS taking a bit longer to
put together because of something to do with compression.  It was all
quite vague, but maybe I can offer some explanation.

A compressor squashes the dynamics of the signal you pass through it.
Sometimes that can be very desirable.  For example, to get a longer
sustain on a bass guitar, or to even-out inconsistent playing.  However,
compression inevitably deadens the signal a little.  One of the cues that
tells your brain a sound is real is the dynamic range, especially the loud
peaks.  The downside is even CD is only marginally capable of capturing
the quietest and the loudest moments of say a symphony orchestra.

Ever notice sometimes when you are making a mixtape or something, that on
some songs the meters just about sit at 0dB?  That's a heavily compressed
mix.  Ever notice how then you put on another track, and the peaks go
higher and yet it doesn't seem as loud as the other song?  That mix isn't
compressed (or rather, not as much).

It is one of the ironies of digital music reproduction that compression
and limiting are used as much as, and perhaps more than ever.  Give the
engineers 96dB of dynamic range (versus mabye 70-some dB on vinyl), and
what happens?  They just squash the signal with greater precision.

If by some chance I were called upon to record the band, I'd want to do
one of two things: 1) set them up in that church(?) with just a stereo mic
and maybe a couple other, mono mics for reinforcement; or 2) compress the
drums and bass guitar, mainly on the louder songs (to give the rhythm
section a nice, solid sound that an ordinary stereo can reproduce) but
leave most everything else as-is going to tape...possibly some soft
limiting on the vocals so the quiet parts don't get lost and the loud
parts don't stand out too much.

--Mark "a little compression goes a long way" Kolmar



__ <http://www.xnet.com/~mkolmar/BurningRome> <MPEG 3 & RealAudio tracks>
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