Audio Foundations - Compression and Dynamic Processing
- Description
- Curriculum
- Reviews
In this first instalment of the Foundations of Audio series, author Brian Lee White shows how to improve the sound of a mix with compressors, limiters, gates, de-essers, and other dynamic processors. The course explains the fundamentals of sound waves, and amplitude, explores common compressor controls, and shows how to eliminate unwanted noise using gates and expanders. The course also demonstrates best practices in compression and limiting in a variety of audio applications and covers sculpting the attack and decay of individual notes with transient shapers and applying frequency-specific dynamics control with multiband compressors. Exercise files accompany the course and include special Get in the Mix session files.
Learning objectives:
- Measuring amplitude
- Understanding dynamic range
- Introducing compressors
- Utilizing compression ratios
- Applying attack and release
- Evening out a vocal performance with compression
- Adding punch and sustain to drums
- Using compression presets intelligently
- How to record with compression
- Solving common mix problems with limiters
- De-essing a vocal track Using gates and expanders
- Controlling frequency content with multiband compressors
- Using sidechains creatively
- Keying gates and compressors
- Fixing overcompressed tracks
- Using mixbus compression
- Working with parallel compression
- Compression and limiting best practices
Skills covered:
Audio Compression
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10
3.1 Introducing compressors -
11
3.2 Understanding threshold
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12
3.3 Utilising compression ratios
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13
3.4 Understanding makeup gain and gain reduction
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14
3.5 Understanding attack and release
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15
3.6 Applying attack and release
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16
3.7 Demystifying compression controls soft knee vs. hard knee
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17
3.8 Get in the Mix Using compression to even out a vocal perform
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18
3.9 Get in the Mix Using compression to add punch and sustain to
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19
3.10 Intelligently using compression presets
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20
3.11 Recording with compression Why or why not
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21
3.12 Recording with compression How to do it
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22
Compressors Quiz
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29
5.1 Understanding and using de-essers
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30
5.1 Get in the Mix De-essing a vocal track
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31
5.2 Understanding and using gates
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32
5.3 Understanding and using expanders
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33
5.4 Get in the Mix Gating a drum track
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34
5.5 Understanding and using multi-band compressor limiters
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35
5.6 Controlling frequency content with multi-band compressors
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36
5.7 Understanding and using transient shapers
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37
Special Dynamics Quiz
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38
6.1 Effectively using side-chain inputs
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39
6.2 Using side chains creatively
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40
6.3 Keying gates and compressors (andor ducking)
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41
6.4 Managing gain staging and headroom and fixing over-compresse
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42
6.5 Compression first or EQ first
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43
6.6 Understanding mix bus compression
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44
6.7 Get in the Mix Using mix bus compression
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45
6.8 Get in the Mix Working with parallel compression
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46
6.9 Working with modeled vintage compressor limiter plug-ins
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47
6.95 Building healthy compression limiting habits
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48
Quiz
