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Tutorials
Hearing compression in context
w/ Ben Lindell
Hearing compression in context
7 min • 2015
English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Your audience only hears your final mix, never the individual tracks of a session.
How often does a compressor or EQ setting sound perfect while in solo and then you unsolo the track and it sounds worse than before you even started? Ben Lindell shows your how helpful it is to be making your mixing choices, especially compression, in context.
Professional engineers know how important it is to be able to hear and make decisions in the context of the whole production, rather than just in isolation. This tutorial while direct your ear to the subtle sonic differences and open your mind to working without the solo button.
Plug-in Used:
- FLUX:: Syrah
Music:
Press Rewind by Dan Godlin - Listen on iTunes or Spotify
4.1
26 reviews
travis.wh • Saturday, February 13, 2021
Hadn't heard of M/S compression before this. Interesting.
ludwigmack • Thursday, April 23, 2020
I really liked this video! I think I will never have enough videos about compression and how to use it properly and better in all its applications.
I only have one suggestion: I would prefer A/B comparisons many times while listening to one part, so the difference is clear for not-experts like me :)
Thank you Ben for the video!
bassmothership • Tuesday, January 14, 2020
A/B comparison is awfully difficult to hear if you're always speaking between.
Couldn't you simply say the examples first, them play them without stopping?
This makes me start to dislike pure mix.
Bill123 • Tuesday, February 19, 2019
You did this alteration in the chorus...how would it change going back to a verse?
I likely would not have used so much comprehension to begin with.
Great job!
JAW_007Mix • Thursday, April 5, 2018
Great intro for using compression on individual tracks while hearing it as a whole unit. I agree... I'd like the A-B comparisons done with out stopping.
jim.r • Saturday, August 26, 2017
I'm sorry, but A/B comparisons are totally useless when you stop the audio and start talking in between the processed and unprocessed sounds. I know this is for beginners, but doesn't that make it even MORE important. You've made enough records to know the very short memory of our ears.
Otherwise, a nice intro for beginners.
-Jim
rus5 • Tuesday, May 30, 2017
This guy ALWAYS does a great job - thanks Ben!!
dizzy416 • Monday, March 27, 2017
The compressed signal is actually louder than the uncompressed. you can see it on the actual plugin meters. Would love it if it were level matched :/
liketribes • Saturday, March 18, 2017
Thanks for the video Ben. Very Useful!
Danpatra • Wednesday, January 11, 2017
I didn't see any true compresion work accept open a plunging and turn some knobs, there was no fine tuning or true method of you adopted. It was more of a commercial for the plugin.
Remy David • Saturday, December 31, 2016
Ben, that was a great tutorial demonstration! So good it was. That just while listening to it on my 40 inch LCD TV. Coming out it's Precision, one inch by 3 inch Taiwanese speakers. On the back of the TV set. Facing the drapes. Your expert command. Of that compressor plug-in. Was a totally obvious improved difference. Listening to this. From these, high-end, five dollars worth,, of lightweight toy speakers. And it makes a significant difference! It's a fabulous demonstration!
That demonstration was so wonderfully relevant. And executed so well. That it made a huge difference! Bravo!
frankangell82 • Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Thanks for the video. Please keep them coming. Oh Yeah!!!
pablo12co • Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Amazing!
boogie6l6 • Sunday, February 14, 2016
On my laptop I'm not sure I can hear much difference at all, other than perhaps a bit more width with the m/s setting engaged, but I assume that's how most of us will listen. For us amateurs to 'get it' we need to be confident that each move we make is of positive benefit, rather than uncertain. Therefore, I'd appreciate anything that puts it beyond doubt. I concur that soloing the piano would have helped.
Nenette • Saturday, May 30, 2015
Great! Very useful. Thanks :)