Mix Bus Compression: An Almost Foolproof Recipe

[Kolstad]

Good read Mojo, thanks!

I think buss compressors can work well for the rock genres, where more .. eh Mojo is needed
Things like rock, pop/rock, indie, alt.rock, blues, blues rock.

In these genres a buss compressor is often used to glue the whole mix together and/or give it little more grit.
But if you smack it on the mix after having done the basic mixing, you can loose some clarity.
So many mix desicions is about clarity, notching out frequencies, getting the parts to sit well ect.

That's one problem starting with a bus compressor can solve.

Starting with the bus compressor is like starting with the glue, and then you do the basic mixing afterwards.
It can save time so you don't have to go through the mix desicions again.
You already have the glue, and then make mix desicions for clarity, balance and space.

[Len911]

I know the term glue or gluing is a metaphor that's often used for buss compression, but it always kinda throws me off. I mean glue is sticking together, more of what I think mixing and rendering tracks does, it glues them together. Using the same woodworking metaphor, since a compressor is a leveler, it seems more like sanding until the pieces you've glued together are level. And the grit is how coarse the sandpaper is?? I guess mixing is gluing and the glue hasn't dried yet, so you can still move it around, and rendering is after the glue has dried, and buss compression is the sanding?? I think it's the gluing, leveling thing that gets me, or maybe it's like filling a hole in the wood with glue and wood like a wood filler?? or

[Kolstad]

Well, "glue" is a colloquial term for an SSL type compressor that just softens the peaks a bit and react in a way to mutiple inputs that sounds coherent, len, and perhaps a misnomer as many other compressors can do something similar today. Personally, I like getting a lil character from compressors on low settings, but sure it's not for all..

[Len911]

"glue" is a colloquial term for an SSL type compressor

Cool, learn something new everyday!!

[Len911]

Funny thing, I just watched the youtube taxi tv episode on mixing, and I heard the term gluing! Yes, the console is SSL, but the limiter was in Pro Tools, not sure if it was SSL. Just sayin'.

[mojobone]

Yeah, the SSL G series console bus compressor has lots of imitators in hardware and software and is used as a finishing touch that "makes it sound like a RECORD." It sounds like a thing instead of a bunch of things, hence the term, glue. Kush Audio's UBK Fatso does this and a bunch more things that you might expect a great vintage compressor to do. You don't want to crush your mix, just make the seams disappear.

[Len911]

Okay, so the SSL compressor got me curious and I had to do some googling to find out why,lol!

The Evolution of a Classic

The SL 4000 console was the first console to incorporate dynamics processing in every channel and a master compressor in the console centre section.
The ability to 'patch' into the SL 4000's centre compressor, and also control its sidechain from an internal sub-mix, allowed engineers to discover the amazing unique qualities of this compressor for use on instruments like piano and drums, as well as its classic mix finalising capabilities.

http://www2.solidstatelogic.com/studio/ ... compressor

Then I found this in an article about 20 best compressors:

In many ways the American equivalent of the classic SSL Buss compressor, the API 2500 is known for its ability to shape the punch and tone of full mixes with both accuracy and flair. As such it is mainly used for mastering and bus applications, its trademark sound evident on many chart-topping hits...With Thrust switched to Loud the compressor generates a chest-hitting punch that brings out the attack of rhythmic material and delivers an attitude and glue to the bottom end of a mix that most other compressors can’t come close to. The SSL gets most of the credit when it comes to bus compression, but in many ways the clean, clear, up-front sound of the 2500 may even be a better choice for electronic music. (Neve 33609 also deserves credit here. It doesn’t make our list, but as an alternative to the SSL it’s worth mentioning alongside the 2500.)

https://www.attackmagazine.com/reviews/ ... r-made/12/

So that leads me to conclude that yes it's analog and high quality, but also because it was probably out of convenience and being the first in a console that the SSL derived it's reputation, and not that it necessarily had anything special over other high quality compressors. And also that it happens to confirm my bias that there probably isn't anything better than API in terms of quality and value,lol!

[LOCK88]

You don't want to crush your mix, just make the seams disappear.

Well said MOJO!!

[mojobone]

You don't want to crush your mix, just make the seams disappear.

Well said MOJO!!

Mazel Tov!