PRESONUS STUDIOLIVE 16.4.2 - V1.12 User Manual page 101

5 Tutorials
5.3 A Brief Tutorial on Dynamics Processing
Common Questions Regarding
5.3. 1
Dynamics
Does every instrument need compression?
This question may lead many folks to say "absolutely not, overcompression is horrible." That
statement can be qualified by defining overcompression. The term itself must have been derived
from the fact that you can hear the compressor working. A well-designed and properly adjusted
compressor should not be audible! Therefore, the overcompressed sound is likely to be an improper
adjustment on a particular instrument—unless, of course, it is done intentionally for effect.
Why do the best consoles in the world put compressors on every channel? The answer is simply
that most instruments need some form of compression, often very subtle, to be properly heard in
a mix.
Why do you need noise gates?
Consider the compressed vocal example above; you now have a 20 dB dynamic range for the
vocal channel. Problems arise when noise or instruments (air conditioner, loud drummer, etc.) in
the background of the vocal mic become more audible after the lower end of the dynamic range
is raised. You might attempt to mute the vocal between phrases in an attempt to remove the
unwanted sounds; however this would probably end disastrously. A better method is to use a noise
gate. The noise-gate threshold could be set at the bottom of the dynamic range of the vocal, say
-10 dBu, such that the gate would shut out the unwanted signals between the phrases.
If you have ever mixed live sound, you know the problems cymbals can create by bleeding through
the tom mics. As soon as you add some highs to get some snap out of the tom, the cymbals come
crashing through, placing the horn drivers into a small orbit. Gating those tom mics so that the
cymbals no longer ring through them will give you an enormous boost in cleaning up the overall mix.
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