Compression Settings: Some Starting Points - PRESONUS AudioBox 22VSL Owner's Manual

5 Tutorials
5.2 A Brief Tutorial on Dynamic Processing

Compression Settings: Some Starting Points

5.2.3
Vocals
Percussion
52 52
Frequency Key Filter. Some gates offer a variable frequency control allowing the
user to set a specific frequency band that the will cause the gate to open or close.
Noise Gating. Noise gating is the process of removing unwanted sounds
from a signal by attenuating all signals below a set threshold. As described,
the gate works independently of the audio signal after being "triggered" by
the signal crossing the gate threshold. The gate will remain open as long as
the signal is above the threshold. How fast the gate opens to let the "good"
signal through is determined by the attack time. How long the gate stays open
after the signal has gone below the threshold is determined by the hold time.
How fast the gate closes is determined by the release. How much the gate
attenuates the unwanted signal while closed is determined by the range.
Noise gates were originally designed to help eliminate extraneous noise and
unwanted artifacts from a recording, such as hiss, rumble, or transients from other
instruments in the room. Since hiss and noise are not as loud as the instrument being
recorded, a properly set gate will only allow the intended sound to pass through;
the volume of everything else is lowered. Not only will this strip away unwanted
artifacts like hiss, it will add definition and clarity to the desired sound. This is a very
popular application for noise gates, especially with percussion instruments, as it
will add punch or "tighten" the percussive sound and make it more pronounced.
The following are the compression presets that were used in the PreSonus BlueMax.
We have included them as a jumping-off point for setting up compression in VSL.
Soft. This is an easy compression with a low ratio setting for ballads, allowing a wider
dynamic range. It's good for live use. This setting helps the vocal "sit in the track. "
Thresholdhold RatRatioio
-8.2 dB
Medium. This setting has more limiting than the Soft compression setting,
producing a narrower dynamic range. It moves the vocal more up front in the mix.
Thresholdhold RatRatioio
-3.3 dB
Screamer. This setting is for loud vocals. It is a fairly hard compression setting for
a vocalist who is on and off the microphone a lot. It puts the voice "in your face. "
Thresholdhold RatRatioio
-1.1 dB
Snare/Kick. This setting allows the first transient through and compresses
the rest of the signal, giving a hard "snap" up front and a longer release.
Thresholdhold RatRatioio
-2.1 dB
PreSonus AudioBox
AttAttackack
1.8:1 0.002 ms
AttAttackack
2.8:1 0.002 ms
AttAttackack
3.8:1 0.002 ms
AttAttackack
3.5:1 78 ms
22/44VSL
™
ReleaRelease
38 ms
Release
38 ms
Release
38 ms
Release
300 ms