Levelling Amp or Compressor?

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
asimmd
Max Output Level: -83 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 375
  • Joined: 2006/08/31 14:21:36
  • Location: U.K
  • Status: offline
2012/09/05 05:33:31 (permalink)

Levelling Amp or Compressor?

Hi All
 
Can anyone tell me what is the difference between a Levelling Amplifier,and a Compressor.
 
Is either better than the other,and what are they used for?
 
We are talking Plugins.
 
Thanks
 
Alan
 

Sonar Platinum - Intel i5 Quad Core - Win7 64Bit - 8 Gig Ram - Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 - Vox AC30HW2X - Torpedo Reload - Vox AC15C1 - MJW Custom Built Amp - Fender NOS56 Strat - Universal Audio and Waves Plugins - Softube - Redwirez IR's
 
 
#1

8 Replies Related Threads
    Beagle
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 50621
    • Joined: 2006/03/29 11:03:12
    • Location: Fort Worth, TX
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 08:21:35 (permalink)
    http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center/techtips/d--05/10/2004

    http://soundcloud.com/beaglesound/sets/featured-songs-1
    i7, 16G DDR3, Win10x64, MOTU Ultralite Hybrid MK3
    Yamaha MOXF6, Hammond XK3c, other stuff.
    #2
    tacman7
    Max Output Level: -87 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 176
    • Joined: 2012/06/18 11:48:51
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 11:30:24 (permalink)
    I recorded an audio track and the level was quite a bit lower than the soft synths and I used the leveling amp to bring it up into the mix.

    I usually use compressors but they seem to change the music more, which is usually a good thing.

    I use compressors to get it so everything is louder than everything else.

    Well you use them to bring up the soft stuff to where you can hear it and tone down the loud stuff so your mix is always as loud as it can be, no dynamics.

    That's kind of how music is mixed now, so that you can hear it in the car, soft stuff just doesn't get heard.

     
    #3
    Bristol_Jonesey
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 16775
    • Joined: 2007/10/08 15:41:17
    • Location: Bristol, UK
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 11:38:31 (permalink)
    ^^^ How not to mix

    CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughout
    Custom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
    #4
    Lynn
    Max Output Level: -14 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 6117
    • Joined: 2003/11/12 18:36:16
    • Location: Kansas City, MO
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 11:39:08 (permalink)
    Well, it doesn't have to be this way.  Certainly, some styles of music rely less on dynamics, but not all.  Sometimes it's just bad technique that destroys dynamics.  Go over to the song forum and have a listen, and you will hear many styles of music that are dynamic and loud at the same time.  A lot can be learned there from some of the masters of this forum.
    tacman7


    I recorded an audio track and the level was quite a bit lower than the soft synths and I used the leveling amp to bring it up into the mix.

    I usually use compressors but they seem to change the music more, which is usually a good thing.

    I use compressors to get it so everything is louder than everything else.

    Well you use them to bring up the soft stuff to where you can hear it and tone down the loud stuff so your mix is always as loud as it can be, no dynamics.

    That's kind of how music is mixed now, so that you can hear it in the car, soft stuff just doesn't get heard.





    All the best,
    Lynn

    my songs
    www.soundclick.com/lynnwilson

    www.youtube.com/lywilson
    my videos

    Cakewalk by Bandlab| Sonar Platinum @ 64bits| i7 860 | 8 gigs ram | W10 @ 64 bits | RME FF 400
    #5
    konradh
    Max Output Level: -42 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3325
    • Joined: 2006/01/16 16:07:06
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 11:44:25 (permalink)
    tacman said: "I use compressors to get it so everything is louder than everything else."  I know what he means, but it's a funny quote.  Next time I am working with the rock band I produce I will tell them everything is louder than everything else.  I like that.
    #6
    Bristol_Jonesey
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 16775
    • Joined: 2007/10/08 15:41:17
    • Location: Bristol, UK
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 11:54:34 (permalink)
    First time I heard that expression was on Deep Purple's "Made In Japan" released in 1972

    CbB, Platinum, 64 bit throughout
    Custom built i7 3930, 32Gb RAM, 2 x 1Tb Internal HDD, 1 x 1TB system SSD (Win 7), 1 x 500Gb system SSD (Win 10), 2 x 1Tb External HDD's, Dual boot Win 7 & Win 10 64 Bit, Saffire Pro 26, ISA One, Adam P11A,
    #7
    tacman7
    Max Output Level: -87 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 176
    • Joined: 2012/06/18 11:48:51
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 12:09:45 (permalink)
    Old jokes never die, just find new audiences.


    #8
    SvenArne
    Max Output Level: -48 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2719
    • Joined: 2007/01/31 12:51:29
    • Location: Trondheim, Norway
    • Status: offline
    Re:Levelling Amp or Compressor? 2012/09/05 14:39:11 (permalink)
    Bristol_Jonesey


    ^^^ How not to mix

    Sorta makes sense though...
     
    Young people don't sit around concentrating and listening to music in their homes much anymore. They use it as a background for working out, travelling, doing house chores and so on. Everyone who's ever listened to a classic (non-remastered) album on a bus or when walking alongside traffic knows that most of the time, only the snare and vocals cuts through the noise.
     
    Killing the short-term dynamics at least allows the listener to hear what's playing between the snare hits.
     
    Sven





    #9
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1