Helpful ReplyCompressor As A Gain Plugin

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
olemon
Max Output Level: -75 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 768
  • Joined: 2011/10/27 05:35:19
  • Status: offline
2015/02/02 20:53:24 (permalink)

Compressor As A Gain Plugin

Earlier I asked about Blue Cat Audio and was turned on to their free suite, which includes a Gain plugin.  Have it now.
 
M. Senior advises that a DAW's Volume Fader is best left near unity and that a track strip's Gain knob is underutilized.  I do use the Gain knobs in Sonar, but I've also inserted a compressor before, like the PC4K, set the parameters to 'null' and adjusted makeup gain + or - as needed.
 
Most of the time I'm automating volume on an imported audio track.  Let's assume I start by first setting the Volume Fader to -5db for that track in the mix, only to find afterwards that I need more or less overall output from that automated track.  Once automated, the Volume Fader is well, automated, and I found it convenient to just grab a compressor.
 
Good, bad, right, wrong, common?  Can a Compressor work as a Gain plugin?
 
 

https://www.reverbnation.com/scottholson
 
Platinum, Studio One 3 Pro, Win 10 (x64), AMD FX-8350, ASUS M5A97 R2.0, 16GB, RME UCX, Digimax DP88, Faderport 8, Revive Audio Mod Studio Channel, Vintage Audio M72, Summit Audio TLA-50, KRK Rokit 5 G2 Monitors, Guitars
 
"If you wait till the last minute, it only takes a minute."
#1
List Solutions Only

3 Replies Related Threads
    tlw
    Max Output Level: -49.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 2567
    • Joined: 2008/10/11 22:06:32
    • Location: West Midlands, UK
    • Status: offline
    Re: Compressor As A Gain Plugin 2015/02/02 22:41:59 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby olemon 2015/02/03 06:45:31
    I suspect setting the track faders into "offset" mode before recording the automation then back to "normal" mode when finished might do what you are looking for without having to use plugins to alter track volume.

    Sonar Platinum 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit, I7 3770K Ivybridge, 16GB Ram, Gigabyte Z77-D3H m/board,
    ATI 7750 graphics+ 1GB RAM, 2xIntel 520 series 220GB SSDs, 1 TB Samsung F3 + 1 TB WD HDDs, Seasonic fanless 460W psu, RME Fireface UFX, Focusrite Octopre.
    Assorted real synths, guitars, mandolins, diatonic accordions, percussion, fx and other stuff.
    #2
    AT
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 10654
    • Joined: 2004/01/09 10:42:46
    • Location: TeXaS
    • Status: offline
    Re: Compressor As A Gain Plugin 2015/02/03 00:36:37 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby olemon 2015/02/03 06:45:40
    Sure, you can use the comp as a gain.  Usually I set the vol automation by eye and then set up the comp for:
     
    1.  shaping
    2.  any saturation etc.
    3.  vol
     
    Then I tweak the vol automation by ear.  If they whole thing needs up or down I'll use the input gain or output gain on the comp.  This usually works fine, esp. since I've used analog hardware going in - usually comp but also a little filtering.  2 dBs or less of compression, just to take the peaks down a bit.  It makes the whole track easier to manage since it is steadier.  Most of the time my ITB comps are barely touching the sound.
     
    @
     
     
     

    https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
    http://www.bnoir-film.com/  
     
    there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.
    24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
    #3
    olemon
    Max Output Level: -75 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 768
    • Joined: 2011/10/27 05:35:19
    • Status: offline
    Re: Compressor As A Gain Plugin 2015/02/03 06:46:38 (permalink)
    tlw
    I suspect setting the track faders into "offset" mode before recording the automation then back to "normal" mode when finished might do what you are looking for without having to use plugins to alter track volume.



    I'm not familiar with offset mode.  I'll look it up.  Thanks tlw.
     
    AT
    Sure, you can use the comp as a gain.  
     



    Thanks AT.  I never noticed any alteration of the sound by using the compressor gain alone, with zero compression.  But, since these gain plugins exist I started wondering 'Why?' if a compressor can do the same thing:)

    https://www.reverbnation.com/scottholson
     
    Platinum, Studio One 3 Pro, Win 10 (x64), AMD FX-8350, ASUS M5A97 R2.0, 16GB, RME UCX, Digimax DP88, Faderport 8, Revive Audio Mod Studio Channel, Vintage Audio M72, Summit Audio TLA-50, KRK Rokit 5 G2 Monitors, Guitars
     
    "If you wait till the last minute, it only takes a minute."
    #4
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1