Compression And Expansion

Apr 13, 2023

Discover the magic of compression and expansion in audio production. Dive into practical examples, from drumming beats to synth lines, illustrating the impact of various compressor types. Learn about sidechain techniques that inject movement into tracks and explore how to enhance vocal textures with advanced processing. Eddie Bazil shares personal insights from his extensive music career, making complex concepts accessible. Get ready to elevate your sound game with practical tips and creative tricks!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Compression vs Expansion Overview

Compression narrows an audio signal's dynamic range, while expansion widens it.
Different compressor types and topologies shape the sound uniquely, affecting its character.

ADVICE

Choosing Compressor Topology

Choose compressor topology based on desired sound characteristics and task.
VCA offers transparent compression; FET adds punch; Opto and Vari-MU compressors glue and smooth sounds well.

ANECDOTE

Drum Texture with Manic Compressor

Boss Digital Manic compressor was used with sidechain triggering to add dirt and texture to drums.
The 'gritty' model and attack/release settings created a dynamic, raw drum sound with parallel compression.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Eddie Bazil demystifies Compression and Expansion with a detailed explanation of their uses and with a range of practical examples using plug-ins.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:22 - Compressors And Expanders Explained
01:33 - Compressor Behavioural Types
02:40 - Common Compressor Topologies
06:06 - Example 1: Boz Digital Manic Compressor On Drums
10:26 - Example 2: FabFilter Pro MB On A Synth Line
13:28 - Example 3: PreSonus Studio One Expander On A Drum Beat
15:26 - Example 4: A Drum Beat Using Different Topologies
20:24 - Example 5: Using Sidechaining On Reverb
23:28 - Example 6: FabFilter Pro MB On A Vocal Line
27:16 - Example 7: Sidechain Compression And Expansion To Create Texture And Motion

Credits
Example 6 - The song and the poem are both called Everyone Sang. The poem was by Sigfried Sassoon and was set to music and performed by Anne Gregson.
www.annegregson.co.uk
Recorded at www.mrpunch.info

Eddie Bazil Biog
Eddie Bazil launched his music industry career at the age of 17 as a synth programmer for a range of Electro / New Wave bands including Art of Noise, Spandau Ballet, Pet Shop Boys, Bobin, Paul Dee, DJ Krush, DJ Shadow, Jets Orchestra. By his 20s he was working as a sound designer for Akai, Roland Emu/Ensoniq, eventually signing on exclusively with the latter. Later, due to a growing demand for software instruments and libraries, Eddie started to develop libraries for various software manufacturers, including Native Instruments, Kiesel, Sound Effects Library, Arturia and Propellerheads. A meeting with Phil Allen, a Capital Radio DJ, resulted in the company Samplecraze, which Eddie has spent 20 years developing as an educational resource. At this time he trained in music production and soon gained a number of prominent contracts working with some notable artistes such as Busta Rhymes, Greensleeves, 9 Bar, SFP, Sleeveless, Chris Campbell and Gam Productions. He contracted to Island Records and Chrysalis as a producer and remixer, plus was commissioned to write the score for Macbeth that ran at 2 Way Mirror at Alexander Palace for the Cambridge Shakespeare Company. His ongoing development of Samplecraze has led to him offering educational workshops and classes, releasing four books via PC Publishing and becoming a contributor and forum moderator for Sound On Sound. Recently he has established The Audio Production Hub for online education and been invited by the Recording Academy to become a Grammy judge.
https://eddiebazil.co.uk/

https://samplecraze.com/

https://theaudioproductionhub.pivotshare.com/

Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts