Compression Limiting

[notquiteaxl]

I'm trying to accomplish an overall, mastering compression on songs and am having trouble getting a tight compress on it. I've been recording with Multitrack for quite some time now (alone and with other apps), but as I'm learning more (or trying to) about homemade recording, I've been changing my style as I go along. If I do say so myself, I think I've accomplished some pretty amazing recordings through this magical app (I'm patting Apple and you on the back as much as I am myself, lol). But, one thing that's always been a big focus of mine is vocal and mastering compression. I think I do alright on the vocal side, but when doing a heavier rock song, I haven't been able to grasp that strict compression I see on so many other projects. I've read and read on the subject. I've tried to apply the information. I've tried to go against the grain… but to no avail. I do think my end results, in general, have sounded good, sound clean, but their implied volume is recognizably lower than other people's stuff. I've tried using the master controls, AND I've tried mixing the song down and doing it on a single track.

A knee jerk reaction people have to this question is that I'm not in a pro studio setting, and therefore am not going to accomplish the same stuff. But, I (and many who post on here) create mind-boggling results with this app, and I refuse to believe that minimizing the dynamic db range is impossible.

Does anyone out there have any tips or recommendations you can throw at this intermediate novice?? Please bear in mind, I use my iPhone exclusively, and not an iPad. Thanks sooo much for your time in reading my long-winded question and for any help you may offer.

OH, AND THANKS FOR THIS MAGICAL APP!!

[notquiteaxl]

Btw, here's an example of something I've done using Multitrack DAW:
http://m.soundcloud.com/chadatkins/bwine-master-m4a

[wherewithal]

So,

I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish... I hear absolutely nothing wrong or that needs to be improved with the level of compression on that track. Is there an example of what you're trying to get for a sound?

If you're looking for additional db something like twisted wave can help, but its a fine line, stuff starts distorting 0ver -6 anyway. commercial recordings are just crushed these days.

[dominicperry]

I think the more extreme 'compression' you are after is best achieved with peak limiting and normalisation plug-ins, neither of which are available in MT DAW. The best you can do in MT DAW is to run the individual track through it's track compressor, then through the master channel compressor and do a mix with the individual track soloed. Then you can import the mix as a new track and run it through channel and master compression again. As long as you use subtle ratios (1.2:1 up to 2:1) and keep the attack and release set in a way that avoids pumping (reasonably quick attack, at least 200ms release), it won't sound odd. But it will be hard to get what you want, there will be a lot of trial and error.

But I have to agree with 'wherewithal' above, when he says there's nothing wrong with what you've got already. It sounds pleasantly natural.

If you would like my opinion on the vocal sound, (and you may not, in which case please ignore me), it sounds like you are not in the best acoustic environment - my guess is that you are in a small to mid sized room with little acoustic treatment. You could be closer on the mic, which will give a little more punch to the sound, and I'm guessing that the mic and pre are quite low-end. I'm not criticising, the vocal performance is good and it's a good tune. It's just that to get top-notch sound, I think you would probably need to go a long way in having a better room and better kit. It might be preferable to keep writing songs and performing, rather than getting gear obsessed (although it seems that you probably have that approach already). Once you have a whole album of great songs suitably under you belt, you could pay to use a good studio for a day or two to lay excellent sounding vocal tracks over your backing tracks. It's cheaper than buying masses of your own kit, and less distracting. Just a suggestion.....

Dominic

[martygras]

The compressor in MTDAW works well as a simple compressor, but it desperately needs more controls. You know, the ones that are on every other compressor? This would go a long way towards improving the dynamic control over our tracks.

[notquiteaxl]

Everyone, thanks so much for the help. And no, I don't take offense to you critiquing the vocal sound at all. I'm trying to learn as I go and every little bit helps. Also, it couldn't hurt my feelings much, considering you're absolutely right: the room I sang in isn't acoustically fit and the mic I used is actually the built in one on the iPhone!

I'm understanding a little more as I go, and I actually was just thinking about working the tracks individually, first, so great! Now I know I'm on the right track.

Thanks for saying the song's in a pretty natural way as it is! I gotcha about commercial super crushing, nowadays. Even though I'm not a fan of that, that's what I'm trying to accomplish. I'm making a couple, much heavier songs, and for what they'll be sitting beside, I kinda need to crush it as much as I can.

Again, thanks so much for everyone's help!! Happy creations…