THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMPRESSORS FOR THE PICKIEST AUDIO ENGINEERS
Learning and knowing about the seven main audio compressors is one of the aspects that every good audio engineer must master . Why is compression very important ? Because it helps you both to control the dynamics and to add color to the sound . As there is so much supply of plugins from different brands , we can find ourselves lost on which one to use in a specific situation . An audio engineer ’ s work requires not only good taste or judgment when it comes to embodying our brand in a piece of sound . It is just as important to know the different tools to shape the sound at our convenience in a technical and meticulous way . We will take a look at the different types of compressors that exist in the digital world , both the emulations of old analog equipment and the benefits that technological advances offer us .
VCA compressors VCA compressors are an acronym for “ voltage-controlled amplifier ,” which is the way this compressor behaves . Reacts to peaks that exceed the threshold given by the user . They are known for having a fast response and are an ideal choice for material with a lot of transients . Most offer precise control of their parameters including attack , release , threshold , and ratio ( attack , release , threshold & ratio ). Depending on how you configure it can be a very transparent compressor .
FET compressors FET compressors use a particular component called a “ field effect transistor ” which was designed to emulate the behavior of tube circuits . They offer much faster reaction times than VCAs . Some have no threshold control as the amount of compression is dictated by the combination of the signal amplitude and the input control setting . The higher the input , the more the signal is compressed . FET compressors are not your go-to for transparent dynamics control as they impart a distinctive sound to the sonic material . The most famous is the Urei 1176 , used on thousands of classic albums and offers fast , aggressive compressions that come in handy on vocals , drums , guitars , and more .
OPTO compressors Compressors normally divide the input signal into two parts : One is sent through the detection circuit , which determines how the compressor will act , and the other is the audio operated by the compressor that is then sent to the output . In an optical compressor , the detection circuit is unique ; the audio signal is converted to light , which drives the opticalelectronic sensor that determines the amount of gain reduction . The response of this configuration is smooth and transparent . Unlike other types of compressors , they have fixed ratios , usually 3 : 1 . The most famous compressor is the Teletronix LA-2A , which has earned its place in all studios around the world and is used on countless recordings .
Non-Emulator Digital Compressors While compressors that emulate their analog versions are very popular , there are many compression plugins that do not emulate the behavior of any of these devices , but instead take advantage of the precision and versatility that digital technology offers .
Multiband Compressors They allow you to focus on various frequency bands defined by the user , they are commonly used on the master bus and in mastering situations , but they do not mean that they can be used in a mixing context . They tend to be a bit more complicated to use in that you have to set crossover points between the frequency bands and configure the compression parameters for each of them independently . By allowing you the ability to specify frequency areas , multiband compressors not only control dynamics but can also be used for frequency manipulation at the same time .
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