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The Best Compressor Type For Vocals
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Aug 4, 2022
++ SONG-FINISHING CHECKLIST ++ (Finish more songs, faster!) https://www.orpheusaudioacademy.com/mixingchecklist/ ✏️ SHOW NOTES ✏️ There are so many different types of compressors out there, it can be a challenge choosing the right one. Which type of compressor should you use for vocals? In this video, I break down the best compressor types for vocals, and why you might want to use multiple compressors on your vocals. 🔌 PLUG-INS USED IN THIS VIDEO 🔌 🗜️ OPTICAL COMPRESSORS ⚡FREE: ADHD Levelling Tool: https://audiotools.se/downloads/leveling-tool/ ⚡PRO: Waves CLA-2A: https://www.orpheusaudioacademy.com/CLA2A ⚡PRO: Opto Compressor (more control than the other two): https://www.orpheusaudioacademy.com/opto 🗜️ FET COMPRESSORS
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There are so many different types of compressors out there
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Which one do you choose when you go to mix vocals? What is the best type of compressor for vocals
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Hi, I'm Regan Ram with OrpheusAudioAcademy.com helping you make better music and grow your fan base online
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And this is a tricky question, right? There's so many different types of compressors
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In fact, I did a video, which you can check out up here, that breaks down all the different types of compressors that there are
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and what their pros and cons are. But this video is specifically dealing with vocals. So what is
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the best type of compressor for vocals? Well, there's really two types of compressors that I
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would recommend for vocals, and I'll get to those in a second. But first off, what does a vocal
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compressor do? It's important to understand what is the purpose of compressing vocals, what the
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compressor does. And once we know that, then it's easy to know what type of compressor to then
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choose. So a compressor is an amplifier whose output gain, dB, reduces as input gain, dB increases
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In other words, a compressor makes low volumes higher and makes high volumes quieter. As it
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receives more input, it is going to reduce the output. And then if you turn the makeup gain up
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then that's what's going to be turning up those lower volumes. So what a compressor is doing is
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it is reducing the dynamic range of a sound source. And so the result of compression on vocals
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is that it's going to help you to hear everything and it's just going to make your vocal sound more
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full and help it to sit on top of the mix So vocal compression is very necessary So what we looking for is a compressor that is going to bring out that vocal help it to be more full and sit on top of the mix and maybe add some
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nice warmth or character to the vocal as well. So that in mind, the best type of compressor for a
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vocal is an optical compressor or an opto compressor is what's also known as an optical
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compressors are great for vocals because they are smooth and transparent, which is typically what you
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want, right? You've recorded your vocal the way you want. You maybe have some effects the way you
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want. Now you just want it to be full. You want to sit on top and you want to make sure nothing
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in that performance is being lost. You don't really want to be changing the color of the vocal
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in general. So you're going to want to probably use an optical compressor then to add that smooth
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transparent compression to get the outcome you're looking for. You know, of course, genres will
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dictate what kind of compressor you want to use. But in general, if you're doing like a pop or EDM
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most music you're going to want to probably use an optical compressor. Optical compressors can
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also be great for adding warmth and sheen to your vocals, which just improve the life and the vibe
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of your vocals overall, which makes them, which is another reason why they are a great choice for
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vocals. So with that in mind, what are some of the best say plugins, optical compressor plugins
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that you might want to use? Well, if you're using Logic, you already have one built in, you can look
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up the vintage opto compressor. But this is modeled after the Teletronics LA 2A, which is one
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of the most famous compressors out there. A lot of different companies model this. IK Multimedia
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has a version of this. Waves has a version of this and also include a link to a free version
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and as well as these paid versions in the description below. And in the future, I plan
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on comparing all these compressors against each other as well and seeing which one is actually
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better than the other one since they all trying to emulate the same compressor And so if you want to see that then be sure to hit subscribe so you don miss that when I release that video But they not great for aggressive sounding compression So if you wanting aggressive sounding compression on
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your vocals, then that leads me to the second type of compressor you might want to use
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which is an FET or a FET compressor. So what makes FET or FET compressors great for vocals? Well
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they're great for adding that aggressive excitement to your vocals, if that's what
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you're going for. So if you want a lot of color, a lot of grit, and some very obvious, you know
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changes and compression going on with your vocals, then definitely use a FET compressor
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And so if you're looking for what is the best type of like FET compressor plugin that you can
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use on your vocals, well, again, if you're using Logic, you've also got a free one built in
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just check out the vintage FET compressor setting in your compressor and Logic. Probably the most
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well-known FET compressor out there is the 1176. And again, this is another one that
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a lot of different companies have copied. So Waves has one, ICAM Multimedia
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several others. And so I'll have links to these below, as well as a free version of this plugin
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that you can download and use in whatever DAW that you have. So now this brings up another question
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how many compressors should you use on vocals, right? Maybe you've just been using one
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but it might be a good idea to actually use two compressors on your vocals. So you might want to
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use a FET compressor to add some excitement to your vocals, but then you follow it up with a
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optical compressor to smooth things out and get the right level and character that you're looking
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for. FET compressors are also very fast. They're really great at controlling transients. So you
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might set up a FET compressor to just really take down those peaks any like really loud parts of vocal performance you that up So it just kind of pushes down those peaks And then you follow up with a opto compressor
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which is typically a little bit slower. And that controls the rest of your sound
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the rest of the body of the sound. So using compressors in tandem like that can help you
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get a better sound than just using one. Now, as with everything in music production
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there really is no right or wrong. It's whatever you want things to sound like. So
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if you want to try other types of compressors on your vocals and you think they sound better
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then by all means, keep those. Again, there's no right or wrong answer here. Now, when it comes to mixing, have you found yourself stuck on the same songs that you've
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been working on for months and you're not really releasing any new music? If so
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then be sure to grab my free rapid song finishing checklist in the description below
6:04
This will walk you through a proven step-by-step process for finishing your songs so you can
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release more music and grow your fan base faster. Otherwise, if you found this video helpful
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feel free to drop a like and subscribe so you don't miss out on any new tutorials I release
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on this channel. Otherwise, let me know in the comments below what other questions do you have
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when it comes to recording, mixing, or just producing vocals in general. I'm curious to know
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Also, would you be interested in tutorials on how to become a better singer? If so
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Let me know in the comments below and we can release some videos covering that subject on
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this channel as well. Otherwise, have an awesome day and I'll see you in a future video
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Bye
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