COMPRESSION IN THE AUDIO MIX

Audio Compression Manual for Professional Recording Studios and Home StudiosPRESENTATION
A short guide to learning how to use dynamics processors correctly in the tuning processes that are part of audio mixing.
After a part aimed at familiarising oneself with sound and in particular with dynamics, we move on to discover the compressor, limiter, expander, gate and their function in managing the mix.
The important division between the operations of “modelling compression” and the subsequent “levelling compression” will serve to create solid reference points for the sound engineer, also leading to the conscious acquisition of all operational criteria.
Finally, the last chapters are dedicated to the practical applications of the dynamic manipulation process with certain musical instruments, particularly those that tend to need it in certain musical genres.

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FULL PLAN OF THE WORK

Index

Preface and Dedication

Author's biography

SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

01 - Plan of the work

02 - Analogue and digital
- Foreword
- Quality
- Digital sounds better when
- Some tests
- My personal opinion
- To conclude

03 - Getting to know sound
- Foreword
- The sounds
- Noises
- Height of sounds
- The stamp
- Stamp parameters
- Natural harmonics
- The waveform
- The manipulation of timbre
- The harmonic spectrum
- Sound intensity
- Acoustic dynamics
- Dynamic range in electroacoustics
- Dynamic manipulation

SECTION 2 - PROCESSORS

04 - The processing chain
- The Stages of the Mix
- When to enter the dyn
- The work sequence

05 - Dynamics processors
- Compressor
- Limiter
- Expander
- Gate

06 - Eq Controls
- Compressor and limiter controls
- Expander and gate controls

SECTION 3 - THE DYNAMIC PROCESS

07 - Dynamic functions
- Brickwall limiting estimate
- Limiting with multi-band compressor
- Multi-band compressor balancing function
- Shaping function of the dyn
- Dyn levelling function
- Leveling and bonding in groups
- Bonding in mastering
- Cleansing function of the dyn
- Highlighting function of the dyn

SECTION 4 - DYN FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

08 - Dyn for solo voice
- Multi-band compression
- Double compression
- De-Essing

09 - Dyn for bass and double bass

10 - Dyn for drums and percussion
- Bass drum
- Snare drum
- TomTom and Timpani
- Stressed Drums
- Percussion set

SECTION 5 - CONCLUSION
11 - To conclude

Copyright

Contact

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“To amateur sound engineers, as well as to more experienced ones, I address this short handbook on audio compression, with the hope that it may serve to better understand its purposes and criteria, and contribute to the creation of a professional level of operational capacity.”
The Author

BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Alessandro Fois is a musician, composer, arranger and sound engineer from Cagliari.
He currently lives in Ivrea (Turin), where he runs an audio, video and web services studio called “Lycnos” and the recording studio “Glamour Recording Studio”.”

Specific studies
Cagliari Conservatory - Piano, music theory and experimental composition -
Fonoprint and Sony Italy - Sound Recording Course
C.E.T. - Student of Mogol and other teachers - Musical Composition and Arrangement

Technical activities
He has been running his own audio recording studio for about 25 years, working daily as a sound engineer and also finding room to express his natural talent for music, arranging and art direction.
Occasionally he is also involved in the sound management of live concerts.

Musical activities
As a composer, arranger and pianist, he has to his credit an album of original instrumental music entitled “Dialogue”, performed solo in a Piano-Trio formation.
A second album of original songs is currently being composed.
Co-author of an original musical in Limba, called “Boghes de Domo”, for which he was also a choreographer, co-producer and one of the main performers during subsequent stagings.
Author and arranger of music for various Italian artists, RAI television soundtracks, music for advertising.
A professional pianist and singer in the tourism industry, he has played for many years in various European locations, with seasonal engagements in top hotels.
Professional pianist and singer in entertainment at high-profile public, private and corporate events.
He has been director of several choral ensembles.
He was producer and artistic-musical director of various music and art shows.

Lectures
He was a lecturer for the subject ’audio and sound recording“ for vocational schools.
He has conducted various seminars and private courses in audio recording, mixing and mastering, as well as musical arrangement and orchestration.
He gave piano and music theory lessons for the music school run by ACLI in Cagliari and for other music schools, as well as private lessons.

Bibliography

Accomplished works:
Digital Audio Mixing Manual
Digital Audio Mastering Manual
Equalisation in the Audio Mix
Compression in the Audio Mix

Works in progress:
Digital Audio Recording Manual
Digital Audio Editing Manual

LINKS
www.alessandrofois.com
www.studioregistrazione.cloud