Should vocals be recorded with compression?

Recording vocals with compression saves time and effort, but it ultimately limits your possibilities in post-production. For convenience, the answer is yes. However, if you want more flexibility when mixing your vocals later on, then it should be avoided.

Do you compress vocals before or after recording?

So perhaps the best advice is to conservatively apply the best of both worlds: use a little compression while recording — just enough to help limit the most unruly peaks and phrases and to even out the recorded signal — and then add more compression to taste during mixing.

How much compression is too much for vocals?

You don’t want to compress every word (like with tonal compression), you only want to compress the louder peaks. You still need to be careful not to compress the transients too much, as this will put the vocals further back in the mix. Use a faster attack time, but try not to go below 1ms.

How much should vocals be compressed?

A good place to start with pop vocals is a 5:1 ratio. Try a higher ratio (7:1, 8:1) for more heavily compressed vocals with minimal dynamic range, or a lower ratio (2:1, 3:1) for a more natural sound with some dynamics preserved.

What is the best compression setting for vocals?

Try a higher ratio (7:1, 8:1) for more heavily compressed vocals with minimal dynamic range, or a lower ratio (2:1, 3:1) for a more natural sound with some dynamics preserved. Once you set your threshold and ratio, you will hear the overall volume of the vocal reduce.

What do over compressed vocals sound like?

Too much compression produces a flat, non-dynamic performance that doesn’t have a “live” feel to it. An overly compressed vocal will feel unnatural and dull to the listener, so it’s key to avoid this point if at all possible. Lead vocals should be consistent, but still, have a degree of dynamic fluctuation.

Should you parallel compress vocals?

Using parallel compression can be an effective way to give your vocals a professional edge but it’s a difficult technique to master. Use gates, EQ and de essers to remove content you don’t want to be harshly compressed.

Should reverb come before or after compression?

Over time, producers have discovered that you get a better sound if you put reverb towards the end of the signal chain, after EQ and compression.