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In article <6a0c26d8.0409212308.231a4b09@posting.google.com> jskeens@gmail.com writes:
> The basis for my question was I wanted to know
> what happened to the music "under" the peaks. Meaning that if you
> reduce the gain for that instant at the peak (as in a VCA style
> limiter, virtual or not) then all the other sounds underneath get
> reduced, or in other words you're punching holes in your mix.
It depends on where you use the compressor/limiter. It also depends on
the program material. If it's on the full mix, then yes, everything
will go down in level. But if it's really fast-acting and the
offending peak is very short, you won't notice the chain. Your brain
doesn't work on changes as short as one sample-time.
> Where
> as a saturation effect like tape just clips the tops and therefore the
> music underneath (not within the threshold of what is getting clipped)
> would not get reduced.
No, but everything would become distorted. If that's the sound you
want, that's the tool you should use.
> This question itself was raised after reading
> the book Mixing with your Mind. His attitude was that the latter is
> better as it gives better overall density.
The trouble with mixing with your mind (lower case intended) is that
you can't hear what's happening. If getting better overall density is
your goal, then perhaps this is the tool to use, up to the point where
you can't stand the distortion. If preventing digital clipping long
enough to hear is your goal, then you want to reduce the gain as long
as necessary. If that "punches a hole in your mix" then you need to
fix the problem rather than put a Band-Aid on it with a compressor.
--
I'm really Mike Rivers (mrivers@d-and-d.com)
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