The following audio compressor basics are reprinted from the book “Home Recording Need-To-Know Essentials To Improve Your Mixes“.

 

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Audio Compressor Basics

Compression is all about stabilizing dynamics, or dealing with changes in volume levels at the track and mix levels. Think of it as a device that automatically moves a track’s fader up and down to keep the track’s volume consistent (but does it much better than you ever could). An extreme symptom that you need compression is this: in certain parts of the mix, you feel the need to slightly (or not so slightly) adjust the volume of a track up or down a bit. You do this, then you feel the need later on to re-adjust. In other words, the track is not sitting well dynamically. Compression is the key to getting that track to play nicely from a volume standpoint. Don’t underestimate the impact that compression can have on your mixes; it will allow you to dynamically stabilize your mix elements, and create a well-balanced mix

There are three main controls in understanding audio compressors: threshold, ratio, and makeup gain. Threshold controls what you compress, ratio controls how much you compress, and make up gain is used to bring the volume levels back to pre-compression levels, since compression on it’s own reduces volume. Let’s discuss threshold first. (Note that there are also attack and release settings, and we’ll talk about more about those further on; let’s stick with the basics for now).

More Audio Compressor Basics: Threshold and Ratio

Audio Compressor Basics: Threshold

Look at the above illustration.  It’s the key to understanding and properly setting threshold, assuming you can use your imagination a bit. The next time you are working in your DAW, call up a compressor as an insert on a track that demonstrates the need for dynamics control, and pick a suitable preset (this will set attack and release times for you). Now, it’s time to set the threshold to compress when we want to. Here’s how to do it:

• Turn the threshold all the way up to 0db. In your mind, you see an imaginary, dotted ‘threshold’ line rise above the top of the waveform.
• Begin lowering the threshold. In your mind, this dotted line will start to come down towards the tips of the waveforms; the more you lower threshold, the more it comes down, closer to the peaks.
• You’ll start to see Gain Reduction (GR) happening when the waveform peaks hit our imaginary threshold line. This means the volume level of our source is being reduced, because it’s triggering the compressor to start working.
• The more you lower the threshold, the more of the source is going to be compressed.

That’s all there is to understanding the basics of the threshold setting! Using our imaginary line makes it easy to envision what the threshold control is doing; which is controlling when and how much of the source track that we compress. The ratio is used to control how much compression will occur; what a segue! Note that some compressor plugins are starting to actually show this line dropping as you lower the threshold.

Audio Compressor Basics: Ratio

Now that we used our threshold to determine what gets compressed, it’s time to set it for how much we compress the audio that is over the threshold. For that, we use our compressor’s ratio control. The key to understanding ratio is understanding that it’s just that… a ratio.

The ratio controls how many decibels of gain reduction occur when our source material exceeds the threshold. A ratio of 2:1 means that, for every two decibels over the threshold, the source track only goes up over the threshold by one decibel. So, if the source was 4db over the threshold, with a 2:1 setting the source track would only be 2 decibels louder, not 4. If the compressor was set to 4:1, and the source was 8db over the threshold, the source would only be 2db over the threshold.

Confused? No worries… think of it this way: the higher your ratio, the more gain reduction is going to occur on the source material that we are compressing based on our threshold. Generally ‘safe’ ratio levels are up to 5:1 or 6:1; higher ratios, and you may risk hearing the compressor working; more on that later!

If we understand both threshold (when to compress), and ratio (how much to compress), we can now set our compressor in a real-world scenario. Keep in mind that, compression should only be used when it’s needed – which is to achieve a dynamic balance of our individual elements. It’s easy to fall into the trap of adding compression to each track because we can; often this leaves our mixes lifeless of dynamics and just plain ‘flat’. Like all of our mixing tools, use compression for a reason! That being said, I compress a lot, because when used moderately it can help to more easily achieve a nice balanced mix. The key is to compress transparently, with reasonable thresholds and low ratios (5:1 and under) – just enough to achieve balance without compression artifacts being heard.

 

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Are you interested in learning more and improving your mixes? Order “Home Recording Need-To-Know Essentials To Improve Your Mixes“.

Combined with downloadable online tutorial files and helpful checklists, and over 25 illustrations to help to make even difficult concepts easy to understand, this 110-page book is by far the best home recording book for beginners, and is priced at just $9.99!

Topics covered include:

• Understand the impact your room has on your recording and mixes, and what you need to do to properly treat your space.
• Need-to-know essentials so that you spend your limited budget on the most impactful hardware.
• Understanding the difference between using insert vs. send to patch effects; illustrations will clarify these two methods for you.
• Understanding when and why you need to use compression.
• Audio Compressor Basics: A simple approach to understanding the threshold setting on compressors and gates.
• Details on properly setting a compressor.
• How to high pass filter, and why it’s your most powerful mixing tool.
• Advanced mixing techniques: serial and parallel compression, using distortion, multing, and comping.
• Links to downloadable Mixing, Critical Listening, and Recording Session checklists to organize your workflow!

Order HERE!

NHTunes offers access to our studio to musicians across the country, as our online mixing and mastering service is now available! We will mix and master material from artists and bands across the country….. and the world! See more on our online mixing and mastering services HERE.

 

 

 

Looking for The Best Home Recording Book For Beginners? Look no further! “Home Recording: Need-To-Know Essentials To Improve Your Mixes” is just that – The Best Home Recording Book For Beginners!! Why? Because it will quickly teach you the key elements that you need to know to transform your home recordings to professional mixes!

Combined with downloadable online tutorial files and helpful checklists, and over 25 illustrations help to make even difficult concepts easy to understand, this 110-page book is by far the best home recording book for beginners. 

Topics covered include:

• Understand the impact your room has on your recording and mixes, and what you need to do to properly treat your space.
• Need-to-know essentials so that you spend your limited budget on the most impactful hardware.
• Understanding the difference between using insert vs. send to patch effects; illustrations will clarify these two methods for you.
• Understanding when and why you need to use compression.
• A simple approach to understanding the threshold setting on compressors and gates.
• How to high pass filter, and why it’s your most powerful mixing tool.
• Advanced mixing techniques: serial and parallel compression, using distortion, multing, and comping.
• Links to downloadable Mixing, Critical Listening, and Recording Session checklists to organize your workflow!

Much, much more!! Illustrations show you exactly how a compressor’s threshold setting works; the differences with patching effects insert vs send; how an EQ’s “Q” control works; how to place a vocal mic; and more. Audio file links are also provided to demonstrate the differences between budget and boutique hardware, effects of room treatments, key mixing concepts, and more; with online downloadables, the best home recording book for beginners is more than that!

You can order this book from Amazon here: Home Recording: Need-To-Know Essentials To Improve Your Mixes

About the Author

I’m Bob Desmarais, and I’ve been recording and mixing music for over 35 years. I’m also a guitarist, with well over 500 live performances. I own NHTunes, a recording studio and music lesson center that’s located in Manchester NH’s historic mill yard. I have my MBA from Southern NH University, and guitar certificate from Berklee College of Music. In addition to running the recording studio, performing, and teaching guitar lessons, I also teach audio engineering and mixing classes through Manchester Community College. My goal in writing the best home recording book for beginners was to focus on the basic key fundamentals that have the most impact on your mixes. I believe that if beginners can understand and practice high-pass filtering, compression, gating, and a couple of other key concepts, they can bring their mixes to a whole new level. So, I’ve written this book to be both concise and affordable!

Click HERE to Order The Best Home Recording Book For Beginners!

NHTunes is proud to offer Music Lessons for Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett, and More! We are conveniently located in Manchester’s Millyard, just off of I-293; minutes from Bedford, Hooksett, Goffstown, Auburn, and more!

Why are we the best for Music Lessons for Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett, and More! ?? Many reasons! We have skilled instructors who teach guitar, voice, piano, brass, ukulele, drums, and more. We also offer music lessons to special needs students. We have a newly renovated, professional music studio with air conditioning and security cameras in each of our six lesson rooms. Our private half hour music & voice lessons are a very reasonable $25, and we offer a convenient online month-pay. We offer FREE monthly recitals for our students, with family members and guests welcome! And we have free parking.

NHTunes is clearly the best for Music Lessons for Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett, and More!

If you are interested in learning more, or to sign up, click HERE.

Regarding music lessons for special needs students, we are extremely fortunate to have on board a qualified instructor for these lessons, Jessica Mimms. Jessica has her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Granite State College with a focus in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Applied Behavior Analysis, and currently works as a Behavior Therapist for children in the public schools. She has been an active musician for over 17 years, first learning classical and jazz technique for clarinet and saxophone, as well as receiving formal vocal performance training. She began teaching advanced music theory, composition, and elementary woodwind, piano, and brass lessons at the age of 16, and in recent years assisted in a local music therapy program.

Jessica’s goal is to bring music education to individuals with special needs & learning disabilities who struggle in a traditional music lesson setting, using a specially designed playing-based piano curriculum called “Simply Music”. The “Simply Music” system is unlike traditional teaching in that students do not learn by the generally accepted method of learning to read sheet music; instead they learn by being taught to recognize patterns in music and on the keyboard, and use these patterns to begin playing songs almost immediately.

NHTunes… offering Music Lessons for Manchester, Bedford, Hooksett, and More!

Andrew’s Success Story – His Adult Music Lessons Pay Off!

Andrew, like many adults, has always dreamed of playing the guitar someday. But, adult responsibilities often rear their ugly head, and necessities like work, chores, as well as spending quality time with his family left little time for Andrew to pursue his dream of taking adult music lessons and learning guitar. A chance meeting between Andrew and NHTunes guitar instructor Bob Desmarais changed all that.

Music lessons; are you considering music or voice lessons? Great!! We welcome you to Manchester NH’s best music studio to learn to play or sing, and have a lot of fun! This FAQ guide may answer any questions regarding music or voice lessons. If not, feel free to contact us HERE,  or call the studio at 603-660-2208.

• Are music lessons important for my child?
  • There are so many benefits for children that take structured music or voice lessons; to name a few: lessons improve academic, physical, & social skills, teach discipline and patience, boost self-esteem, and introduce students to other cultures.
• How expensive are music lessons? Voice lessons?
  • Private half-hour music or voice lessons are $25, and are generally held once a week. It’s best to find a day and time that would work on most weeks, because consistency is key when learning an instrument or to sing.
• If I decide to start taking music lessons, do I need to pay for an entire semester?
  • No! For new students, for their first month, we simply ask to pay one lesson ahead. You will receive a bill for each lesson online and can pay by credit card, or check/cash at the studio. After their first month, students are billed monthly.
• What happens if I need to skip a lesson?
  • No problem! If you let us know 24 hours in advance your lesson will be rescheduled.
• Do you offer group music lessons?
  • We occasionally run group classes, such as ukulele or Native American flute. Most of our lessons however are private.
    

    Recital at Mt. Carmel Nursing Home

• What about recitals? Do you have any??
  • We believe repeated performances is the key to developing confidence through music. We therefore run monthly recitals at nursing homes and other similar venues, and a larger holiday recital at the Faith Bridge church in Manchester. All recitals are free to students, and family members/friends are welcome to attend!

We appreciate your interest in music lessons! If you need any additional information, feel free to contact us HERE,  or call the studio at 603-660-2208.

NHTunes is proud to offer Flute, Trumpet and Saxophone Lessons in Manchester NH! Our spacious, professional music studio is located in the Waumbec Mill in Manchester’s historic mill yard. Our studio is newly remodeled, and features central A/C, a spacious & comfortable waiting area,  and eleven fully-equipped lesson rooms.

Our instructors are experienced, dedicated teachers, many of them have experience teaching music in the public school system.

Our private flute, trumpet and saxophone lessons are competitively priced, and are recommended to be given once a week (although you can schedule week-to-week with our convenient online scheduler if you wish). We offer a 10% family discount for families with multiple students, and a referral program where students earn two free lessons for each new music student they refer to the studio!

For serious music students, summer is an excellent time to take lessons and prepare for their fall music program – summer lessons can really help them to excel in the fall! And in the fall and winter, students who take private flute, trumpet or saxophone lessons have a distinct advantage over those who don’t.

You can sign up for Flute, Trumpet and Sax Lessons in Manchester HERE.  After your purchase, you’ll receive a confirmation within minutes, as well as a lesson reminder 24 hours in advance of the lesson. You can also sign up for lessons at our studio; please call for an appointment (603-660-2208).

We also offer gift certificates for music lessons. Music lessons are an excellent gift idea for students who look to excel with their instrument – and what better way to start your flute, trumpet and sax Lessons in Manchester! We offer affordable 3, 4, 5, and 6-lesson packages… click HERE.  You will receive your e-mailed gift certificate within 24 hours of purchase. You can simply call or e-mail the studio when the lucky recipient is ready to start their lessons!

Schedule your flute, trumpet and saxophone lessons in Manchester today using our scheduling system below!

Are you looking to attend a music school, participate in a music program at a university, or enter a competition and are in need of an audition recording in Manchester NH? No problem! NHTunes provides audition recording packages at very reasonable rates. Best of all, we know how to best represent the prospective student in their recording, and better their chances of being accepted into the school or program.

You can book your audition session by visiting our recording page located HERE. Do you have questions regarding our audition recording in Manchester NH? Contact the studio HERE, or call the studio at 603-660-2208.

Private adapted music lessons can offer special needs students the opportunity for creative expression, and if done properly can be an extremely satisfying and beneficial experience for both the student and their caretakers.  NHTunes is proud to offer music lessons for special needs students in Manchester NH – lessons for children & adults with varying special needs such as down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and many more.

We are very fortunate to have on board a qualified instructor for these lessons, Jessica Mimms. Jessica has her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Granite State College with a focus in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Applied Behavior Analysis, and currently works as a Behavior Therapist for children in the public school system. She has been an active musician for over 17 years, first learning classical and jazz technique for clarinet and saxophone, as well as receiving formal vocal performance training. She began teaching advanced music theory, composition, and elementary woodwind, piano, and brass lessons at the age of 16, and in recent years assisted in a local music therapy program.

Jessica’s goal is to bring music education to individuals with special needs and learning disabilities who struggle in a traditional music lesson setting, using a specially designed playing-based piano curriculum called “Simply Music”. The “Simply Music” system is unlike traditional teaching (and more suited to special needs students) in that students do not learn by the generally accepted method of learning to read sheet music; instead they learn by being taught to recognize patterns in music and on the keyboard, and use these patterns to begin playing songs almost immediately.

All students will respond at a different rate and pace, and by understanding each student and their specific needs, Jessica can custom tailor the lessons to be most beneficial and impactful for each student. Each potential student and their caretaker can have a free one-on-one meeting with Jessica to discuss their needs and lessons before lessons are scheduled.

NHTunes is proud to offer reasonable priced music lessons for special needs students in Manchester NH. Please e-mail  HERE or call the studio at 603-660-2208 to inquire on lessons, or to setup a meeting to discuss lessons in more detail (or use our contact us form by clicking HERE).

 

Post Title: Music Lessons For Special Needs Students In Manchester NH

Looking for a great birthday party idea in Manchester NH? Look no further! Let us host your party in our professional recording studio, and it will be a party that will always be remembered as the coolest birthday party ever! The lucky recipient and up to five friends will have a ball singing in our professional sound booths – they’re sure to feel like a rock star!!! Then, the songs are mixed down, and each person gets their very own CD! Best of all… the 2  hour party costs just $150!!

So how does it work? Follow these easy steps and you’ve discovered the best birthday party idea in Manchester NH:

1) Book your party below. Try to book a few weeks in advance in order to schedule it on the day you’d like.

2) When you arrive at the studio, we’ll download the backtracks of the songs you selected (up to 3), and install them in our recording system. It takes just a few minutes if the songs have been decided upon beforehand. Hint: if you want to spend more time singing and having fun, you can download the songs beforehand, and bring them in on a memory stick or a playable CD. One of the best sites that we’ve found is: http://www.karaoke-version.com. They’ve got a huge song selection, and they generally cost just a couple of dollars each!

3) Then the fun begins! The birthday boy or girl and their lucky guests will spend time in the vocal booths, recording their tracks, and having a ball doing it. They can sing together, or can sing solo if the song calls for it.

5) With about a half hour left, the songs are mixed down, and everyone in the birthday party gets their own CD! (up to 6)

So, if you are looking for a birthday party idea in Manchester NH, you’ve found it!!  Book your party now by clicking HERE. It’s easy to create an unforgettable birthday party that will be talked about for a long time!

Have questions? Feel free to e-mail us by clicking HERE, or call the studio at 603-660-2208.