The most common ones that are used on vocals are based on FET compressors and opto compressors. That console’s bus compressor (nicknamed “The Glue”) has become legendary for sonically “gluing” tracks together. That's the short answer, but let's figure out what the best type of compressor is for what you're currently working on... Before diving into what compressor to use, it's important to understand what a vocal compressor does. So now you know that a FET compressor is great for aggressive compression, and an Optical compressor is great for smoothing compression... Well, you might want to consider using TWO compressors on your vocals. As I mentioned previously, the biggest complaints that sound engineers had when Digital recording became common place was its “sterile” sound. When it comes to controlling the dynamics of a vocal, you are best off with a combination of automating your volume by raising and lowering gain in the track and some minor gain reduction (-3db to -6db) through a plug-in. Ideal Release time for Vocals – However, there are no set rules for any of the compression parameters for vocals, you can start between 500ms to 600ms and gradually decrease the time to get it perfect. Also, let me know in the comments below... Hi! __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"10193":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"63b77":{"name":"Main Accent Dark","parent":"10193"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"10193":{"val":"var(--tcb-skin-color-0)"},"63b77":{"val":"rgb(6, 27, 45)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":207,"l":0.1,"s":0.76}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"10193":{"val":"rgb(55, 179, 233)","hsl":{"h":198,"s":0.8,"l":0.56,"a":1}},"63b77":{"val":"rgb(0, 135, 193)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":198,"s":1,"l":0.37,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__, {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}. Cytomic’s The Glue is modelled after the now-famous SSL-4000 bus compressor. Orpheus Audio Academy is owned by Rammdustries LLC, a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For a more aggressive sound, use an FET compressor. Now you may or may not be thinking to yourself, "But what if I don't want smooth and transparent compression? "@type": "ImageObject", A compressor condenses the louds and softs of an audio signal. This is a transistor-based compressor that was used on a number of led Zeppelin album. It is based on the Neve 2254 compressor. Is that sweet or what? Click below to download my free song-finishing checklist to help you create radio-ready songs without taking months to complete them. But what's the difference between the LA-2A and the LA-3A? Set the starter vocal compression settings. It is a staple of the recording studios all over the world and it sound has become synonymous with vocals in some genres such as rock. If you have a track with annoying silibance, a DeEsser will come in handy. They're both optical compressors, so they are very similar; however, the main difference between the LA-2A and the LA-3A is that the LA-2A is the technology used to compress the audio signal. I always leave it off, but if I ever wanted to get an authentic throwback sound, I might leave it on. Most of the time, you're going to want to use two compressors anyway for vocals, so why not reach for both? It also models the distortion and EQ curve of the original blue stripe 1176. I’ve never had to spend much time fiddling with attack and release times, just setting it and adjusting the peak reduction and gain reduction to taste. This means you can't really do any extreme compression with them (which, again, might be a positive). One of the top vocal compressors out there. I also have a background in Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship and am striving help fellow musicians and producers improve their art and make a living doing the work they love. That's why I put together a free Mixing checklist to help you complete your tracks fast, without sacrificing quality. Optical compressors such as the LA-2A have attack and release times that are particularly well suited for compressing vocals. Which type of compressor should you use for vocals? Rammdustries LLC is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. "width": 1280, How To Adjust Threshold and Ratio of Compressor for Vocals? The inherent nature of this operation is smooth and transparent, like a lightsaber cutting through butter. In addition to providing plug-ins to manage the dynamics of your vocals, you also probably have some models of the aforementioned plug-ins such as the 1176 and LA-2A. If you did, I'd love for you to give it a share with your DIY musician buddies! Best Optical Compressor Plug-Ins For Vocals Your DAW may already have an optical-modeled compressor, for example, the one in Logic Pro X looks like this: However, if you're looking for something a little higher quality, the LA-2A and LA-3A are two of the most famous compressors of all time, and are great for vocals. This is a great FET compressor for vocals. You want to preserve the dynamic performance, while also taming it at the same time. "headline": "Best Compressor Plugins for Vocals", Teletronix released this compressor in the early 1960s, revolutionizing recording and broadcasting. The Waves CLA 76 blue is based on the original 1176 compressor, often known as the blue stripe 1176. This is a plug-in that I most often use on bass, but if I ever needed a compressor to thicken up a vocal in a retro fashion and I didn’t feel like fighting with EQ, I would definitely give this plugin a shot.