4th Gen. Focusrite Scarlett Series Interfaces – Solo, 2i2 and 4i4
October 19, 2023
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Upward compression is explained very well in this Fabfilter video.
Basically, regular compression (“downward compression”) reduced the level of the loud parts, and upward compression raises the level of the lower volume parts.
Both reduce and control the dynamic range of raw audio, which produces a better listening experience listeners.
FabFilter’s Pro-MB does upward compression, and the following plugins do the same or similar type of processing: Waves’ MaxxVolume, MV2 and Vocal Rider, as well as iZotope Neutron 3 and the Oxford Inflator.
Have you ever used upward compression?
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7 Responses
I use upward compression quite a bit. I used to use Vocal Rider for it, but I recently switched to MaxxVolume.
I do still use Vocal Rider at the end of my vocal chain though (+/- 1dB).
I’ve seen Tom Kelly use Vocal Rider for upward compression. He would set the bottom range to 0 so that the compression kicks in only to bring up the gain and avoid downward compression.
Is that how most people use Vocal Rider for upward compression? Or do most people let VR ride the gain both ways?
Yes, that’s a good method. As far as what most people do, I don’t know. It also depends on what other dynamics plugins you’re using in addition to Vocal Rider, if any.
I usually dial in Vocal Rider to ride the level both up and down but only 0.5 dB above zero and 0.5 dB below zero, which is the lowest range (1.0 dB total) that Vocal Rider allows, and then I dial in the Target loudness so that the plugin is pushing and pulling “equally.” FYI, I usually have it near the end of my plugin chain just to even out the level a bit more.
Thank you that makes a lot of sense. I usually use VR on each tracks before the compressor as an upward compressor only.
But I was actually looking at applying another leveller/compressor on the vocal bus track to try to even out even more all the segments of the show so I’ll look into adding VR with the settings you suggested and play around with it!
If I put VR at the top of the chain, that’s how I’d use it. However, I’ve been using MaxxVolume recently instead.
I found that sometime with super dynamic presenters, VR couldn’t respond quickly enough and I was hearing what sounded like some clipping distortion. I don’t have the same experience with MV
As for end of the chain, pretty much what Chris does (I learned from him), but I use +/- 1.0 dB (total of 2 dB dynamic range) instead of +/- 0.5.
Thank you!!