SIGN UP & WATCH
13min
(318)
All you need to know about compression.
Fab goes over the history of compression and plays examples of different instruments with and without compression, including laying some drums off to tape. This is a must watch video for anybody who is looking at getting a thorough understanding of what compression is, where it comes from, and what it does.
Chapters:
-Compression principles
-Compression history
-Vocals thru UAD LA2
-Different snare compression sounds
-Bass drum compression
-Full drumset and bass to tape
Please do not forget to share this video on Twitter, Youtube and Facebook. The more visitors we have, the more free content we will be able to make!
Not a Pro Member yet?
Pro Memembership
Watch all videos for$24.99 / month
Related Videos
Mentors
Fab Dupont
Fab Dupont is an award-winning NYC based record producer, mixing/mastering engineer and co-founder of pureMix.net.
Fab has been playing, writing, producing and mixing music both live and in studios all over the world. He's worked in cities like Paris, Boston, Brussels, Stockholm, London and New York just to name a few.
He has his own studio called FLUX Studios in the East Village of New York City.
Fab has received many accolades around the world, including wins at the Victoires de la Musique, South African Music awards, Pan African Music Awards, US independent music awards. He also has received Latin Grammy nominations and has worked on many Latin Grammy and Grammy-nominated albums.
Credits
David Crosby
Queen Latifah
Jennifer Lopez
Mark Ronson
Les Nubians
Toots And The Maytals
What do you have to say?
Leave a comment 
beschornermusic
2022 Feb 07
One of the everyone-should-see-this-clip. Best teacher!
Buddhika
2021 Sep 11
I've tried lot of lessons on the internet.
This is the one I really understood what really compressor is.
THank you..!!! Maestro ..
murray.g
2021 Apr 02
Okay I'm getting it . Thanks
theannemary
2021 Mar 02
This was so helpful, thank you! I'm excited to experiment with compression
keiteljr
2021 Jan 21
Needs some compression on that wild ass hair...he got a diffrent cut in every video lol...legend
Tamko
2020 Nov 01
Fab, you are my favourite mixing teacher. In ideal world I would be happy to work as you assistant for a few years :)
Gerry2020
2020 Oct 01
Fab is a really good teacher. I appreciated very much his explanations. He made me want tp know more. Thank you very much.
ludwigmack
2020 Feb 26
What a great explanation! I loved it, I think I finally understood the real meaning of compression! Thank you!
JPMBass
2019 Nov 27
Just blown away at Fab's introduction to compressors...Fab has many gifts and being an incredible teacher is one of them. Mr. Dupont really breaks down and explains things in such an easy to understand and meaningful way. I'm so glad I've discovered PureMix and will be watching more. THANK YOU!
babu
2019 Jul 18
Very Informative. Great.
msloan
2018 Feb 08
great video and I look forward to the next few videos as well.
gordonliv@uwclub.net
2017 Apr 21
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't compression originate in the radio broadcast industry? I thought it was developed to control signal peaks so that the audio content would avoid saturation and interference with adjacent channels. It would also improve signal-to-noise ratio, which in the early days of analogue radio broadcasts would be a huge advantage.
I know that Western Electric and Bell Laboratories built a compressor called the 110-A in about 1937 which was aimed directly at radio stations and broadcasters. Not sure if this was the first actual "compressor".
Fabulous Fab
2016 Jul 05
@RLeMuyon: It never pleases me. I have seen engineers use it to success but every-time I try it myself, it has a glossy, pointy quality to the attack that never works with how I balance in and out mics. But since you asked I'll try again next time.
RLeMunyon
2016 May 26
I'm curious, what is it about putting an RE 20 inside of the kick drum that you don't like?
Thank you!
mikeyed
2016 Mar 25
Great guy's on your video works. Thanks.
ramsyndrome
2016 Jan 12
yes thats the right way to explain it. more power and God Bless You Fab
intrinityrecords@gmail.com
2015 Nov 24
The tape machine brought the bass more forward and the snare, a much more "sharp" attack with some crackle on top.
oldhat
2015 Mar 30
I like the previous suggestion in regards to links that take you to other videos related to same topic. I've been recording since the early 70's and I love your videos. Wish I had them back in the day. I still get excited when I learn new stuff. Thank you Fab.
Devilstrip
2015 Feb 03
Nice to get a straight forward explanation, Thanks much!!!!
jimsngc
2014 Oct 26
Awesome - thank you
rus5
2013 Dec 09
OUTSTANDING !! FINALLY!! Thank You!!
rainbox
2013 Dec 08
Great course and great advices embellished with a little bit of philosophy:
1) "... and if you did not hear the difference, that's ok, press Rewind, play it again, and again, until you hear the difference."
2) "I think it is very important to have a vision of what the sound should be like, before we start fidding with the equipment and let that vision dictate the settings, not the other way around."
3) "Ultimately, it's all about taste, and that's the beauty of the whole thing."
deejaylsk
2013 Oct 24
i love this tutorial
bloozerd
2013 Sep 21
For what it's worth...I think it would be useful to add links to pages like this that forward to the suggested videos...!...That said...It would be cool if there was a link to the compressor setting video that Fab was suggesting at the end of this vid...!!!
wheelpin
2013 Jul 04
Though of course there is no "one size fits all" concept of the employment of audio/recording/mixing gear, I find Fab's "in your face" ;-), straightforward approach, both entertaining and informative.
I have been in this biz for quite some time now, had a tape based analog 24 trk. studio., and now own and operate a pretty comprehensive (IMHO) digital based one, running Logic Pro 9.1.8. I am always trying to better my skills with the entire record/mix process (and, to a much lesser degree mastering).
In my opinion, job well done!
mrsunnycliff
2012 Jul 08
Liked the simplicity of explaining how our sound evolved and the tonal changes equipment/plug-ins play with not only dynamics but character of the source... Amazing to be a FREE video cause I can see the time & effort taken to setup & produce a thoughtful piece -
joesciacca
2012 Jul 05
The truth about compressors is that it doesn't matter what make you use unless you know how to use 'em at at their best. And while some are flexible enough to be used on different kind of source material, some are exceptional at one task. Personally I'm getting more and more into tape emulations. - A matter of taste.
More of these vids, please.
bigbag
2012 Jul 02
cool, ça démistifie pas mal de choses...pour moi !
creaktor
2012 Jun 12
For 15 years I make music and just turned some knows and telling myself I know what I'm doing. Glad it turned out I didn't knew!!!
since I checked this site and subscribed annually, my progress in several easy tips gained.
That being sayed, I hope you Fab, will get more into detail like you say, about all those differences in compressors.
The reason is, there are million different songs out there. Does compressor A meets the best choice to song A or was it better to choose compressor B for song A. Consistancy in this matter thus knowing what to choose seems my failure now-a-days.
cortezthemiller
2012 Mar 26
Fab Dupont!!! Ce type est vraiment genie!!!
SoundReplay
2011 Dec 26
Nice comparison with the Studer!
robbiettf
2011 Dec 22
...since my last post, I purchased the Vocal Compression video and now my question is answered :-)
I would just like to say again what great videos, my mixing has got better and better since finding this website!
robbiettf
2011 Nov 30
Hi Fab
I have purchased a number of DVD's over the years on mixing but I have to say that your video's have given me the most help, they are brilliant...Thank you.
What are your thoughts on automation regarding volume rides on the vocal track as well as compression? There is a particular uk magazine who do a feature on a current commercial track every month and 9 times out of 10, there is lots of automation of volume on a basic vocal track plus 2-3 compressors working their socks off not for any special effect, from you perspective, is it really needed? or needed because of bad recording?
B_P
2011 Oct 21
Fab, I gotta say, you have some great videos! I watch a lot of on-line PT/mixing tutorials and you really go beyond what everyone else is doing. You really break things down and do an excellent job of walking the viewer through concepts.
I look forward to more videos from you!
chimulko
2011 Aug 02
Wow finally a site to learn how this works, thanks for the tips. It's great when someone points you the changes so you can hear it better.
andydub
2011 Aug 01
Excellent video.
Wonder what you think of the Kramer MPX Tape plugin. I just bought it, and really like what it added to a mix. Just a subtle something. I see UA has one too.
111Entertainment
2011 May 24
Excellent video... lots of valuable information.
"Thanks" Fab
"Touch The World"
F.L. Freeman, Audio Engineer/ Mixer
111 Entertainment LLC
islandcode
2011 May 13
thanks for this. excellent approach with the visual approach to sound, not showing the settings and forcing viewers to listen, and just plain awesome production aesthetic.
Oh btw, The Beatles records a lot of people love were compressed going in, and via tape, too. read their engineers books - such as the one by Geoff Emerick.
Tkandrews
2011 May 09
Great video...illuminating and inspiring.Thank you