What is New York style compression?

Parallel compression, also known as New York compression, is a dynamic range compression technique used in sound recording and mixing. Parallel compression, a form of upward compression, is achieved by mixing an unprocessed ‘dry’, or lightly compressed signal with a heavily compressed version of the same signal.

What are good compression settings for vocals?

Here are my go-to compression settings for vocals:

• Ratio: 1.5:1.
• Attack Time: 15ms (but up to 30ms for more punch)
• Release Time: 40ms.
• Threshold: -24dB.
• Gain Reduction: 2-3dB.
• Knee: Soft.
• Makeup Gain: 2dB.

How much compression do you need for vocals?

A good place to start with pop vocals is a 5:1 ratio. Try a higher ratio (7:1, 8:1) for more heavily compressed vocals with minimal dynamic range, or a lower ratio (2:1, 3:1) for a more natural sound with some dynamics preserved.

Should vocals be compressed?

If you need to EQ a vocal to remove any audio imperfections, it’s a good idea to do so before using a vocal compressor. This is because vocal compression will only amplify the pre-existing sound to some degree, so you’ll certainly want to compress vocals that are as refined as possible.

Is parallel compression better?

Rather than adding compression to the entire signal (which can end up really squashing your transients), parallel compression gives you more control over the balance between dynamic and compressed.

Should I record with compression?

Generally speaking, you should only record vocals with compression if you are confident that the settings on the compressor will produce the results you desire. It’s worth noting, that compression interacts uniquely with different vocals.

What is singing with compression?

It’s a combination of each airflow valve in your vocal mechanism working in tandem to create a powerful but resisted flow of air that vibrates your vocal folds and creates resonance. In fewer words, vocal compression is a controlled balance between airflow and air pressure when you sing.

Why do we compress vocals?

A compressor does three things: Changes the transient; with vocals, that’s the consonants. Brings the loudest and quietest parts of a signal closer together. Adds “character” or not, depending on the compressor.

What is NY compression and how do I use it?

NY compression can be used to: Help to give vocals more attitude and allow the performance to sound more consistent To NY compress a track, very aggressive settings are used such as: Colourful and fast compressor types – such as a FET compressor. We recommend the Urei LN1176.

How to compress vocals on a song?

Rather than send the same vocal to another track for parallel compression, another technique is to use a vocal double. Have your vocalist sing the same lead line on a second track and compress that heavily while only lightly compressing the main vocals. You may want to only bring the double in for certain parts of the song such as the chorus.

What is a NYC compression EQ?

Shelving EQs on old mix consoles were typically used to accentuate the high and low end of the track at fixed frequencies around 100Hz and 10KHz to increase clarity and loudness. The technique of placing a EQ device after the compressor to increase the feeling of ‘Hifi style’ loudness originated in NYC and so the term NYC compression was coined.

How do I remove breaths from a parallel compression track?

To avoid this problem, place a gate before the main compressor on your parallel track. Set it so that it only allows vocalists singing through and not the breaths. Alternatively, if you duplicated the vocals to a separate track for parallel compression, you can manually remove breaths.