Whether you're a new producer looking to enhance your tracks or a seasoned pro seeking fresh techniques, understanding and mastering parallel compression can add depth, impact, and professional polish to your music. Let's dive in and look at how it works and how you can implement this into your music.
What is Parallel Compression?
At its core, parallel compression involves blending a heavily compressed version of a track with the original uncompressed signal. This technique is particularly useful for maintaining the natural dynamics and transients of your audio while adding weight, energy, and sustain.
Why Use Parallel Compression?
Parallel compression offers several benefits within music production outlined below:
Dynamic Control - With this technique, you can control the dynamics of the track without sacrificing the natural feel of the performance. What we mean by this is that you can emphasise the softer parts in a mix whilst taming the peaks, resulting in a more balanced sound.
Enhance Impact - Often this technique is popularly applied to large groups such as drums or vocals to make them firmer in the mix and add colour.
Sustain and Thickness - Having parallel compression adds sustain to instruments, it can make them sound fuller and more prominent in the mix. Again making it particularly useful for use in drum groups or vocal stacks.
Gluing the Mix - Parallel compression can help bind all the elements of a mix together creating a cohesive and unified sound.
How To Use Parallel Compression: A Quick Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Duplicate the Track
Create a duplicate of the track you want to process. This will be the track where you apply compression.
Step 2: Apply Heavy Compression
On the duplicated track, apply a heavy compression setting. This means a low threshold and a high ratio. Experiment with attack and release times to achieve the desired effect. You want the compressed track to sound noticeably squashed.
Step 3: Blend the Compressed and Original Tracks
Bring down the fader of the compressed track to a low level and gradually blend it with the original track until you achieve the desired balance. Trust your ears in finding the sweet spot.
Step 4: Fine-tune and Listen Closely
Listen carefully to how the parallel compression affects the sound. Pay attention to the transients, sustain, and overall impact. Make fine adjustments to the blend until you're satisfied with the result.
Step 5: Additional Processing
Depending on your track and style, you can further process the parallel compressed track. This may include EQ, saturation, or additional effects to shape the sound.
Step 6: Automate
Consider automating the level of the parallel compression track. You can increase its prominence during key sections of the song, such as choruses or impactful moments.
This step-by-step guide is just one of many different ways that you can use parallel compression in a DAW. Below we have linked some useful videos you can watch to find the method that best suits your needs.
https://youtube.com/shorts/ks0cxR2KRWI?si=tMLIinLau_ghJ1Qs
https://youtube.com/shorts/TOXymP4SrKQ?si=OscgEeaHSIsk1VPP
https://youtube.com/shorts/6L2IxC78wI8?si=0VMHRxJ0VF9HudXp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRfV8AxeCNw
Conclusion
Parallel compression stands as a cornerstone technique in the arsenal of music producers seeking sonic excellence. By seamlessly blending a heavily compressed track with the pristine original, you gain unprecedented control over dynamics, usher in extended sustain, and seamlessly bind your mix into a harmonious sonic tapestry. As you embark on your journey to master this method, it will undoubtedly emerge as an indispensable tool in your music production repertoire.
