What is it?
Group compression is when you route multiple channel outputs to one channel (Group / Stack) and compress them together. For example, think of having all your individual drum tracks routed to one channel than compressing all those drum hits together. This can be applied to many different sounds (leads, basses, pads, vocals, ETC)
Why do it?
This process can "Glue" your sounds together and help shape them dynamically, As "One". This effect creates a more cohesive sound. Think of those individual drum tracks from the previous slide. You can now process them and shape them as one drum kit. Another benefit is that some compressors will also add harmonic distortion/color to the signal we have a list of these compressors coming up!
How much should you do?
If you think about the three major stages of processing in a mix, you have the individual basis, group stage, mastering stage. Typically, you can make the biggest moves on an individual sound, and each stage you move forward, you do less. This is important to remember when processing groups. You shouldn't be slamming this compressor. If you "need" to the problem stems from one of your individual sounds being too loud or too dynamic. Go fix that one sound. In a well-balanced group, 1 - 2 dB of compression is enough
Favorites:
⦿ Any SSL G Buss Compressor Emulation (The Glue)
⦿ API 2500 (Waves, UAD)
⦿ Fairchild 670 (Waves, UAD, Slate, ETC)
⦿ Klanghelm MJUC (Klanghelm)
⦿ Manley VARI-MU (UAD)
⦿ Slate FG-RED (Slate Digital)
⦿ Ozone Vintage Compressor (IZOTOPE)
⦿ Vertigo VSC-2 (UAD, Plugin Alliance)
⦿ Millenia TCL-2 (UAD, Plugin Alliance)
⦿ Fabfilter Pro-C2 (Fabfilter)
⦿ Your DAW's Stock Compressor Works Too!
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