Hey all, first post on the new board!
The OT compressor settings were kind of mystery to me so now that I’ve found what works for me, I thought I’d share. Am I about to say something that will be argued down? Perhaps! However, my inspiration came from digging through some of the sample patterns that are part of the Octapack series.
So here’s what I do to make my kicks and snares sit hot in the mix. First turn down the track level to about 20%. Bring the attack down about halfway to say… 30, then increase the gain to suit. At this point you will realize that your hits are really starting to shine through the mix, effectively ducking the other channels. Work with the level and gain combo to get the free-standing, clear, hard hits you’re after. This technique is a key factor in my best beatdown tracks and I do not experience any distortion from this approach. You can use compression on multiple channels and effectively create a “volume priority hierarchy” for your track sounds. Don’t forget to parameter lock for other amazing effects.
One other thought here. I’ve noticed that some put the compressor on the master track. Other than using it to gain up the entire track, I can’t see where it could actually do compression. For my ear, if I just want the track louder and richer, I’ll use a light hand on the Master track filter distortion.
