Bus Compression

Bus Compression FAQ

What is bus compression and how do you use it?

Bus Compression is the act of using a compressor on the master output to create a uniform sound for the entirety of a mix or master. Bus compression is often used in mixes and masters to create a cohesive and overarching timbre for the recording.

What is the best bus compressor for mix bus compression?

There’s no special bus compressor that will do the magic for you. All you need is your DAW’s stock compressor. That said, there will be a time when upgrading to a better compressor will help you take your mix bus compression to the next level. Analog compressors add a certain “color” to the sound that can be very pleasing to the ear.

Is mix bus compression bad for your mix?

One of the tricks pro mixers use to “glue” their tracks together is mix bus compression. It’s frequently used, but rarely done right. A well-tuned compressor on the mix bus can make a big difference in your mix! But a poorly-tuned compressor will wreak havoc. Here’s 6 mistakes to avoid when setting

Can i route my compression bus to the master?

Providing you mix without any plug-ins on your main stereo master bus, you can route your parallel compression bus to the master. This would replicate the signal routing used by Andrew Scheps, even though, in our case, all the audio is eventually being passed to a single stereo output.