[Ardour-Users] bus strain on computer resources

[Jörn Nettingsmeier]

On 12/13/2012 02:18 PM, Ralf Mardorf wrote:
> On Thu, 2012-12-13 at 10:58 +0000, John Rigg wrote:
>> I've never used parallel compression in 25+ years of sound engineering
>> work for example, as I've never needed it.
>
> In around 30 years too, I never heard of
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_compression . For my taste simply
> using a (multiband) compressor in a more common way already let the
> music sound very artificial.

The whole point of parallel compression is a more gentle, natural sound 
that does not compromise transients and _only_ boosts soft passages, 
leaving loud parts effectively untouched.
In short, it does what 99% of people think a compressor does, and which 
99% of compressors have never been able to do.

It's not about making music louder, and it is totally unrelated to 
multiband compression as such (although multiband parallel compressors 
exist). It's also not part of the loudness race evil. The main use case 
for parallel compression is (tasteful) mastering for instrumental (even 
"classical") recordings.

Parallel compression has been over-hyped a little, but gearhead 
journalism thankfully doesn't change physics or affect the usefulness of 
tools.

-- 
Jörn Nettingsmeier
Lortzingstr. 11, 45128 Essen, Tel. +49 177 7937487

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