Vocal Comp or Vocal Limiter?

[tommydigiowen]

Can someone give me the nutshell difference between VOCAL COMP & VOCAL LEVELER (compressor)?

Thanks!

T

[albee1952]

Generally, the difference is the ratio of GR. 2:1 up to 10:1 is compression. Higher ratios are considered limiters. Which to use depends on the audio. I go thru my lead vocal tracks and use the AudioSuite GAIN plugin to level out the performance9lower the really hot regions and boost the really weak ones). That way, the track hits the compressor more evenly, which can make the vocal sit better in the mix. Lately I have been chaining 2 compressors on my lead vocals. My usual chain is: EQ III one band(high pass around 140HZ), BF76(4:1 with light GR), EQ III 7 band(general tone improvement), SMACK!(more compression with some character) and a Pultec EQ1A to restore the "air" that sometimes gets lost(the Pultec does "air" like no other EQ I have found). I only use a limiter on a vocal if its really all over the map in level(which just happened on my latest mix project; which was recorded at another studio).

[The Dougfather]

Check out this Sonnox Dynamics Video.

It shows the guy talking about using a Comp and Limiter together and there are examples.

[tommydigiowen]

Awesome..!