Track Compressor settings for drum hits?

nolonemo wrote on 4/30/2008, 3:35 PM

Hi, I posted this in the Vegas Video forum, and it was suggested that I try here.

Hi, I'm editing a video of a jazz big band performance. I've adjusted levels (which are generally OK between ensemble and solo sections) to where my peaks are aound -3dB, but at that setting, occasional drum hits are spiking at around +4db, and especially during drum solos. (I've already dealt with some applause clipping by applying an audio envelope.)

I figure if I set the fx Track Compressor to -2dB Threshold and apply some reduction, I can bring down the spikes without affecting anything else. Is that right? What should I set the Amount at? Or should I just increase Amount until output doesn't clip? Are the default settings of 15ms and 250ms for Attack and Release appropriate?

Thanks for any help, I'm pretty clueless when it comes to audio....

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 4/30/2008, 6:43 PM

You didn't say what your compression ratio is set at, somewhere around 2.5:1 is an acceptable starting point and work your way up. Just shorten the Attack response time gradually until you get what you want for the drum spikes. Everything else should be pretty good, except you may want to shorten the release time a bit for drums, too.

jbolley wrote on 5/1/2008, 12:10 PM

Wave hammer is a powerful tool when used carefully. If you simply add it as the last process on your master buss and bypass the compressor section it will prevent any overs. It is a very fast limiter.

Jesse