Parallel compression aka New York Compression

Given the importance of compression in the recording process, it comes as no surprise to learn that there are a variety of different approaches to applying dynamic control. However, one technique in particular allows you to preserve the dynamics of an audio signal while giving it the body and character of a compressed sound. This technique is known as parallel compression.

If you want to add some punch to your drums without losing dynamic expression, which is so important to the ‘feel’ of a drum sound, then parallel compression is the right technique to use. It refers to mixing a dry signal with a heavily compressed copy of itself. The dynamics in the dry signal are preserved while the compressed signal adds body and character to the overall sound. It works for any instrument, but on drums and vocals in particular, the added character can really bring a track to life.

In older analog recording days, records were generally mixed with the vocals a lot louder than the backing track. They usually put a lot of reverb on the backing track to make it blend more in to the background with the lead vocal dry and upfront. A good example for this is Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presly.  In 1970 Motown invented the Exciter Compression technique which was the very first type of parallel compression. They would split the lead vocals into two different channels in an analog console. Then they added some light EQ and some reverberation in the first channel. On the second channel they compressed the hell out of the vocal signal and added a lot of high end EQ (around 5,000 cycles and up). Now they had two channels of lead vocals; one natural with EQ and reverberation, and one heavily compressed with tons of high end EQ. They then blended the second channel with the original channel just enough so it gave the lead vocal excitement. The end result of this technique was that they ended up with natural sounding vocal, clear and audible at all times with a sparkly and bright touch. Because of this innovative technique from the 70’s, it has paved a way and provided a key factor for bring a brighter sound to your mix. Parallel compression works exactly the same as the Motown Exciter Compression but without the big chunk of EQ settings.

Parallel compression was originally developed by the mix engineers from New York, which is why it is famously called the New York compression. These guys did a good job in bringing the recording and mixing techniques to a new level. This technique has made records sound more clear, lively, and real which is far better than the how they used to do it in the early days.

Parallel Compression’s intention is to maintain the performance characteristics of an instrument or sound source, but with way more and better stabilized dynamics. The compressor settings are set in a way that causes the compressor to pump and breath. Blending both signals will result in a more human than static sounding compressor.

Parallel Compression

http://guerillarecording.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/parallel-compression-aka-new-york-compression/

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