Solid Bus Comp – Using bus compressors to tidy up sounds

「Bus compression」is the technique of putting multiple tracks into 1,
and apply a compressor to that compiled track.

Each track will influence each other in the compressor.
Because of this, the sounds will have a sense of unity, and allow for the distinct bus compressed sound.

We will use drums as an example to explain bus compression in this article.

Bus compression – Tutorial video

Solid Bus Comp – Basic parameters

• 1「Threshold」determines the point where compression is activated
• 2「Makeup＝Gain」makes up the volume lost when compressing
• 3「Ratio」the fraction of the sound (i.e. 1/2, 1/4) past the Threshold gets through
• 4「Attack」How long it takes for the compressor to kick in (after sounds pass the Threshold)
• 5「Release」how long compression remains (after sound goes under the Threshold)
• 6「Gain Reduction」See how much gain reduction is happening

We will use drums for this article, but it also works great on –

• high number of chorus tracks
• string tracks
• brass tracks
• bass/kick drum and bass

When you want to tidy up sounds in groups, try out this tool!