Ah... Virtually the hardest concept in mixing and mastering to grasp (for most people), compression. The Idea of compression is to raise the volume of the track without clipping. How this is achieved, is once the volume hits a certain threshold (a db value) the compression kicks in and raises the volume, up to a specified limit. Generally that limit is 0 db so the track can't clip, but when compressing individual tracks, you may want to set it much lower.
Another reason that compression is such a touchy subject is because there are an insane amount of "types" of compressors.
Simple volume compressors, Limiters, brick wall limiters, side chain compressors, eq compressors, harmonics compressors, in fact the compressor world isn't limited to volume in general. There are even FREQUENCY compressors! There are also compressors that barely effect your track at all. One's that have no idea where their place is among the world of vst's. When it comes to compressors and limiters (same difference) the amount of free one's that are actually good is sadly... Surprisingly huge. So it can be very hard to pick out the best from that list.
Thankfully, I'm going to make it easy for you! These are not only the best free compressor, limiters, and the like, but some of the best EVER.
Compressors (Internal volume knobs to make your track louder, very good for making your track... well... Louder)
LoudMax
Stats: Brick wall, cannot exceed 0db
Loud Max: Is my idea of a final audio master plugin that really does the job! Since it can't exceed 0db, that means it can't clip at ALL! It's so smooth, and works in pretty much any circumstance. Unless sadly, you are using LMMS. It crashes LMMS alot. So immediately when you open it, set the threshold to -6db or something and close the window. Another problem. When you reload LMMS, it somehow sets it's threshold, and db limit to 0. LMMS doesn't like this, and will crash if you try to play the song with it like this. So my recommendation is to just save it until you export your track. Make it the very last thing you do!
Link: http://loudmax.blogspot.com/
ReaXCompressor
Stats: Unlimited multiband compressor/limiter, doesn't crash LMMS
ReaXompressor: Is downright insane. Cockos has this thing with plugins. They are completely and totally decked! ReaXCompressor is probably my most favorite compressor on this planet! It enables you to create separate bands across the WHOLE spectrum of the audio, and compress each band individually. I don't know what else to say, except that this is an incredible work of art, and well... Have fun being Chuck Norris with LMMS!
Link: http://www.reaper.fm/reaplugs/ (Note, if you downloaded ReaEQ from the link in part one of mixing tools, then you already have this)
Hmm... That's kind of it. Those are the best. There is one more however!
ReaComp
Stats: Simple, easy to use, and highly vintage.
ReaComp: Is very easy to grasp, and if you don't like the thought or complexity of multi-band compressors, then this is a wonderful substitute! It has amazing capabilities, and is really good for vocals, synths drums, you name it, it can compress it!
Link: Use the above link for ReaXCompressor. If you have already downloaded ReaXCompressor, or any of Reaplugs, then you already have this.
And there is actually one more compressor. It's legendary. The only problem with it, is you need to give it time to load during project file opening in LMMS, otherwise LMMS will crash!
Terry West's CS12m 1.67
Stats: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
CS12 1.67: Is uncalled for. Not only is it a compressor, but it is also an equalizer, Limiter, stereo widener, AND a filter! This plugin is a new one I stumbled on very recently, and it works one hundred percent with LMMS! It just eats up your CPU when loading, but other than that it's fine. So just wait a few seconds after it's done loading to do anything in LMMS, and you'll be fine!
Link: http://www.terrywest.nl/equalizers.html
(also, take the time to check out all the other plugins Terry West has made! I have tried them all, and besides the occasional High CPU start up, they all work AMAZINGLY well with LMMS! He has made some incredibly powerful plugins, and I use them all, all the time. He also has a huge list of other compressors, so check them out)
Well, that is all on compression and limiting! I hope the power you will now hold in your hands by obtaining these plugins gives you a sense of satisfaction If you want a hard limiter that isn't loudmax, then just use some of Terry's stuff, they work!
And lastly, I hope to see the amazing work you guys do by using these plugins! That is all for this part! Thank you!
Keep spreading the music!
DJ Striden
Another reason that compression is such a touchy subject is because there are an insane amount of "types" of compressors.
Simple volume compressors, Limiters, brick wall limiters, side chain compressors, eq compressors, harmonics compressors, in fact the compressor world isn't limited to volume in general. There are even FREQUENCY compressors! There are also compressors that barely effect your track at all. One's that have no idea where their place is among the world of vst's. When it comes to compressors and limiters (same difference) the amount of free one's that are actually good is sadly... Surprisingly huge. So it can be very hard to pick out the best from that list.
Thankfully, I'm going to make it easy for you! These are not only the best free compressor, limiters, and the like, but some of the best EVER.
Compressors (Internal volume knobs to make your track louder, very good for making your track... well... Louder)
LoudMax
Stats: Brick wall, cannot exceed 0db
Loud Max: Is my idea of a final audio master plugin that really does the job! Since it can't exceed 0db, that means it can't clip at ALL! It's so smooth, and works in pretty much any circumstance. Unless sadly, you are using LMMS. It crashes LMMS alot. So immediately when you open it, set the threshold to -6db or something and close the window. Another problem. When you reload LMMS, it somehow sets it's threshold, and db limit to 0. LMMS doesn't like this, and will crash if you try to play the song with it like this. So my recommendation is to just save it until you export your track. Make it the very last thing you do!
Link: http://loudmax.blogspot.com/
ReaXCompressor
Stats: Unlimited multiband compressor/limiter, doesn't crash LMMS
ReaXompressor: Is downright insane. Cockos has this thing with plugins. They are completely and totally decked! ReaXCompressor is probably my most favorite compressor on this planet! It enables you to create separate bands across the WHOLE spectrum of the audio, and compress each band individually. I don't know what else to say, except that this is an incredible work of art, and well... Have fun being Chuck Norris with LMMS!
Link: http://www.reaper.fm/reaplugs/ (Note, if you downloaded ReaEQ from the link in part one of mixing tools, then you already have this)
Hmm... That's kind of it. Those are the best. There is one more however!
ReaComp
Stats: Simple, easy to use, and highly vintage.
ReaComp: Is very easy to grasp, and if you don't like the thought or complexity of multi-band compressors, then this is a wonderful substitute! It has amazing capabilities, and is really good for vocals, synths drums, you name it, it can compress it!
Link: Use the above link for ReaXCompressor. If you have already downloaded ReaXCompressor, or any of Reaplugs, then you already have this.
And there is actually one more compressor. It's legendary. The only problem with it, is you need to give it time to load during project file opening in LMMS, otherwise LMMS will crash!
Terry West's CS12m 1.67
Stats: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
CS12 1.67: Is uncalled for. Not only is it a compressor, but it is also an equalizer, Limiter, stereo widener, AND a filter! This plugin is a new one I stumbled on very recently, and it works one hundred percent with LMMS! It just eats up your CPU when loading, but other than that it's fine. So just wait a few seconds after it's done loading to do anything in LMMS, and you'll be fine!
Link: http://www.terrywest.nl/equalizers.html
(also, take the time to check out all the other plugins Terry West has made! I have tried them all, and besides the occasional High CPU start up, they all work AMAZINGLY well with LMMS! He has made some incredibly powerful plugins, and I use them all, all the time. He also has a huge list of other compressors, so check them out)
Well, that is all on compression and limiting! I hope the power you will now hold in your hands by obtaining these plugins gives you a sense of satisfaction If you want a hard limiter that isn't loudmax, then just use some of Terry's stuff, they work!
And lastly, I hope to see the amazing work you guys do by using these plugins! That is all for this part! Thank you!
Keep spreading the music!
DJ Striden