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Reverse Compression

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:16 pm
by mark rachelle
I gave this a try the other day

for those who are wondering what i mean by reverse compression i am not talking about expansion,
I am refering to the technique of reversing the waveform and applying compression to the waveform in reverse, then flipping the sound back to being forward again

WOW! This has to be the most creamy and smooth effect i have ever heard

So quick and easy it should be illegal!

so for the record it was the RComp in protools , ratio around 2.5 gain reduction around 12 db
No spittling just a really pro sit

works amazing on vocals, lead grtr, rhytm gtrs and bass. Actually this IS the only tool i have ever used that can turn a live bass track that had feel but was all over the shop with level and tone, into a track that was fat and Sat like a 1 note synth bass line. 5 hours of automation and individual EQing of notes ala Mike Shippley just got replaced with a 20 second edit!

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:23 pm
by vanderlae
I think I read about this process in something Stav wrote about not all that long ago? it makes sense really, the compression easing into the material...

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:25 pm
by jkhuri44
vanderlae wrote:I think I read about this process in something Stav wrote about not all that long ago? it makes sense really, the compression easing into the material...


its pretty sick, requires checking after u flip back.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:27 pm
by DwaneHollands
very interesting mark! Will have to give it a go!

Obviously in the analogue realm it would have been very difficult. But in the digital, it's a snap!

What an 'outside the box' idea!

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:38 pm
by mark rachelle
i cant take credit for it, i heard about it from someone reading Stav, usually that means i wouldn't pay attention however i gotta give credit where its due, this technique even in the digital domain blows away every compressor i have ever used (for levelling, and limiting not for slam and spank).
So for the cost of a plugin it beats, vari mu-s, smarts and ssls, all uries and Neves.

What I will try tho is doing this technique via analog compressors to see if that improves the sound even more!

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:39 pm
by Chinagraf
[quote="DwaneHollands"]

Obviously in the analogue realm it would have been very difficult. But in the digital, it's a snap!

What an 'outside the box' idea![/quote]

Not really, you just flip the tape over...

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:02 pm
by jkhuri44
mark rachelle wrote:i cant take credit for it, i heard about it from someone reading Stav, usually that means i wouldn't pay attention however i gotta give credit where its due, this technique even in the digital domain blows away every compressor i have ever used (for levelling, and limiting not for slam and spank).
So for the cost of a plugin it beats, vari mu-s, smarts and ssls, all uries and Neves.

What I will try tho is doing this technique via analog compressors to see if that improves the sound even more!


you'll be able to smash the mix harder without nasty artifacts...
again, flip to chekc resultz.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:53 pm
by DwaneHollands
Chinagraf wrote:
DwaneHollands wrote:
Obviously in the analogue realm it would have been very difficult. But in the digital, it's a snap!

What an 'outside the box' idea!


Not really, you just flip the tape over...


fair enough.

PostPosted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:59 am
by heathen
Yeah, been doing this for years, works great with plugs and even better with a SSL, smart, vari mu, in my opinion. On full mixes can be really cool way to compress, especially when you hate the music you're working on. :)

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:39 pm
by chribble
i would have never thought to do this. great idea.

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:39 pm
by Thirteen
Sorry for seeming dense, do you reverse the file as in play it backwards through the compressor?

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:43 pm
by mark rachelle
yes

you reverse the file then run it through a compressor

then flip it back to forwards

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:24 pm
by NYMo
Hi there,

Another great Stavism !

Cheers

N
Y
M
O

PostPosted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:50 am
by rick
Glyn Johns actually but never let the truth get in the way of a good story :)