There is also the added problem that the markings on the controls of many compressors are not very
accurate. They are only there for a "guide" - and to help you restore settings later, so simply looking
at the controls may not be a good indication of what the compressor is actually up to.
控制不好压缩器的参数也给我们带来了不少问题。参数设置对我来说只是一个向导,所以单纯的去看设置并不能知道压
缩机实际上在做什么!
Many compressors - including software plugins - don't even have meters on them, and needless to say,
this makes it incredibly difficult to know if they are operating correctly.
许多压缩-包括许多软件插件压缩-上面没有METER表,这就让我们很难知道压缩在做神马动作!
Getting Started 直译为开始
Because compressors have many different applications, the way that you use a compressor depends very
much on what you are trying to achieve with it. In this article, we will look at four main applications
of a compressor which are all quite different. Most applications are just variations on these four
different uses, so they should serve as a good starting point for most of the things you will want to
do.
因为压缩有很多种不同的应用,我们如何使用压缩在于我们想要达到一个神马样的目的。在这一节中,我们将了解到4
种完全不同用法的压缩。大多数的用法都是这4种用法的变化,所以这些会给你一个很好的方向着手于使用它。
The four main applications that we will look at, are:
4个主要的用法是:
1. Hard limiting - to prevent speakers or digital recordings from overload
硬限制-防止喇叭和数字录音过载(冲红……)
2. Compressing an instrument or vocal
压缩乐器或者人声(上面提到过在bass和人声中的处理)
3. Adding "punch" to bass drums and bass guitars
给低音鼓(这样翻译不会误导吧!)和bass增加冲击力
4. Compressing a final mix
对mix整体压缩
In addition, we will look at a specialised fifth example:
此外,列举5个例子:
1. De-essing a sibilant vocal
De—essing(这个我不道翻成啥)一个“怒吼”的人声
But before we get into these, let's look at the theory behind compressors and what the controls actually
do. This is a little difficult to understand at first, so don't worry if you haven't "got it" the first
time around. It will make more sense after you've experimented a bit with a real compressor in front of
you. Note that not all compressors have all of these controls, and some compressors are very
"minimalist" indeed. If you don't have all these controls, then look at the compressors instruction
manual to see what preset values the "missing" controls are set to.
在我们做这个之前,让我来了解一下压缩器的原理和它的参数。开始理解这个是有点难的,(搞音乐的都挺难的)所以
不用担心“第一次”谁都很弱的。尝试用一个真正的压缩器会给你带来不少经验。不是所有的压缩器都有很多参数,事
实上有一些压缩器是很简约(袖珍)的。如果你不能掌握这些参数,那么你就得看看压缩器的说明书查缺补漏了!
What The Controls Do
参数详解
Firstly, in order to compress the volume range of something into a more "workable" volume range, you
need to have in your mind an idea of what the lowest "normal" volume level is, and what the "loudest"
volume level is, and have a mental idea of how "loud" you are prepared to let the loudest get.
首先,为了让你压缩的声音达到一个OK的音量范围,你需要了解这里最低的正常的音量和最高的音量是什么样的,并且
你要有个大体思路如何把这个声音达到最大化。
The "Threshold" control, sets the volume level at which the compressor starts to do its work. Below this
volume level, the compressor will literally do absolutely nothing. So you basically set the "Threshold"
control to the lowest volume level at which you want the compressor to start working.
阈值,设定压缩器开始工作的起始音量。低于这个音量,压缩器不会工作(不工作也就是没用的)。所以你要把阈值设
置为你要压缩器开始工作的最低音量上。
We will discuss in the examples how you actually make this setting. Naturally, if the "Threshold"
control is set to maximum, the compressor won't ever do anything at all because the level of the music
is usually way below this level, and therefore remains totally unnaffected.
我们将讨论阈值在实际应用中的设置。很显然,如果你把阈值设置成最高,而音乐的音量始终低于这个阈值,压缩器是
完全不会工作的。
The "Ratio" control sets how "powerful" the compressor is. At its lowest setting (1:1), the compressor
literally does nothing, and is effectively "switched off". On the other hand, at its highest setting
(normally marked 20:1 or even infinity-to-one), the compressor is 100% powerful - so powerful in fact
that it TOTALLY PREVENTS the volume level getting even the *slightest* bit louder than the threshold
level! Hard to believe? Try it and see. Set the compressor ratio at maximum, play some sound through the
compressor and start turning the threshold level down until you hear the effect. If you are playing solo
drums through the compressor the effect is quite astounding.
压缩比设置压缩机用多大力度压。最低设置是1:1,这样压缩器是不工作的,和关了是没啥区别的(1:1的设置可能是
为包络线设置的,个人理解)。反过来呢,如果你把比值(多数是20:1或者无限大:1),这压缩力度就100%给力了-
这样压缩器就完全的阻止了超过阈值的声音!咋的还不信?自己试试且,去!把压缩比调到最大,然后一直降低它的阈
值,知道你听到效果了。如果你听的是鼓solo那这个效果就很明显了!
The only problem with doing this is that (naturally) the total volume gets so much quieter, because you
are "constraining" it (compressing it) - so very much. That's why compressors are almost always equipped
with a powerful gain control marked "Output" or "Gain make-up" in order to boost the volume level back
up to a reasonable level after it has been "squashed" down.
问题是你压缩(限制)的音量会让声音扁扁的。这就是多数压缩器带有output(输出增益)或者“make-up(增益)”
为了原因,是可以把压扁的声音的音量合理的提升回去。
Every time you turn the "Threshold" down, you are "constraining" the sound more and more, and making it
quieter, and so you almost always need to use the "Output" control to boost the level back up again.
This is a bit irritating, so several compressors have a switch - normally marked something like "Auto
gain make-up" or similar - to automatically boost the output as you turn the "Threshold" down. It's not
on every compressor, but it is a nice little feature to have, and saves you fiddling about with the
"Output" control all the time.
每当你把阈值调低,声音受到越来越多的制约,就会变的越来越小,然后你几乎总是需要去调整增益使音量放大,这有
点费事(麻烦,无聊),所以许多压缩器有一个开关-一般叫做auto gain make-up(自动增益)或者类似的名称-能够
根据你降低的阈值补偿它的增益。不是每个压缩器都有,但是它是个不错的小设计,帮你节省了去旋转增益开关的时间
。
So far so good. "Threshold", "Ratio", and "Output" are the main controls on an compressor, and
"theoretically" give you everything you need.
目前为止都还好,阈值 压缩比 输出增益 这些是压缩器的主要设置参数,并且这些就能满足你的各种需求了!(当然不包括sm)。
So what are the other controls for?
但是其他的参数是干神马用的呢?(且听下回分解吧!)