{"id":64993,"date":"2020-09-10T15:00:20","date_gmt":"2020-09-10T20:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=64993"},"modified":"2020-10-01T17:45:03","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T22:45:03","slug":"how-to-compress-snare-drum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/64993-how-to-compress-snare-drum\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro Audio: Attack & Release \u2013 How to Compress a Snare Drum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In this article, we are going to explore how you can use a compressor to create unique snare sounds from the exact same source material. From short and tight to long and resonant, we’ll learn (and hear) how you can use different combinations of attack and release settings to get the sound you’re going for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Quick Refresh on Compression <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a reminder, in previous articles, we learned about how a compressor works. Most compressors offer a few adjustable settings. Typically these include threshold<\/em> <\/strong>(at what signal level the compressor starts working), ratio <\/em><\/strong>(how much gain reduction is applied once the signal goes above the threshold), attack <\/em><\/strong>(how long to wait after the threshold is hit to begin applying compression), and release <\/em><\/strong>(how long after the signal falls below the threshold until the compressor stops working). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve refreshed our memories, we are going to dive right in to a few different compression settings and hear how they produce multiple, distinct snare sounds. In these samples, we are using the stock plugin \u201cChannel Strip\u201d included with Pro Tools as it works just fine, both for the purposes of this demo and in real sessions too. You should be able to follow along in any DAW and achieve similar results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick note, I have dialed in a rather aggressive threshold on all of these examples so that it is easier to hear how the attack and release settings affect the compression.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Slow Attack. Fast Release.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A slow attack setting on your compressor will let more of the transient’s snap through and maintain the snare’s natural decay. With this setting, we are taking some edge away from the transient, but allowing much of it through to maintain energy. Take a listen below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Compressor Settings: Slow Attack. Fast Release.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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