Here is one for all of you to ponder. I get 3 tracks of a single in today, three versions. All of them sound really good..great mixes!. The only thing I hear frequency wise is the 130 to 250hz is up just a shade more than it needs to be (boxyness but not overkill, 2dB solves it) and I could use a more low level instrumentation. No bass during the choruses. It is all crowded out.
I have done decompression before with success..however, in this case, here is the flow of the first song:
Crash, then intro. First verse, chorus, bridge, second verse, chorus, solo, chorus, chorus to fade.
This sucker is compressed but punchy. The intro is as loud as the final chorus! Going from bridge to chorus actually is a reduction in volume due to the limiter kicking in on the track..and I have not only heard these guys live many times..but their single that was a hit 25 years ago clearly had huge dynamical swings and this is the same version...just updated, with new backing vocals, up to date sounds and...the dreaded La2a cranked ad infinum.
They (the artists) were displeased with the "flow" (Hey man, do your thing, help the flow, put some bottom back in it during loud parts are my instructions)
SO, I began by reducing the volume of the whole track and dynamisizing the sections using eq and gain to put this thing in perspective. The problem is, I am afraid the artists will miss all that punch that is in the soft parts due to compression. No matter what, volume reduction, you lose the compression sound no matter how it is EQ'ed.
I am about to call for a remix..because the two buss compression gives the tune "no where to go"!
1. How do you usually tackle this?
2. How many are experiencing these problems?
3. What have you done to compromise without a remix?
I tried it 5 different ways. The best I could do was to drastically change the dynamic structure and then apply my own compressors and limiters. This gave *some* breathing room to the track and restored the punch, at least I have some bottom during the choruses but to keep bass balance throughout the track, the dynamics must now be there with a reduction of "juice" during the verses. As we know, once one gets used to the sound of the compression, it will not be as strong or as "alive sounding" with the dynamics included ...and they were destroyed to begin with. Although, I feel it is an improvement for the track, sonically they will miss all that slamm at the top I feel.
It has to sound good, and has to flow.
Ready and willing to take any advice. I am getting really dismayed at all this 2 buss compression, mixdown engineers applying their own mastering. It makes it damn hard to do anything meaningful.
PS, if anyone wants me to send them via email a before/after snippit of the first 40 seconds, PM me, I will do it in email of a 256K MP3 so you can hear this if it will be of help. Also, if I send it, please respond. No need to send it and have no response at all. I am not used to working with this much compression nor do I care to!
