Compression Cheat Sheet 🔥

🎚️ FET Compressor Tips

✅ When to Use FET Compressors

• Vocals (hip-hop, pop, rock): Adds energy, clamps fast transients, great for upfront vocals.

• Snare / Kick / Room Mics: Enhances punch, captures transients, adds snap.

• Bass Guitar / Synth Bass: Controls attack, adds bite and aggression.

• Electric Guitars: Pushes guitars forward, adds edge.

• Parallel Compression: Smash hard and blend for weight and grit.

• Fast Transients in General: When you need immediate response.

⚙️ Traits

• Very fast attack & release

• Adds color, saturation, brightness

• Aggressive, punchy, non-linear response

🔧 Common Settings (1176-style)

• Ratio: 4:1 (vocals), 8:1+ or “All Buttons In” (drums/parallel)

• Attack: Medium (retain some transient)

• Release: Fast (adds groove and excitement)

• Input/Output: Drive into gain reduction, then balance with output

🚫 When Not to Use

• When transparency is needed (try Opto or VCA)

• When tone is already saturated

• For gentle smoothing (use LA-2A, CL1B, or Tube)

• On legato or sustained sounds

🔊 Popular Models

• Urei 1176 / Rev A, D, F

• Waves CLA-76

• UAD 1176 Collection

• Slate FG-116

• Softube FET Compressor

• Arturia Comp FET-76

• Wes Audio Beta76 (hardware)

  
  

🎛️ Opto Compressor Tips

✅ When to Use

• Vocals: Smooth, musical dynamics for expressive delivery.

• Bass: Tames peaks while retaining warmth.

• Pads / Strings / Piano: Gentle control over long sustains.

• Acoustic Instruments: Musical compression with minimal artifacts.

• After FET Compression: Use after 1176 to smooth out remaining dynamics.

⚙️ Traits

• Photocell-based compression

• Slow attack & release

• Very forgiving and musical

• Subtle saturation, often warm

🚫 When Not to Use

• Not fast enough for transient-heavy sources

• Poor for aggressive, tight control

• Sluggish for fast-paced genres

  
  

🔊 Popular Models

• Teletronix LA-2A

• Tube-Tech CL 1B

• Avalon VT-737sp

• Waves CLA-2A

• Softube CL 1B

• UAD LA-2A Collection

🔥 Tube Compressor Tips

✅ When to Use

• Vocals: Adds vintage richness and vibe.

• Bass: Warm low-end, rounded tone.

• Acoustic Instruments: Smooth tone with analog depth.

• Mix Bus: Vintage glue and character.

• Mastering (light use): Adds natural tone and harmonic flavor.

⚙️ Traits

• Tube-driven gain reduction

• Slow-to-medium attack/release

• Adds warmth, color, harmonic saturation

• Smoothing and “massaging” effect

🚫 When Not to Use

• When transparency is key

• On punchy percussive material

• When tone is already saturated

• On clinical mastering jobs

🔊 Popular Models

• LA-2A

• Tube-Tech CL 1B

• Manley Vari-Mu

• Fairchild 670

• Waves PuigChild

• UAD Vari-Mu / CL 1B

  
  

🧱 VCA Compressor Tips

✅ When to Use

• Drums: Tight punch, fast control, snap and smack.

• Mix Bus: Famous for “glue” — especially SSL style.

• Vocals: Transparent dynamic control.

• Guitars/Keys: Smooth control without coloration.

• Mastering: Transparent and accurate compression.

⚙️ Traits

• Clean and precise

• Fast attack/release options

• Often transparent, but aggressive when pushed

• Best for control over character

🔧 Common Settings

• Ratio: 2:1–4:1 for bus glue, 6:1+ for impact

• Attack: 0.3–10ms depending on desired punch

• Release: Auto or fast for drums, slow for mix glue

• Threshold: Aim for 1–3 dB gain reduction

🚫 When Not to Use

• When saturation or warmth is needed

• On sources that need “movement” over control

• Can sound sterile in overly clean mixes

🔊 Popular Models

• SSL G Bus

• API 2500

• dbx 160

• Waves SSL G-Master Buss

• Cytomic The Glue

• FabFilter Pro-C 2