The #1 Parallel Compression Mistake

Dylan here. Make sure to stick around to the end of the video to see my completely unscripted meltdown that my editor decided to leave in for laughs. 😬😬😬

Now I can finally say I am no longer a beginner because I understood and followed every single step even though I used a totally different DAW.

This is such high-quality advice. Straight to the point, not too simple/beginner, not too complicated. BTW for my FL Studio gang : you can duplicate the plugin you are using for the initial track's volume automation, put it onto the parallel compression track's insert and link the gain knob to the same initial automation!

This is the best parallel comp video out there because you addressed the pre/post send issue. That’s what I’ve been looking for. Every other video just explains what para comp is, which I think most people searching it would already know. 🤘 Thanks

This may have saved my life, literally answered all my questions about parallel compression ect.... I can't wait to go home and play around. I had so many questions about how to balance this and this explanation was so clear!

One of the best, helpful, clear, simply explained presentations I have watched. THANK you.

I was just working on a mix, and had this exact question.... I searched for awhile and couldn’t find a clear answer until I found this video! Thank you so much!

honestly this is a production topic that keeps me up at night because its so specific and enigmatic but also so real. Thanks for talking about it in so much detail!

Great tutorial!

Great Tip (file under: makes total sense, yet I didn't even think of this until you pointed it out)! I opted to modify your approach by creating a channel strip for my parallel comp aux and then dragging that up next to my vocal track; next I selected both the vocal track and aux in the main window and created a summing stack, which is where I did my volume automation. Worked like a charm.  Love your channel--thanks for all the great videos!

I wanted to thank you for your explanation of compression parallel compression and volume busing. Whereas compression in and of itself can be confusing to say the least parallel compression can be even a bit more difficult to understand. And then to throw volume automation into a separate bus can completely confuse the thought process of how an instrument or vocals are processed. My mind very much wanted to get lost in this whole process but your explanation was very concise and understandable. Also a great workaround between pre and post fader. Thank you so much.

THANK YOU!! need to wrap my head around it by trying it out on Logic and do some test runs. I have been using 'post' for everything and now I get why my compressor is not working well on the bus. Total rookie mistake and thank you for explaining for us beginners. All the best to you and your family, keep safe. Your fan from Barcelona Spain!

I'd argue the #1 mistake when dealing with parallel compression is actually low cutting the parallel bus which introduces nasty phase issues and results in less bass because of cancelation. A lot of people don't notice that and just mix against this problem.

Thank you, I am a newbie and didn't know I was making these mistakes! This is a great help.

I think the term you're looking for is "group fader". I typically do automation for intelligibility/enhancement on on the track and level automation on the group fader. Since we have almost unlimited bus faders in DAWs, there's no reason NOT to bus everything before putting it into the master bus fader.

This has made my mixes SO much better. Thanks man

HA! I thought I was really smart just because I used Parallel Comp in the first place...this was pure gold

you can also assign any faders to VCA masters and have even better control

Totally appreciate this reminder. Thanks all involved!

Very very easy to understand. GREAT tutorial. Thank you! This channel is phenomenal.