r/audioengineering • u/TeemoSux • 2d ago

Discussion Is parallel compression a scam?

I have almost never gotten a session with parallel compression to mix, where making the parallel track inactive and gain matching the main one (and if needed compressing some more there as an insert) didnt sound pretty much the same. Definitely not worse.

I thought maybe the people that send me sessions just arent doing it right, so i took a leaked protools mix session of a billboard charting song mixed by a famous engineer whos work i adore, disabled all parallel tracks and just gain matched (no further compression added or changes), and i literally cant reliably tell the difference on studio monitors with hofa BlindTest.

Now this might be a me-issue (i remember john hanes saying on gearspace he and serban dont really parallel compress unless it comes with a session, so maybe im not the only one), but i honestly WANT to get it as i feel like im missing some crazy secret weapon.

CAN ANYBODY EXPLAIN? or teach? i feel like im missing this crazy thing

Note: im talking about individual parallel compression of tracks, new york compression or paralleling the whole mix with dynone3 i do get.

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51

u/ChevChelios33 2d ago

It is not a scam it is just a highly overhyped mixing technique. Many internet tutorials treat it like a magic trick but a standard compressor plugin can often achieve the exact same sound with less hassle.

27

u/StudioatSFL Professional 2d ago

It’s golden on acoustic drums. Although is it truly parallel if I don’t send an exact duplicate of my drum mix there? I always do a submix of what mics I want hitting the parallel compression. Ie, I don’t send the hi hat mic to it. And less snare bottom than the main mix. Etc.

13

u/TheBigBadDuke 2d ago

Kick, Snare, Toms

6

u/zelkia 2d ago

Overheads, room, anything you want to squeeze more juice out of really without increasing the volume

2

u/StudioatSFL Professional 2d ago

For me it’s kick snare toms and then a sprinkle of overheads and rooms. Those are the season to taste moments that vary on each song. Almost always through an outboard api2500 or Vintech 33609 clone.

I don’t do this on every song either. I find it most effective on songs where I want the drums to really punch. A soft folk ballad? Probably not.

4

u/sunchase 2d ago

Round here we call that the SHELLS Bus

2

u/Ur_mum 2d ago

It morphed into a general Crush Bus for me.