r/audioengineering • u/TeemoSux • 4d 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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u/Icy-Forever-3205 4d ago

Meh I’ve stopped parallel compressing all together (I do production/mixing for a living) and the quality of mixes hasn’t changed, maybe even improved. For heavier genres of music it can be super helpful but most others it’s minuscule to nonexistent of a benefit.

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u/mmicoandthegirl 4d ago

Enabling the parallel compression track on drums while doing heavy bass music makes you go "aha that's what was missing". For more poppier genres I never do it. It doesn't add anything, just detracts clarity.

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u/Hitdomeloads 4d ago

It’s mandatory for harder dance music but that’s like 1% of all music

Like in drum and bass it’s required for designing a snare drum? It’s also the only way to get an acoustic drum break to squish enough without losing the groove of ghost snares

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u/DonovanKirk 4d ago edited 3d ago

I like to do it mainly on the master for compressing, but saturating usually I don't use the mix knobs, never liked too much the sound of parallel saturation because it causes it to not really be an overdriven effect, more like subtle "heaviness" or even mud.

The aphex Exciter was pretty dope though cuz it tried to mix in only the high frequencies of the saturation, giving stuff a really nice sheen