Calculating Compressor Attack and Release Time?

I don’t know, but my recommendation is ignore the markings and use your ears.

 

I'm sorry but no. This is no way to adjust your compressor. That's not how they work. As has been said, you adjust them by ear. I've used rackmount compressors with five parameter adjustment for forever. I don't think I've ever used the markings to set it up.

 

As simplistic as that sounds, it's true. If you don't know what a good bass setting is, make sure you start with the most gentle settings, season to taste. Sometime in VST's I get lucky and find one of those "whoa" settings in the presets.

 

Also, keep in mind, not all compressors are created equal. I've got more than I should and they are all different. Famous bass comps are the DBX160, the LA-2A and maybe even a Distressor. There are WAY more, but that is a starting off point.

 

That looks wrong. Release should not be that fast. The GR lights are your friend; watch them.

Here's a short video. The guy's talking perfect sense and it's about a minute and a half. The narration is a little hard to hear but listen closely.

 

Geez, just use your ears not your eyes. The only advantage of numbers (either arbitrary or actual times) is for consistency when setting the compressor up. When using software...not just compression, but also EQ, distortion and other FX...I like to close my eyes and listen carefully while I adjust (I use a knobby controller not the mouse).

If you want the compression to be more obvious (squashed): short attack, long release

If you want it more transparent: long attack, short release.

What to listen for:

Does the attack of the note sound unnatural?
Does the sound "pump" in volume?
If compressing while playing, does it feel like you are fighting the compressor to express dynamics?

 

So why are you using a compressor at all? Is there a law in Croatia we are not aware of? The function of a compressor is to shave off transients, where most of the high-frequency content lives. It's what they do.

 

I misspoke. That's not necessarily a compressor's function but it is their mechanism by which they control dynamics. It is literally how they work: minimizing the transient peaks so the rest can be louder, the whole thing using less dynamic range. It's curious to me why someone with no experience with compressors is arguing this point with someone who has a couple decades of experience live and in the studio using compressors.

EDIT: The math is irrelevant.

 

Different compressors have different attack/release behavior so looking at numbers on the screen and transferring to pedals is not necessarily going to get you close, esp. if the pedal is not marked in units of time. Good luck.

 

Eliminating or reducing the attack on bass takes away from the natural sound of the instrument; it's the attack that defines the note and is important for timing. Generally you want to preserve the attack, but compress the sustained portion of the note, which does two things: It allows the weaker notes to pass through without any compression, but stronger notes are compressed to match the level of the weaker notes. The makeup gain is then increased to bring everything back up to a usable volume level. This provides and even punchy sound.

It is also possible to overcompress by using too high a compression ratio. This sucks the life out of the bass line because it no longer has any dynamics, and not allowing the bassist to have any control over the dynamics. An example of this sound would be a cheesy, cheap keyboard bass.

The release time is important too, as another member pointed out; if the release time is too long, it will still be compressing when the subsequent note occurs, killing the attack.

 

Basically keep turning knobs until your head explodes and remember, while attack and release times are important, the times marked on the knob are arbitrary and meaningless...

That’s what I’m getting from this thread.

 

You got it. The indications on the controls are just to give you and idea of where you are at with the settings, but there isn't any strict formula for adjusting the parameters.