Compression is an effect or an audio processing tool that is used to control the overall Dynamics of an audio signal or an audio portion. Using a compressor plugin is a little bit trickier on Vocal sounds, which is where Vocal Compressor by W.A Production comes in.
In this Vocal Compressor review guide, you would learn…
- The Features of Vocal Compressor by W.A Production
- If it is worth using at all
- Prices
- and more, let’s dive in…
W.A Production Vocal Compressor is tailored, and specific to Vocal recordings, it features a compression chain that's transparent, and balanced, and adds a subtle flavor, color, and grit to make vocals sit perfectly & steadily in a mix.
The way it works is that it passes the audio signal through 3 distinct types of compressors to tame troublesome peaks, balance dynamics, and add saturation. The secret is, you can use it on any number of audio sources, be it a Lead, Bass, or even peaky percussion.
Let's get to know how the modules of Vocal Compressor works...
The Peak
This is very important, sometimes, the compressor isn't the best tool for the job, manual volume control might even solve a couple of issues, but the way I know when to use a compressor on a Vocal recording is to examine the Transient, this is a spike attack in your sound which occurs as a waveform builds rapidly from silence to a peak, an excellent example of a transient spike is a percussion hit or a drum hitting, etc., you will often find this in a similar snappy instrument or samples.
Once, you notice lots of amplitude spikes in your vocal recording, you can use the Peak module in the Vocal compressor to level up the rogue dynamics of your vocal, preparing the signal for the next stage. You’ll only need to push down the threshold by a few dB to hear the effect in action and at its transparent best.
The Balance
The Balance is self-explanatory if you are familiar with how a parallel compressor works -- it leaves the loud transients untouched while making the softer parts of your audio louder.
The result of this is a balanced dynamic range, which in turn would make the vocal sit tightly in the mix.
Tip: Use the Mix and Makeup dials to set the balance between the lightly compressed Peaks output and the heavily compressed Balance processing of the same signal. Don’t hold back on the gain reduction as this compressor needs a threshold of around 20dB to work. Keep pushing that threshold down until things sound good.
The Flavour
This module has an integrated tape saturation curve to add harmonics, grit, and flavor to the audio.
Tip: Start subtly and then adjust the threshold until you can hear the bite of your vocal, so it clearly rides over the top of your track.
The Gate & Colour
This is one of my favorite modules of this plugin, with this module, you can remove unwanted and distracting pops, clicks, and noise with the Gate dial. With the Colour slider, dial in a frequency curve that’s specifically tailored to vocal processing, making your vocal performance sound as professional as possible.
The Bypass, Output & Master Mix
The bypass control is smoothed to be as click and pop-free as possible for unhindered A/B testing when combined with the Output dial. Choose to mix the compressed signal with your original raw audio via the central Master Mix ratio control, allowing you to dial down the compression ratio for parallel effects.
The Visual Feedback
I hate to say this, but I won't recommend mixing with a visual feedback tool, it hinders the ability to make proper decisions when it comes to mixing, so, I would advise you to steer clear of any visual feedback tool in general. Of course, if you know what you are doing, you can use it to show exactly what’s happening to the signal as it travels through each compressor in real time.
'Head-Start' Presets
The presets have been created to suit different vocal styles, find the perfect starting point for your own compression adventures.
It is categorized into distinct themes, these presets can be used on all sorts of audio, not just vocals. They include everything from subtle shaping to more full-on saturated compression effects.
Video SneakPeek
https://youtu.be/zsVsjrStHOc
Is Vocal Compressor by W.A Production Worth Using?
Yes, you can't go wrong with a compressor, and if you are into finding the perfect balance in your vocal recordings, then this is a gem, Anyways, Vocal Compressor is recommended if:
- You are interested in an easy-to-use compression that is specifically tailored for vocals
- Removing unwanted and distracting pops, clicks, and noise from your vocals.
Vocal Compressor is not recommended if:
- You make instrumental music -- Songs with no vocal
- You already have a similar tool in your music plugin box
Vocal Compressor Pricing
It is currently available for $7.80 $39.00, this is for a limited time only, so, you might wanna hurry up if you don't want to miss the offer.
Key Features
- Easy-to-use compression designed especially for vocals
- 3 compression stages
- Peaks, Balance and Flavour
- Noise Gate ratio
- Frequency shaping via Colour slider
- Pop & click free bypass
- Responsive & CPU friendly
- Factory presets
- Full PDF Manual & Tutorial video
System Requirements
- Windows 7 or higher (32 / 64 bit)
- Mac OSX 10.7 or higher (32 / 64 bit)