That Dance punch sound

[Timo]

Hi Hobbit, do you have any audio/youtube examples we could refer to?

I've tried quite a few software compressors, and ironically the only one or two I can get to pump a little is Steinberg's own "VST Dynamics" plugin that is bundled with Wavelab/Cubase, and the compressor bundled with CoolEdit Pro (now called Adobe Audition) which is great too and gives a lot of control.

I'm not sure what it is with software compressors in general, though. Not many of them pump. However you DO need one with a hard, linear 'VCA' style curve, along with a really hard ratio. Not one with a soft, optical or valve curve. But you can add soft/saturation after the VCA stage.

Usual settings:

• medium attack (say 20-50ms, just to allow the kick drum to pass through before the compression 'clamps' down. Or you could use anything below 20ms for a limiting type effect. Depends on the material, personally I prefer the former, to allow the main length of the kick drum to pass through without squeezing the life out of it. The slower the BPM, the longer the attack can be. With fast tempo tunes like trance at 140bpm, you can't afford a longer attack so 20ms is almost the longest you can get away with).
• quick release (anything 90ms or less. Set it so that the compression fully releases to zero before the next kick drum occurs and clamps it down again).
• high ratio (limiting, almost).
• lower the threshold to suit (set the threshold so that, after the compression has finished clamping down, the gain reduction bounces back up to zero to give the best dynamic range and compressive action, otherwise it's adding compression on top of compression and sounds like treacle/mush).
• tweak all of the above settings so they work together, depending on the music source and the BPM.
• raise make-up gain by ~5dB or whatever as necessary.

In comparison to software compressors, I can get my hardware RNC compressor to pump really quite easily. The RNC is quite clinical, though, so although it can pump it wont add anything further to the sound, where sometimes you might have wanted a little grit adding.

From listening to others, I think one of the best hardware compressors that pumps with character is the cheap Alesis 3630. Others use a DBX - I think possibly the 166XL, but don't quote me on the that.

If you try the Steinberg VST Dynamics plug, enable the Compressor, I use 20-60ms attack, 8:0 ratio, anything from -15 to -25dB threshold (or less if you want just want to clamp the peaks), release of 40-90ms (the higher the BPM the shorter the release), about 5dB makeup gain. Enable the end Limiter at -0.5dB to clip the peaks. Lower the Compressor makeup gain as required so that the Limiter doesn't show red all the time. Or Enable Soft Limiter and crank the Compressor makeup gain to saturate it.

To enhance the pumping action, I also add the free Endorphin compressor (www.digitalfishphones.com) with 40ms attack, about 90-100ms release, a little extra output drive, along with a little M/S action for stereo enlarging.

[TheHobbit]

Going to have a play with digitalfish others have mentioned brainworx. Unfortunately wavess can only demo with iLok which I dont have or the not so cool air route.
Something I have overlooked which you have nudged my mind is the TC Triple C which is going to be re routed in my rig.
Will report back

Thanks