Parallel Compression, Also known as New York compression is a known mixing technique to add more body and punch to the sound.

This technique consists of blending 2 sources together. The original version and the compress version.

 

parallel compression

 

In other music software as well as in Live. We can use Return (or Bus/Aux) Tracks to achieve this technique as a Send Effect. But thanks to Ableton Live and the cleverness of Racks. We can use Parallel compression directly on each Track as an Insert effect.

In Ableton Live 9 we actually already have built-in parallel compression in the Compressor and Glue Compressor Audio Effects. Using the Dry/Wet knob.

 

parallel compression

 

I find this Dry/Wet knob to be too subtle for my use so I’ve built a Rack that lets use blend two Chains of parallel compression each with his own character.

– Turning the Squash knob will give your sound more body

– Turning the Snap knob will give your sound more punch

Highly recommend using this on your Drums group. There is even a Glue Compressor at the end of the Rack’s signal chain just functioning as a Soft Clipper, So feel free to go crazy with all the Macros. Remember you can reset each Macro by just clicking on it and hitting Delete on your keyboard.

 

Installation

1. Double click on the downloaded file to open it up in Ableton Live

2. Click on the Save button at the top right corner of the device

 

NY Compression

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