Kristian Kohle dives into drum bus compression using an SSL-type compressor, focusing on achieving natural-sounding results. He explains crucial parameters like attack and release times, illustrating how to maintain punch and transients without over-compressing.
Kohle highlights the importance of not setting the attack too fast to avoid cutting off transients, particularly for kick and snare. He suggests a 3-millisecond attack as a good compromise.
For release time, Kohle advises faster settings for an invisible compression effect and to emphasize the room sound. The auto-release feature is recommended for an organic and dynamic compression approach.
By comparing compressed and uncompressed drums, Kohle demonstrates how these techniques create a compact, glued-together sound with more punch, making them ideal for rock and metal productions.