How To Compress Rap Vocals Like a Pro

If you want to know how pros compress the vocals to give them a tight and professional sound you shoul first understand how a compressor works and what it does to your vocals.

How does a compressor work?

Simply put, a compressor reduces the dynamic range of your vocals. This is achieved by lowering the volume of the loudest parts known as "Gain Reduction". On the other a compressor can bring up the volume of the quieter parts in your vocal performance. This is called "Make Up Gain".

In layman terms, a compressor can even out the volume of the vocals and make them more prominent. Additionally a compressor can be used to give your vocals or any sound more "punch" by playing with the sustain and release knobs. More about these two parameters later on.

Threshold

The threshold is a value that triggers your compressor. Once the signal exceeds this value it will begin to work.

E.g. the threshold of your compressor is set to -6 dB. Once the incoming signal is louder then - 6 dB. Your compressor will start to work, this leads to the signal getting reduced. This process is called "Gain Reduction".

Attack and Release Times

Before getting further into compressing vocals we need to get further into how a compressor actually works. The two parameters "Attack Time" and "Release Time"

A fast attack time will lower the incoming signal quicker then having it on a slow release time. The attack setting will mostly impact and controll the transients of the incoming signal. Transients are small peaks in your sound. E.g the hard hit of a snare is a transient.

The release time determines how long it stops for your compressor to reduce the gain once it falls down below the threshold. A quick release will stop the compression process almost instantly. A slow release is perfect for longer notes like vocals and guitars to give them more sustain!

In combination these two settings can be used to shape the signal to your desire.

Ratio Setting

The Ratio of a compressor describes how much compression will be applied to the signal. E.g. a Ratio of 2:1 means for evergy 2 dB over the threshold the compressor will reduce the signal by 1 dB. To put it simply, the ratio controls how aggressively your compressor will reduce the dynamic of your vocals.

How to compress vocals

After learning how a compressor works it is time to put the knowledge to work and increase the punch and presence of your vocals! Also if you're interested in more mixing tips check out this guide on how to EQ vocals like a pro!
https://adrikbeatz.com/blogs/music-production-tips/eq-rap-vocals-like-the-pros

Dialing in the attack and release times

Sadly, like it is with EQing your vocals there is no one size fits all solution when it comes to compressing your vocals. Although there is a rough guideline you can use.

Attack

Try starting out with a quick attack time of 5 ms, if you want the vocals to have more punch lower the time until it sounds good. You want them to have less and be more clear lower the attack time.

Release

When it comes to rap vocals you usually want them to sound punchy and aggressive. You can achieve this by having a quick release time ion your compressor. Start around a relase of 50 ms. You want the vocals more punchy? Dial the release down until you're happy. Want them more smoothly and clear? Dial the release time up until you like what you hear.

Setting the threshold level

As a starting point try to dial it in just below the peak of your vocals. This should result in what I call peak reduction. The compressor only starts working once the peaks of the signal go above the threshold. From this point on it is your job to determine how much dynamics you want on your vocals?

You want them to sound more alive? Try raising the threshold until you find the sweet spot.

You want a more squashed and aggressive vocal mix? Take the threshold down until it sounds good.

Playing with the ratio setting

If you want a more dynamic and realistic vocal performance try the ratios of 2:1 and 4:1. These ratios allow your vocal to stay prelevant in the mix without squashing them too much. If you want the complete opposite go ahead and use ratios of 8:1 or even 10:1. This will lead to a aggressive and squashed compressed sound. Whichever route you're taking, try to keep the mix and the role your vocals play in mind.

Setting the makeup gain

As you've got a pretty decent understanding on compression now you should realize that a compressor lowers the volume of your vocals. Sometimes you want your vocals to stay loud and prelevant. In this case use your Make Up Gain or Output Gain until the signal has reached its desired level.

Compression is a key step in mixing rap vocals.

The fact that you can shape the dynamics of your vocals however you want with a compressor makes it a powerful and important step in every mixing process. Your vocals have too much dynamics and transients keep clipping? Add a compressor. Your vocals need a bit more sustain? Add a compressor. The details in your vocals are too quiet and are not cutting through the mix? You know what you need to do!

The picture below describes the process a signal goes through when applying compression to it.