How pros make Drums slam without sounding crushed 🎵🎶🎵 [065]
Parallel compression is the secret weapon behind that chest-punching power you hear in many tracks.
Hi there,
As a mixing and mastering engineer, I've developed a deep appreciation for parallel compression, especially when it comes to shaping drums in electronic music. It’s one of those techniques that, once mastered, opens up a whole new level of control and impact. But as powerful as it is, parallel compression is often misunderstood or misapplied.
In this piece, I will guide you through what parallel compression is, why it matters, and how to use it effectively. I’ll share proven techniques I’ve refined through years of mixing techno and other club-oriented genres—plus practical advice you can apply right away.
What Is Parallel Compression - and Why Use It?
At its core, parallel compression is about blending a heavily compressed version of a signal with its dry, uncompressed counterpart. The benefit? You retain the punch and transient clarity of the original track while layering in the weight, density, and energy that only compression can bring.
Unlike traditional (serial) compression, parallel processing gives you finer control over dynamics, depth, and character. It allows your drums to stay present and natural, yet hit harder and sit tighter in the mix.
Parallel Compression: Dry/Wet vs. Aux Send – What’s the Difference?
- Dry/Wet is fast and phase-safe, but less flexible.
- Aux Sends give you full creative control and layering options. You can also use EQ, Saturation, and Transient Designer on the compression bus.
🎛️ Use Dry/Wet for quick fixes.
🎚️ Use Aux for deep shaping and mix clarity.
Know when to use which — your mix will thank you.
1. New York Compression
This is where most engineers start – and for good reason. The New York technique delivers that aggressive, in-your-face drum sound that's dominated hit records for decades.
Here's how I set it up:
Ratio: 10:1 or higher (we're going for maximum squash)
Threshold: Set for about -10dB gain reduction
Attack/Release: Fast on both – this captures every transient
The secret sauce: Add EQ or saturation to the compressed signal before blending
The magic happens when you blend this heavily compressed signal with your original drums. You're essentially adding a layer of controlled aggression that gives your drums incredible punch and energy. Start with the compressed signal low in the mix and gradually bring it up until you feel that satisfying thump.
2. Drum Bus Compression
Instead of processing individual drum elements, I often apply parallel compression to the entire drum bus. This technique creates cohesion – making your drums sound like they were recorded in the same space, at the same time.
My approach:
Ratio: 4:1 to 6:1 (moderate but effective)
Attack/Release: Medium settings for smooth, musical compression
Threshold: Moderate – we want consistent control, not aggressive squashing
Enhancement: Add reverb or delay to create spatial depth
This technique is particularly valuable when working with programmed drums or samples from different sources. It creates that "glued together" sound that makes drums feel like a cohesive unit rather than separate elements.
3. Transient Enhancement
Here's where we get surgical with our compression settings to emphasize the crack of the snare and the thump of the kick.
The counterintuitive settings:
Attack: Slow (30ms or more) – this lets the initial transient through
Release: Fast (10ms or less) – quick recovery for the next hit
Ratio: High (10:1+) – aggressive compression on the sustained portion
Threshold: Low – we want to catch everything after the initial attack
I love boosting the high frequencies on this compressed signal with EQ or gentle distortion. When blended with the original, you get drums that have both natural attack and enhanced definition.
4. Parallel Multiband Compression
This is where parallel compression becomes truly sophisticated. By splitting your drum signal into frequency bands, you can apply different compression characteristics to each range.
My frequency-specific approach:
Low-end band: Heavy compression for tightness and punch
Mid-range band: Light compression to maintain natural dynamics
High-end band: Moderate compression for brightness and excitement
You can achieve this with a multiband compressor plugin or by using EQ to create separate frequency bands. Each band gets its own compression treatment, then all bands are blended back with the original signal. This gives you unprecedented control over your drum tone.
5. Parallel Sidechain Compression
This is one of my favorite creative techniques. I particularly love using the kick drum as a sidechain trigger for the hi-hats – it creates this rhythmic breathing effect that adds incredible groove to your tracks.
The setup:
Sidechain source: Kick drum (or any rhythmic element)
Target: Hi-hats or other drum elements
Settings: Fast attack/release, high ratio (10:1+), low threshold
Result: Musical pumping that follows your kick pattern
This technique creates dynamic interaction between drum elements, making your entire drum kit feel more alive and interconnected. The key is in the blend – too much and it becomes distracting, just right and it adds an infectious groove.
Mix Ratios: Finding the Sweet Spot
The art of parallel compression lies in the blend. Here are general starting points:
Natural Enhancement: 85–90% dry / 10–15% compressed
Subtle thickening without altering the natural dynamics.Balanced Punch: 70–80% dry / 20–30% compressed
Great for most electronic genres—adds impact while keeping the core intact.High-Impact Mix: 50–60% dry / 40–50% compressed
Use this for aggressive, high-energy mixes where drums need to dominate.
These ratios are just guidelines. Always let your ears be the final judge.
Advanced Tip: Parallel EQ Compression
This variation targets specific frequency ranges before blending. It’s especially useful for:
High Frequencies: Use a high-pass filter (5–8 kHz) to compress cymbals and transients. Adds sparkle without clouding the low end.
Low End: Apply low-pass filtering (200–400 Hz) to tighten kicks and subs.
Mids: Focus on the 200 Hz – 2 kHz range to enhance snare and tom presence. Blend carefully to avoid muddiness.
Serial vs. Parallel: Know When to Use Which
Serial Compression is best when you want transparent, controlled dynamics over time. Think multi-stage gain reduction with different compressor types.
Parallel Compression shines when you want contrast, texture, and energy without losing transients.
A hybrid approach—light serial compression followed by parallel compression—often gives you the best of both worlds: control and character.
Genre-Specific Approaches
Parallel compression isn't one-size-fits-all. Here’s how I tailor it by genre:
Techno: High compression blends (30–50%), fast attack, focus on kick and percussion. Aggressive and relentless.
House: Moderate blends (20–35%), groovier timing, more musical compression.
Drum & Bass: Very high ratios and fast settings, especially on snares. Often split into multiple frequency bands.
Hip-Hop: Conservative to moderate use (15–30%). Focus on kick and snare weight, with room left for vocals.
Let Your Ears Decide
There’s no single “right” way to do parallel compression. These techniques are meant to guide and inspire, not constrain. What matters most is how your drums feel in the mix. Are they punching through? Gluing the groove together? Enhancing the vibe?
Start with these foundations, but don’t hesitate to bend the rules. The best results often come from confident experimentation.
I hope this walkthrough gave you deeper insight into one of mixing’s most powerful tools. If you have questions, want to share your results, or are curious how I approach parallel compression in my productions, feel free to reply to this email.
Until next time
Marcus