PARALLEL PROCESSING – week seven
Parallel processing is a signal process in which an original track is duplicated and processors such as compressors or EQs can be applied. This allows the original track to be mixed together with the duplicated (parallel) track. This method can enhance tracks, while ‘maintaining the character of the original audio’. Parallel paths can be created through either sending a lead vocal track as an example to aux channels or duplicating the lead vocal track. There is the option of sending the audio of the track pre- or post-fader, where the levels in the send remains unaffected by the fader in the pre-fader option, and post-fader will cause the sends to follow the volume and pan automation of the original track. There is no right or wrong path, and engineers can choose whatever works best for them.
Parallel processing therefore doesn’t process 100% of the audio unlike serial processing, where you use processors within the inserts of your tracks. Therefore, it is safe to set the mix control to 100% wet within a parallel setup, where you can blend this with the original dry track as much as you prefer.
Parallel compression works through putting the compressor onto an auxiliary return as you would for reverb or delay. Parallel saturation includes using effects such as overdrive, distortion or fuzz, which works in the same way, just using a saturation plug-in.
This way of adding effects helps with not having too much compression as an example, which would remove the ‘natural’ voice, since having parallel processing allows you to control and adjust the shape of the sound of the instrument without doing too much because there is still the copy of the original blended with the processed parallel audio.
Horea, T. (2021). Parallel Processing Recipes for Vocals. [online] Sonarworks Blog. Available at: [https://www.sonarworks.com/blog/learn/parallel-processing#:~:text=Parallel%20processing%20is%20a%20method.]
Levine, M. (2022). The Advantages of Parallel Processing. [online] Yamaha Music. Available at: [https://hub.yamaha.com/proaudio/recording/the-advantages-of-parallel-processing/#:~:text=Saturation%20effects%20such%20as%20overdrive.]
McAllister, M. (2021). Parallel Compression Explained – Produce Like A Pro. [online] Produce Like A Pro. Available at: [https://producelikeapro.com/blog/parallel-compression-explained/.]