Hardly any compression - Wrong?

[Jonny_silva]

I was just thinking today as I was working on a beat. That i dont actually use much compression at all. I dont compress drums (though Ive started using parralel compression on kicks if its needed) at all, I compress bass lines and sounds that have big peaks in them that I dont want, but apart from that I barely use compression untill the multiband when mastering.

Is this wrong, should I really be using more compression at the mixing stage?

[lovenara]

it depends on your tracks
you haveto decide by listening and judge whether it needs that or not.
Actually compression will be used on tracks that has too much dynamic,differences in volume between the loud and low.
Compress the loud by bring the threshold level down where it peaks then bring up the gain,this way the soft parts will be heard more while the loud wont peak into the redzone.

[Jonny_silva]

I do use it on sounds where there are random unwanted peaks, but as I play everything in via MIDI keyboard these unwanted peaks seem to be few and far between unlike sounds that were recorded live.

[Fly Keyz]

Ride your gains as much as possible use automation, and then use compression lightly when trying to control peaks, but if you wanna magle your sound do what sounds good. As with anything don't go overboard

[MuSickJunKeyz]

here's a secret.................try using compression if it doesn't sound better don't use it. that's it. there are no rules as long as it sounds good...seriously.