Applying a bus compressor to your mix sum can give your overall sound a nice glued & cohesive sound. Bus compressors really help keep your final sound locked in.

One of the best practices with your bus compressor is to apply the bus compressor right away when you start your mix session rather than adding it towards the end when you're close to finishing your mix.

Compressors add a new color, tone, & small amount of saturation to your overall sound. It can be helpful for your end result if you're making all your EQ, dynamic, & gain decisions with the bus compressor already in place.

You'll also be able to achieve a better overall balance between channel levels & you'll have a better chance to keep your transients in place using this approach.

Bonus tips for your bus compressor:

✅ Slow attack.

✅ Medium to slow release.

✅ 2:1 ratio.

✅ No more than 2-3dB of gain reduction.

✅ SC filter somewhere between 60-80Hz.

✅ Keep your makeup gain at a level to where you still have -6dB of headroom on your mix bus.