These audio examples accompany the Send / Return Compression workshop in SOS May 2026.
www.soundonsound.com/techniques/send-return-compression
To illustrate the send/return compression technique on lead vocals, I prepared some audio examples. Play the MP3s below or download the hi-res WAVs in the ZIP file.
send-returncompressionwavs.zip
The examples allow you to compare the same lead vocal sent through the send/return processing and directly to the stereo bus, both in context of the mix and in solo. Notice that they register at almost identical levels on the meter, but within the music, the processed version feels much louder and more upfront. Since the sends to reverb and delay are derived prior to the compression, the processed version also distinguishes the dry vocal more clearly from the washy effects. I kept the vocal level rather low on purpose, to show how send/return compression keeps it intelligible. By comparison, some words are rather lost in the version without the processing.
SOS Hair Longer Than My Skirt SOLO _ LV comps (Seba -25)
SOS Hair Longer Than My Skirt SOLO _ LV comps (Seba -15)
SOS Hair Longer Than My Skirt MIX _ LV comps (Seba -15)
SOS Hair Longer Than My Skirt MIX _ LV comps (Seba -25)
SOS Hair Longer Than My Skirt SOLO _ LV no comps
SOS Hair Longer Than My Skirt MIX _ LV no comps