My drummer has been trying to figure out the perfect sound for his drums but he wants each channel on his mixer to have different compression levels. how should he go about doing this if he can?

Thats all trial and error if you ask me. I'd say compress the snare a bit so it gets a nice 'crack' to it, and a little to the kick drum but too much will give it that clicky sound.

Cymbals/overhead mic should have no compression, compressed cymbals sound like shit.

Thats all trial and error if you ask me. I'd say compress the snare a bit so it gets a nice 'crack' to it, and a little to the kick drum but too much will give it that clicky sound.

Cymbals/overhead mic should have no compression, compressed cymbals sound like shit.

+1 to all of this.

thanks guys