Compressor Basics

• Music and Audio Engineering

Review:
What unit of measurement do we use to measure amplitude (volume)?

1. Decibels (db)
2. Hertz (Hz) and Kilohertz (Khz)

Compressors are useful for:

1. Making a track louder without running into clipping issues
2. Keeping transients from popping out too loud

Compressor Basics

Follow the link on the next slide to learn about compressors and their controls. After reading the information, leave the link open and be ready to answer the questions about Compressors.

https:

What is the Dynamic Range of a track?

1. The level where the Compressor starts to affect the sound
2. How much compression is applied to the sound
3. How fast the compressor starts to reduce gain
4. The difference between the softest and loudest sounds in the track

What does the Attack Time control?

1. The level where the Compressor starts to affect the sound
2. How much compression is applied to the sound
3. How fast the compressor starts to reduce gain
4. The difference between the softest and loudest sounds in the track

What does the Threshold control?

1. The level where the Compressor starts to affect the sound
2. How much compression is applied to the sound
3. How fast the compressor starts to reduce gain
4. The difference between the softest and loudest sounds in the track

What does the Ratio control?

1. The level where the Compressor starts to affect the sound
2. How much compression is applied to the sound
3. How fast the compressor starts to reduce gain
4. The difference between the softest and loudest sounds in the track

Compressors make track volume more consistent, but quieter. What can you use to bring the volume back up?

When we go next door, I want you to use compression to tame the following:

• Kick Drum
• Snare Drum
• Bass
• Vocals