The audio compressor is one of the most important tools in the world of sound production. It plays a crucial role in shaping the sound of music, speech, and audio recordings, and is an essential tool for audio professionals. But for those who are new to the world of audio production, the compressor can be a mysterious and confusing device. In this blog, we’ll explore the basics of how to use the audio compressor, and provide tips and tricks to help you get the most out of this powerful tool.
The Basics of the Audio Compressor
The audio compressor is a device that is used to control the volume of sound. It works by reducing the volume of the loudest parts of a sound recording and increasing the volume of the quietest parts. This helps to balance the volume levels of a recording, and make it easier to listen to. Compression can also be used to add a certain character or “punch” to a sound recording, or to reduce the background noise in a recording.
Compressors come in many different forms, from standalone hardware devices to software plug-ins that can be used with a computer. Regardless of the form it takes, the basic concept of the compressor remains the same: to control the volume of sound.
The Anatomy of the Audio Compressor
The audio compressor is a complex device that is composed of several different components, including:
- Threshold: This is the level at which the compressor begins to reduce the volume of the sound.
- Ratio: This is the amount of reduction that is applied to the volume of the sound once the threshold has been reached.
- Attack: This is the time it takes for the compressor to begin reducing the volume of the sound after the threshold has been reached.
- Release: This is the time it takes for the compressor to stop reducing the volume of the sound after the threshold has been reached.
- Make-Up Gain: This is the amount of volume that is added back to the sound after the compression has been applied.
Each of these components plays a crucial role in shaping the sound of the compressor, and it is important to understand how each one works in order to get the most out of your compressor.
Setting the Threshold
The threshold is the first step in setting up your compressor. It is the level at which the compressor begins to reduce the volume of the sound. In order to set the threshold, you will need to listen to the sound recording and determine the highest volume level that is still comfortable to listen to. This will become your threshold.
Setting the Ratio
Once you have set the threshold, the next step is to set the ratio. The ratio is the amount of reduction that is applied to the volume of the sound once the threshold has been reached. The ratio is typically expressed as a fraction, such as 2:1 or 4:1. This means that for every 2 dB of volume above the threshold, the compressor will reduce the volume by 1 dB.
In general, higher ratios will result in more aggressive compression, while lower ratios will result in more subtle compression. It is important to choose the right ratio for your sound recording, as it will have a big impact on the final sound.
Setting the Attack and Release
The attack and release are two of the most important components of the audio compressor. The attack is the time it takes for the compressor to begin reducing the volume of the sound after the threshold has been reached, and the release is the time it takes for the compressor to stop reducing the volume of the sound after the threshold has been reached.