Tips on Audio Mastering: Compression

Compression can be a tricky effect to get used to if you are just begining audio production, but below are a few tips to get you started.

A compressor typically has the following variables:

Attack, Release, Threshold, Ratio and make up gain.

Attack is a measure of milli seconds and this controls the time it takes for the compressor to start compressing after the wave goes above the set threshold.

Release is in milli seconds and this controls the time taken for the compressor to stop compressing once the wave has gone below the threshold again.

Threshold is in dB and sets the gain at which the wave has to go above before the compressor starts compressing.

Ratio is a ratio, and sets how strong the compressor compresses once the wave goes above the threshold. For example if you set the ratio to be 2:1 then the compressor will compress 2dB per 1 dB the wave goes above the threshold.

Make up gain is in dB and simply is use to bring the volume of the compressed wave up to its original volume before compression.