COMPRESSOR

Compressor tightens a recording by turning down loud peaks, bringing a voice or guitar under control. Use it when you want firmer attacks and more punch, with a little studio color as it works harder.

Pushes the sound into compression: turn it up to catch more peaks and hold loud notes back. The added input gain is removed afterwards, so this controls how hard the compressor works rather than acting as a volume knob.

Sets the level of the compressed sound after compression. Raise it if the recording has become too quiet, or lower it before the next effect if it is too loud.

Blends the compressed sound with the uncompressed recording. Lower it to keep the original attack while adding a steadier body underneath.

Sets how quickly compression catches the start of a note. Shorter times tame sharp picks and consonants, longer times let more of the first hit through for punch.

Sets how quickly compression lets go after a loud note, with a slower recovery after sustained compression. Shorten it for a lively bounce, lengthen it if the level seems to surge between notes.

Sets how firmly loud peaks are held back: higher ratios give stronger control. ALL adds a more aggressive, colored sound, useful blended in with MIX.

Makes the compressor less sensitive to bass and rumble without cutting bass from the sound itself. Raise it if a low guitar note pulls the whole recording down.

For voice and acoustic guitar, start with INPUT at +5dB, OUTPUT at 0.0dB and MIX at 100%. Raise INPUT until the loud words and strums sit closer to the softer ones, then back it off if the performance loses its movement.