Compression is one of the main and basic tools in audio engineering, along with EQs, it is an essential both for the recording process and the live environment.
The main goal of the compressor is controlling dynamics, adding “glue” to a certain group of instruments, as well as sometimes adding color and tone, depending on the type of compression being used.
Compression can be a puzzling tool from some beginners on learning its function, how and when to use it, and we’ll be looking at a series of posts on what it is, the different types, and how to use the main types of compressions using Logic Pro X, which offers a functional and appliable variety of types of compressions with its stock plug-ins
First, the basics: functions, parameters, uses, and main types of compressions.
The main function of a compressor is controlling dynamics, and reducing the dynamic range of certain transients, as well as sometimes adding volume to the quieter transients of a certain sound, making it a more cohesive and controlled soundwave.
Threshold: This will be the initial range and parameter of when the compression will start to act, ex: If you set the threshold to –13db, the compression will start to act when the transient reaches –13db always.
Ratio: This will be the proportion of compression after the measure previously determined by the threshold, ex: 3:1, 4:1, 2:1, etc.
Attack: This will be the amount of time the compression will start to act after the transient hit the threshold.
Release: Opposite of the attack, the release is another time variable, this time determining the amount of time the compression will stop to act after it happens.
After this, the make-up gain is the amount of signal your track will have after passing through the compression
These parameters can be puzzling to newcomers, as compression is something we always revisit to study, so one funny way to understand compression, is the mom analogy:
Imagine you’re in your room, listening to loud music, and your mom keeps telling to turn down the sound: Your mom, is now the compressor.
The threshold is how loud it has to be so your mom will tell to turn it down, the ratio is how much your mom wants it turned down, the attack is how long it takes for your mom telling to turn it down, until you in fact, turn down the volume, the release is the amount of time it takes for you to go back, and turn the volume back up again.
In the next posts, we’ll explore the different types of compressions through Logic’s stock compressor plug-ins.
You can also watch this video by Audio University on the basics of compression
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