Audio Glossary
Dynamics · aka compressor, dynamic range compression
WHAT IS
COMPRESSION?
Compression reduces the dynamic range of a signal — it turns down the loudest parts so the quiet and loud sections sit closer together. This makes a track sound more even, controlled, and often louder and punchier. It's one of the most used and most misunderstood tools in mixing and mastering.
How a compressor works
A compressor watches the signal and, when it crosses a threshold you set, turns it down by a ratio you choose. Attack controls how fast it clamps down; release controls how fast it lets go. Get those right and you shape punch and sustain, not just level.
Used gently, compression glues a mix and keeps a vocal sitting steady. Used hard, it's an effect — the pump of a drum bus, the aggression on a rap vocal. The mistake most producers make is over-compressing until everything sounds flat and lifeless. Control the dynamics; don't kill them.
Quick answers
COMPRESSION FAQ.
What does a compressor do?
It reduces dynamic range by turning down the loudest parts of a signal once they cross a threshold. The result is a more even, controlled sound that can also feel louder and punchier.
What do attack and release do on a compressor?
Attack sets how fast the compressor reacts once the signal crosses the threshold — fast attack tames transients, slow attack lets punch through. Release sets how fast it stops compressing, which shapes sustain and groove.
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