There are actually several “fun” ways to use compression that are not just for utilitarian ends like peak limiting. One of these, as hinted in the first post, can be to discover more of the hidden content in a track. This means a dry sounding drum track can be compressed to reveal more of the […]
Compression can also be used to take an entire mix and reduce it to a maximum specific volume. This is called “limiting” because the maximum level is limited to a set threshold. There are software and hardware limiters that are designed specifically for for this purpose, but the software will use autmated settings. Automatically set […]
In this first example, we discuss the very basic process of reducing peaks in a waveform. Compression effects are frequently used to reduce loud spikes in a track, and this can help a sound fall back into the overall mix less obtrusively. The snare drum in this example track is particularly loud. In most cases, […]
“Dynamics” refers to the range between the peaks and valleys of a soundwave. Effects processors that change the dynamics of sound waves are called compressors because they are generally used to compress the dynamics so that the overall range (or volume difference from the loudest peak to the quietest valley) is lessened. The general result […]