
299 Live Audio Effect Reference
22.7 Compressor
The Compressor Effect.
A compressor reduces gain for signals above a user-settable threshold. Compression reduces
the levels of peaks, opening up more headroom and allowing the overall signal level to be
turned up. This gives the signal a higher average level, resulting in a sound that is subjectively
louder and ”punchier” than an uncompressed signal.
A compressor’s two most important parameters are the Threshold and the compression Ratio.
The Threshold slider sets where compression begins. Signals above the threshold are attenuated
by an amount specified by the Ratio parameter, which sets the ratio between the input and out-
put signal. For example, with a compression ratio of 3, if a signal above the threshold increases
by 3 dB, the compressor output will increase by only 1 dB. If a signal above the threshold in-
creases by 6 dB, then the output will increase by only 2 dB. A ratio of 1 means no compression,
regardless of the threshold.
The orange Gain Reduction meter shows how much the gain is being reduced at any given mo-
ment. The more reduction, the more audible the effect; a gain reduction above 6 dB or so might
produce the desired loudness, but significantly alters the sound and is easily capable of destroy-
ing its dynamic structure. This is something that cannot be undone in later production steps. Keep
this in mind especially when using a compressor, limiter or sound loudness-maximizing tool in
the master channel. Less is often more here.
Because compression reduces the volume of loud signals and opens up headroom, you can use
the Output (Out) control so that the peaks once again hit the maximum available headroom. The
Output meter shows the output signal’s level. Enabling the Makeup button automatically com-
pensates the output level if the threshold and ratio settings change.
Kommentare zu diesen Handbüchern