Compressor

The compressor is a device used to reduce the dynamic range of audio material. By reducing the level of signals above a certain threshold it effectively decreases the difference between loud and soft audio signals.

THRESHOLD
Set the level the detector signal must pass over for compression to begin. Compression, or level reduction, is applied when the audio signal is above the threshold value. Amount of reduction is based on the ‘Ratio’ value and the signal level relative to the threshold.

RATIO
Determines how steeply gain reduction increases as the audio signal goes above the threshold level. The larger the ratio value is the more drastically level reduction is applied.

KNEE
Determines the transition of processing around the threshold. When the value is zero we call this a ‘hard knee’ and processing is engaged immediately if the signal is above the threshold. Higher values soften this knee, resulting in a gradual increase of processing as the audio level approach the threshold.