How To Use A Compressor | Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release & More
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- What is a compressor and how do you properly use one? In this video, you'll learn what each setting on a compressor does, including threshold, ratio, makeup gain, attack, release, hold and knee.
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0:00 - What Is Compression?
0:31 - How To Use A Compressor
1:09 - Threshold
1:27 - Ratio
2:00 - Gain Reduction
3:37 - Makeup Gain
4:18 - Attack
5:06 - Release
5:26 - Hold
5:45 - Knee
6:13 - Wet / Dry
6:41 - Subscribe To Audio University!
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The attack is actually how long the compressor takes to achieve the full ratio of compression, not exactly 'how quickly it will act'. It will act the moment the program material passes the threshold. It's important to view this in the right way for shaping the dynamics on a nuanced level, and when using a compressor as a kind of 'timed eq' etc
Well said, Benj. I struggled to find the wording prior to explaining “gain reduction”. My plan is to create a more in-depth video on attack and release. I will borrow your wording if that’s alright, so as to prevent ambiguity and confusion. Thanks!
@@AudioUniversity Sure! Np glad to help, you seem to have some good videos!
I understand ratio and threshold.
Kyle, you are hands down among the best teachers on youtube. You make well structured videos that are easy to understand and cover nothing more or less than what should be covered. We can't praise the quality of your teaching enough!
Wow! Thanks, Jeltohn!
I will second that. It's not just an info dump, instead, you take the time to explain and then demonstrate what everything sounds like. Which in turn means more clarity and understanding, and less to straight up memorize
Agreed. Great video, very clear. Thank you
he is the best!!!
The only video about compression that I found easy to understand, many thanks!
Thanks, Dávid! Glad it’s helpful!
On god, I didn’t even get it when my professor explained it!!!
Honestly, looked up tons of audio compression related stuff onlione before.. this video is probably the easiest so far for me to kind of grasp. thank you man.
Glad it helped!
Thanks, Kyle! As per your request: yes, I understand ratio and threshold.
Wish to commend you on how well you take us learners through the specific parameters of compression. You anticipate (and appreciate) the issues folk encounter using this tool.
Your vids are concise and on point without unnecessary verbiage. Highly recommendable!
Thanks, Mr James! I appreciate you taking the time to write this very nice comment.
i understand ratio and threshold, attack and release, the whole thing. Excellent comprehensive explanation. Thanks!
Easily one of the best channels on CZcams. Keep up the great work guys, you are teaching and inspiring the musicians of the future!
Thanks, ALX. Taylor!
Very well articulated, this really clarified clearly how compression works. I now understand treshold and ratio, attack, wet and dry signal, and so much more. Thank you!
thank so much! This is by far the best and clearest explanation I could find on CZcams about compression. It must be said that the GUI of that Fabfilter proC² plugin also helps greatly to understand and visually follow the effects of each of the settings.
It's incredible how much more valuable these videos become after you've spent time with live sound.
Truly, thank you again.
i have recently jumped into the x32 rack system at my church, i am a visual learner this is the best video for me yet. thanks
Compression is one of those things i know work but not how. You just turned years of knob turning into knowledge. Thank you
Very well explained and clear definitions. This is a very difficult issue in sound engineering specially for newbies. With so much subtleties and almost not- perceptible effects on your results, one thing is to understand the basic mechanics of it, but how to apply it in practice takes a hell of lot of knowledge, experience and sensitivity from the engineer. Thanks AU, you make really good stuff!!
I, like many of the other comments, have watched a multitude of videos about compressors and this is by far the best and most simple to understand video I've seen. Well done and many thanks.
It’s a pleasure watching your videos. I know most of these concepts but I still enjoy watching your channel. You make it all look easy, but I know there is a lot of preparation to goes in each of your videos. You’re a natural teacher. Keep up the good work
Best explanation yet. Thank you.
Thanks, TB Player!
The clearest explanation of compression and the various compression settings I have ever heard. Thank you!
i understand ration and threshold. as the volunteer and fixed sound engineer for my parents small church, this has helped me be better and understand sound and mixers.
I just started recording at home a few days ago and this has been a life saver! One of the few clear explanations I've seen so far, and deffonitely the best out of them.
Wow! Thanks, Acey TV!
the best explanation about compressor basics I've ever heard, and so far I heard them a lot. Some of them were good and clear, many of them were not easy to understand. I am impressed and really grateful on this.
Thank you! I’m glad you liked the video!
I understand the whole picture of compression now, thanks you !
Btw I am a starter at sound mixing and mastering, I'll soon start record my drums I just both - Tama Star classic and will play a lot with the understanding I got from your video. Not just this one, but the content you put here in CZcams is one of the most wonderful things for starters/pro's!
Cheers from Bulgaria.
This video is Gold. And the visualisation of this plug-in is amazing… now I want it!
Wow.... Such a simple explanation. No word too much. I've read about 20 websites and vids... And never had the feeling I understood fully until now
Very glad to help, Pim! Thanks for watching!
You're a skilled teacher, I didn't understand compression better up until now. Thank you.
One of the best teachings I’ve seen about compression basic concepts so far. Another one (or several) video about what control helps achieve what (in a musical way rather than technicl) would be awesome.
Thanks, Bruno. I’m working on a video like this currently!
You helped me understand compressing a lot better. I also now understand the concept of threshold frequencies. Thanks alot
This is the BEST video explaining in clear terms how compression works, and what the terms mean, great job
Thank you very much for this tutorial, really added to my 'toolbox' of sound mixing/engineering for me. I get threshold and ratio much better now, many thanks!
I appreciate the video. I have been confused how to use a compressor for awhile now but the visuals and explanation really helped. Thanks!!
Your videos always finds me at the right times (around 3AM here when you posted this) lol. Woke up and had to watch again to sink in the info. I always have trouble truly figuring out the compressor, and this vid definitely helps me with that! Your teaching is great; straight to the point in the best way possible. Cheers !
Wow! Thanks for taking the time to watch even at 3am! I’m glad it was helpful, michjackfan!
I understand threshold and ratio! Bro this is amazing. It was very easy to understand and I watched this a couple of times to solidify it in my brain. It’s never leaving! Thanks!
Very glad to hear that, Joshua! Thanks for watching.
This channel showed up in my feed for the first time today and I couldn't be happier. I've always struggled with compression and this was the clearest explanation I've heard yet. Well done! Liked and subscribed.
Glad to hear that, Manley! Thanks!
Easily the most education and coherent video I've seen on this subject. I used to just use the Ableton native compressor because it has that same sort of wave table interface and I'd just screw with the settings until it sort of looked and sounded around where I wanted it. Could never grasp how each of the settings actually interacted (especially with that stupid knee bs.) After watching this and trying with some other compressors I can say ive got a much better mechanical understanding of them by far.
Excellent video.
Glad to hear this, Jesse!
This is the best explanation and visualisation of how the compression works! Thanks, man!
You have helped me to understand Ratio and Threshold in the most simple and obvious way. Plenty of folks (including friends of mine) try to explain this and that, but it all seemed a bit foggy for me since the beginning. Your method of tuting is simple and direct, and there's no faster and objective way to learn about audio related stuff. Hands down to you for your phenomenal work. Thank you very much for everything you do and teach.
I love hearing this! Thank you!
I understand ratio and threshold
This is the best video I've seen that explains the controls of a compressor.
Thanks for this clear explanation of compression. I've been trying to learn how to use compression for about 2 years now, and I feel like I'm just starting to understand how to use it properly. I struggle a lot to hear compression (unless it's exaggerated), and so the visuals of what's happening to my signal are a big help. I don't want to rely on the visuals too often though, or else I'm just mixing with my eyes. I'm sure I'll get better with hearing subtle compression over time, or at least I hope so!
You'll definitely get better with practice, Afterift. I think it's especially helpful to know what each setting does, set an intention of what you want to do with the compressor, and work toward that goal with the various settings. Knowing what you want to do with the compressor BEFORE compressing is very powerful. Good luck! Thanks for watching.
I understand ratio, threshold and makeup gain. Very well explained. Thank you !
ya, i understand compression and your vid explains it very well !!!, thanks for not making an hr long vid for 7 min worth of material,......its a win!!!!!!!! please keep em short
This is third video i have seen about compression and first in which I found most of my tascam dp 32sd settings. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for this. Having the visual representation helps a ton! I now understand ratio and threshold!
I understand ratio and threshold, and I'm a signal theory smoothbrain. Good job.
I understand ratio and threshold. This is topic that through this video is easily understood due to the diligince of the video creator in presenting the information in a precise way. I prefer using Maximus or Parametric EQ2 in FL Studio and choose to implement many of the same concepts touched on in this video! Cheers and thank you for sharing the knowledge in such an easy way to understand!
This is an amazing video. I understand the concepts being taught. I have been wanting to learn these kinds of techniques for awhile, and this is an amazing resource for doing so. Thank you!
WOW ! This is the best video about compression. Concise, very visual, clear and complete.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching, Steve!
You're so good at this, you could literally teach audio production to 2nd graders and they would understand. Fantastic job
Thanks, Jordan!
Whenever I need to revise my stuff or learn new stuff, your channel is the first one that I turn to... Love from India
Glad to help!
Very good, I have recently taught myself production and did understand compression, yet this is very helpful to getting a further understanding of why certain compression values do certain things
Like my kids would say, youre a genius!!! They love mindcraft and mind craft is craft and i music craft, and you explained and educated and touched on so many points. Great session, Masters Session!!!!
This really helps me. I just started school for audio engineering. Thank you!
I will use this video to send as a reference for people who don’t know it yet! As always, perfectly clear explanations. Thank you!
I understand ratio and threshold.
Your videos are incredible! Thank you!
As always....a fine and clear instruction.
Its nice to see you take the time to explain things. Makes it easy to watch.
Thanks.
I’ve been struggling for months trying to understand how attack works, and thanks to you I think I got it now. So attack refers to the when the compressor will start compressing, and threshold refers to what db it’ll compress. Now I gotta see if Im able to get release.
I understand ratio and thresh hold but now have a visual that ties it all together. These video's are fantastic.
Thanks, Greenpea!
You and Michael from in the Mix, are both one of the greatest teachers for this out there
Definitely one of the best explanations of how a compressor works that I've come across. Thank you!
Thanks, Michael!
I finally found a source that is really truly helpful. Can't explain how grateful I am. And I understand ratio and treshold :)
Glad to help!
Well..... about ratios..... you've got 25% "like" rate!! wow.. amazing.... you deserve it... this is very likely the clearest and most consistent explanation on the internet!! Thank you!!
Thanks, C.P.!
Really really good approach towards packing the essentials in an easy to digest and understand presentation. Even if you're not a beginner, there are times when our minds fatigue to a point where a review of the fundamentals can provide just the reset we need. If that sounds silly, please consider at certain point of familiarity it's no longer the controls of a tool that are causing the disconnect, it's losing focus on why we are using a specific tool. Sometimes the answer is it's not the right tool for the task at hand, which is something that crystalizes when thinking about the basics.
Thanks, Matthew! I’m very glad to hear that this video is helpful, and not only for beginners. I appreciate that.
the only video on youtube that actually helps me understand, great teacher man great teacher, I subscribed after just watchin one of your vids
I had a Fostex VF16 multi-track many years ago with an excellent compressor.
I still remember how insanely better my drums sounded when using minimal compression.
The 2:1 ratio was all it took to bring up some light hits and tame the too loud hits.
Also, how it makes a bass guitar smooth as silk is essential for us less talented bassists.
Thank you for explaining the ratios and threshold settings. I never really understood the why of a compressor but you cleared up a lot of my confusion with this.
Glad to help, Jeremiah! Thanks!
Finally I understand what is and how to use compressor. what a great clear video. Big Thanks, Kyle. This is the best explanation of compression on CZcams, ever!
Glad it was helpful, Dewa! Thanks for watching and continuing to support the channel!
@@AudioUniversity my pleasure, Kyle. all the best
I understand ratio and threshold!
...FINALLY!! 🕊
After watching dozens of videos previously on compression; I more or less got it. But this one made it crystal clear, especially the ratio part. I feel like maybe now I can stop using other ppls presets and start to set my own based upon what the signal calls for.
That’s awesome, StoneWood Bear! I’m glad to hear this. Thanks for watching!
I’m definitely understanding ratio and threshold. Thanks for this great video man 🙌🏼🙌🏼
The best YT channel in audio theme! Thanks!
I've been looking for an easy to understand video about compression for a while and this really nailed it, thank you.
holy shit I UNDERSTAND RATIO AND THRESHOLD!! thank you so much. Your lessons are so valuable to me i cannot stress how thankful i am for you!!
Thanks! Glad to help!
Great tutorial Kyle - Very clear, concise and interesting to watch.
Thanks man, I love how all your videos can get really technical and in-depth while still staying very easy to follow along with and understand…new sub!
Glad you like them! That's exactly what I want to hear! Thank you for watching and subscribing. Let me know if there are any topics you'd like to see covered in future videos.
I have been adjusting my compression settings by ear. After watching this i have a much better understanding of what each variable does and how it does it. After watching this, I see myself approaching compression in a different way. 👍🔊
Glad to hear that!
Loved the video and learned a lot! Wanted to share that, as a Speech-Language Pathologist, sound is my livelihood. Many people pronounce the word "decibel" as dess-uh-bull ... when in actuality, a decibel is literally one-tenth of a Bell, hence it's properly pronounced dess-uh-bell. Not ragging on you at all. It's a super common mispronunciation. Keep up the great work.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for this! I´m struggling for a while now to understand, how compression is used in the overall and/or specific mix setting(s). This is really helpfull for me!
Very glad to help! Thank you!
I understand ratio and threshold. Excellent job bud learning loads
I'm a musician and sound technician, I already studied and learned most of the topics or your videos but every time you publish a new one I watch it with enormous pleasure and curiosity, you are one of the most informative, concise and clear teacher I've ever encountered, and you clarify things that are often made more difficult that they actually are. Everything is comprehensible and clear after yours explanations, your videos are always the ones that I instantly think about sharing, when a friend of mine asks me for some explanations about how audio works.
Hope you’d add some more practical examples (like in this case some compression settings’ guidelines for specific instrument’s types. Of course every situation is different, but as in classical recordings there are a lot of different instruments it’d be awesome to have your take on how to achieve a good natural sounding compression base on the instrument’s characteristics).
Anyways, I’d really like to congratulate, keep up with this awesome work, cheers from Paris!
Wow! Thanks, Gabriele! I’m working on a video like that currently.
holy crap, i actually understand ratio and threshold now.. Love your videos man!
Thanks, JP!
Best tutorial ever! I understand ratio and threshold. Thanks Kyle!.
Thank you, especially for explaining that some compressors have a fixed threshold where you then drive the input signal into them!
Much thanks for your help. This is something I'm dealing with and definitely need to understand.
Very simple and effective. Your teaching style is awesome. I would like to express my love and respect to you from India.
Easily one of the best explanations of compression I've come across.
Thanks!
you told me to comment I understand ratio and treshold. YUP I do understand it, THANKS
I understand ratio and threshold -- best video explaining this I've seen
Thanks, Nikolas! I’m glad you liked it!
I understood what was presented by you do clearly. Thank you for clarifying such differentiation within the options of a compressor. Be well!
I’m happy to help, CaveMan Jones! Thank you for watching the video.
i usually don't comment anywhere but yup u made me. totally easy to pickup, amazing way of teaching. keep it up. u got a sub!
Thanks, kargo! I appreciate you taking the time to comment and subscribe!
@@AudioUniversity you're welcome.
Excellent. Most videos that cover compression grope around the setting arbitrarily.
I understand ratio and threshold! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I've seen many videos on compression, but this one is the best by far.
Thanks, Milwaukee Music!
A simple and clear guide on the features of a compressor, will really help beginners understand the use of it.
Great instructions! 👍
Thanks, Baines Liu! I hope so!
hands down
you are the best online teacher i sweat to god!
thank you so much for all knowledge that you gave to me!
I understand ratio and threshold! 😜
Got yourself a new Subscriber, really enjoying your videos
yoh bro more love from kenya you helped me actually been struggling to learn from a million videos in youtube but today you just made it easy for me chz men
I understand ratio and compression. Actually the best teaching vid ive seen on this
Thanks! Glad to hear that!
Best compressor explanation I've seen yet, thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks, Ryan!
i understand ratio / threshold much better thanks to you now !! well explainded and clear to understand !
You're doing a great job Kyle. I appreciate these videos and yes, you explained everything perfectly. I've never felt more comfortable when using my limiters and compressors. I hope you are doing alright :)
Awesome! Thank you, Akash! I'm very glad to read this!
THANK YOU! Suddenly all those parameters make sense. Best video on the subject that I've seen.
I understand ratio and threshold. Really excellent stuff man, thank you.