Vocal EQ Cheat Sheet
FREE DOWNLOAD

The Complete Guide to Audio Compression

Kade Young
Kade Young
Chief Audio Guru
SHARE

Behringer X32 Mastery

The quickest way to master the X32/M32.

Learn More

Compression Cheat Sheet

Audio compression allows you to limit the dynamic range of an input signal.

If that went over your head, imagine the vast volume difference between a vocal singing softly versus really belting it out. Compression allows you to bring the two closer together by reducing the level of the loudest moments.

When to Use Compression

Just like with other audio processing, never use compression just because it is available. Use it to solve a problem - otherwise, leave it alone.

With that being said, I recommend using compression on every vocal channel.

The average uncompressed vocal has a 40dB dynamic range. This is huge when it comes to live mixing and explains why you have such a hard time keeping vocals on top of the mix without getting to loud during the ‘belt it out’ moments.

Compression Parameters

Attack

Attack sets the speed at which the compressor activates after the signal crosses the threshold. So, a slower attack time will allow the beginning of the signal pass through untouched before applying the compressor, whereas a fast attack time will apply the compressor almost immediately.

Release

Release sets the speed at which the compressor ‘lets go’ once the signal goes back under the threshold. A release time that is too short can produce a choppy or jittery sound, whereas a release time that is too long can result in a signal sounding ‘squashed’.

Gain

Gain allows you to restore the signal back to its original level before compression. So, if you are compressing the signal by 6dB, you can apply 6dB of gain to bring the signal back to where it was. In essence, this brings the uncompressed signals up by 6dB while leaving the compressed signal where it was to begin with.

Threshold

The threshold determines when the compressor kicks in. So, if a threshold is set to -30dB, the compressor will start working when the signal gets louder than -30dB.

Ratio

Ratio determines how much compression is applied. For example, if the ratio is set to 4:1, every 4dB of signal that crosses the threshold will be compressed down to 1dB. So, if the signal crossed the threshold by 8dB, only a 2dB increase would be heard.

Knee

The knee setting determines how the compressor responds once the signal crosses the threshold. A hard knee clamps down right away, while a soft knee causes the compressor to gradually kick in as the signal gets further past the threshold.

Key Filter

The key filter allows you to target a specific frequency range that activates the compressor. The compressor is still applied to the full frequency spectrum, but it is only activated by the frequency range set by the key filter.

Compression Cheat Sheet

Expander Explained

As mentioned earlier, a compressor reduces the level of the loudest moments. Well, an expander does the opposite - it reduces the level of the quietest moments.

The expander is very similar to a gate. The only difference is that an expander pays attention to where the level is after it falls below the threshold and reduces the level accordingly, whereas a gate closes as soon as the signal goes below the threshold.

When it comes to mixing for worship, I really can’t think of a time where expansion should be used over gating.

So, the main thing you need to understand is that expansion is almost identical to gating, so you are better off using this section of the X32 for compression instead of expansion.

Compression Cheat Sheet

You might also be interested in: The Complete Guide to Audio Gating

8 Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

8 comments on “The Complete Guide to Audio Compression”

    1. In general, a soft knee is the best option. If your setting allows you to set a number for the knee, the higher the number, the 'softer' it is.

  1. On your compression sample for vocals you have "Attack/Hold/Release: Auto'". Can you explain the Auto part for a x32?

    1. Hey Manuel - On the X32, when you are on the compression setting screen, you'll see one of the knobs labeled 'auto'. If you push in this knob, it well set the attack/hold/release to auto, meaning the X32 will decide what these settings should be.

  2. Hey Kade, would you use this same setting for a pastors speaking mic, I’m always riding the fader when he’s preaching.

  3. My mixer doesn't have "slow" or "fast" for attack settings. Only a number of milliseconds. Maybe explain whether "fast" is shorter or longer because it's not obvious to me from this description.

    1. Fast is anything under 50ms. Everything over would be considered a slower attack time.

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram