From the course: Audio Foundations: Compression and Dynamic Processing
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Utilizing compression ratios
From the course: Audio Foundations: Compression and Dynamic Processing
Utilizing compression ratios
We now know that a compressor's threshold determines the point at which the compressor activates, but how much the signal is actually compressed is controlled by a parameter called ratio. A compressor's ratio control determines how much any signal over the threshold is attenuated and is generally expressed as a larger number over one, for example, 4:1. Many times compressors will express the threshold and ratio relationship using an X-Y graph called a transfer curve. A transfer curve graph plots the signal's input into the compressor on the X axis and the signal's output on the Y axis, so you can easily trace different scenarios just by following the line. The kink in the line, called the knee, is the point at which the compressor's response becomes nonlinear. That is to say, the input and the output do not match because the compressor is now reducing the gain of any signals over the threshold by the amount defined by the ratio. A ratio of 1:1 means no compression takes place, and…
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Contents
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Introducing compressors1m 45s
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Understanding threshold1m 29s
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(Locked)
Utilizing compression ratios3m
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Understanding makeup gain and gain reduction3m 13s
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Understanding attack and release2m 12s
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Applying attack and release5m 22s
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Demystifying compression controls: soft knee vs. hard knee2m 43s
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Get in the Mix: Using compression to even out a vocal performance4m 55s
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Get in the Mix: Using compression to add punch and sustain to drums4m 39s
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Intelligently using compression presets3m 6s
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Recording with compression: Why or why not?2m 53s
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Recording with compression: How to do it3m 23s
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