What audio compression does
A compressor reduces the dynamic range of audio — loud parts get quieter, quiet parts stay the same. The result: a more even-sounding track that's easier to listen to at low volumes. Critical for podcasts, voice recordings, and any audio that mixes loud and quiet passages.
Settings explained
- Threshold: dB level above which compression kicks in.
- Ratio: how aggressively to compress. 4:1 means every 4 dB above threshold becomes 1 dB.
- Attack: how fast the compressor reacts to loud peaks. Faster = catches transients.
- Release: how fast the compressor lets go after the loud part ends.
- Makeup gain: boosts the now-quieter signal back to a usable level.