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Audio Compression Cheat Sheet

These are suggestions that can be helpful when mixing, but are by no means hard and fast rules! Every situation and taste is different. Start with these and adjust!

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dwhoward
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views

Audio Compression Cheat Sheet

These are suggestions that can be helpful when mixing, but are by no means hard and fast rules! Every situation and taste is different. Start with these and adjust!

Uploaded by

dwhoward
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Definitions

Threshold - how loud the signal level must be before the compressor starts working.

Ratio - The amount of compression that is applied.


E.g., if the ratio is set for 4:1, the input
signal will have to cross the threshold by 4 dB for the output level to increase by 1 dB.

Attack - How quickly the compressor engages.

Release - How soon after the signal goes below the threshold the compressor stops
engaging.

Knee - Determines how the compressor responds to signals after the threshold has been
passed.

Hard Knee - engages and clamps the signal immediately

Soft Knee - Compression engages more gently as the signal goes further past the
threshold.

Make-Up Gain - Provides a boost to the gain, since compression can lower gain slightly.

Output - Enables you to boost or adjust the level of the signal output leaving the
compressor.

Chart Notes

These are suggestions that can be helpful when mixing, but are by no means hard and
fast rules! Every situation and taste is different. Start with these and adjust!

Use your ears. If something sounds good, go with it. Make use of reference tracks often.

Really be deliberate with your compression choices.


Lighter Compression Table
(With threshold, no knee)

Instrument Threshold Attack Release Ratio

Vocal -8dB <1ms (Fast) ~40ms -btwn 1.5:1 &


2:1
-For really
bringing vocals
out try
between 4:1
and 6:1

Bass -4dB 40-50ms ~180ms -btwn 2.5:1 &


3:1

Acoustic Guitar -6dB ~150ms ~400ms -btwn 2:1 & 4:1

Electric Guitar -1dB 25-30ms 200ms -btwn 2:1 & 3:1

Kick -4dB 5-10ms 12-175 ms -btwn 4:1 & 6:1

Heavier Compression Table


(With a knee and auto release times.. set your own threshold)

Instrument Knee Attack Release Ratio

Vocal Soft <1ms (Fast) 0.5s/Auto -btwn 2:1 & 8:1

Bass Hard 2-10ms 0.5s/Auto -btwn 4:1 &


12:1

Acoustic Guitar Soft/Hard 5-10ms 0.5s/Auto -btwn 5:1 &


10:1

Electric Guitar Hard 2-5ms 0.5s/Auto 8:1

Kick Hard 1-5ms 0.2s/Auto -btwn 5:1 &


10:1
Additional Tips for Compression

Be wary of over compressing things (especially vocals), unless the style of music
calls for it.

Dont kill transients. Attack times that are too short (especially on drums) can kill
transients. You want those!

Until youre incredibly familiar with compression, use one compressor work on
learning it inside and out.

Set make up gain properly so that when you compress the audio stays the same
when you bypass the compressor. Dont let loudness fool you into thinking its
automatically better.

High ratios with high thresholds give a sound that hits harder (think punch and
thump.)

Low ratios with lower thresholds will tend to offer up an effect thats softer, adding
warmth thickening and glue.

Avoid low threshold with high ratios unless you want a sound that is very squashed
and potentially devoid of any life.

Important rule: If the gain reduction meter doesnt return to zero several times
each bar, you are most likely over compressing.

For an awesome pumping sound on a track, utilize a long attack time with a high
ratio and threshold.

Using automatic settings can reduce negative unnatural compression effects but
can allow you to use too much compression without knowing it.

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