The Effects Of Using An Audio Compressor

Audio Compressors do more than just change the dynamic range of a song or track. Audio compressors do allot more than you think they do and I'll explain what some of these things are.

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When using a compressor during tracking (hardware compressor if your recording into a program like pro tools or sonar) it will allow the engineer to record the track at a higher level than normal. Like if the compressor decreases your signal level by 4dB on the hottest parts, the entire tack can be recorded 4dB higher to make up the reduced gain. This will make the soft passages of the track hotter as the loud passages will be least affected. While the compressors really control the loud passages, the final result is an increase in the soft passage levels.
A lead vocal track that is compressed will sound more up from in the mix, when compression is used correctly.

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Bass guitars are most always compressed. Because of the low frequencies it possesses. If not tamed, the low frequencies will saturate the overall mix level and this can make your song level artificially hot. When the bass guitar is compressed correctly, the low will be tamed and your mix can be mixed and mastered at a proper level.
The pumping effect is an effect of a compressor when the level control of reducing the gain as the amplitude passes the threshold. Then it turns it back up when the signal falls below the threshold.
The breathing effect is the same as the pumping effect, but the breathing effect is heard with high frequency airy sounds only.




After reading these things, you now can see what I was talking about when I said, "audio compressors do allot more that just change the dynamic range of a track or song. I hope you learned some tips from this article and I hope you put them into practice during your next audio recording or audio mixing session.