Gareth Keane

Ratio sets how hard a compressor pushes back once the signal crosses the threshold. Here’s how the knob works, what the numbers mean, and how to set it right every time.

How to compress vocals so they sit steady in the mix: what to check first, how to set the compressor, and the advanced moves once the basics are in.

How to pick the right compressor and settings for any source, with a quick-reference list of starting points per instrument.

Threshold decides when a compressor starts working. Here’s what it controls, where to set it, and how it interacts with ratio and gain.

Bus compression glues a mix together. Here’s what it does, how to set it up on the master or on groups, and how to avoid squashing the life out of a track.