Compression

How to compress drums for that full, round, professional sound: what to check first, the compressor setup, and the advanced techniques.

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.

FET compressors are fast, punchy and coloured. Here’s how they work, what they sound like, and the mix situations they were made for.

Compression settings for electric and acoustic guitar, the advanced techniques, and the mistakes that kill a guitar performance.

Diode bridge compressors are rare, aggressive and full of character. Here’s how the circuit works, how it sounds, and when it’s the right tool.

Makeup gain, input gain and output gain all live on a compressor and all do different jobs. Here’s what each one is for.

Attack and release control how a compressor reacts over time. Here’s what they do, how they change the sound, and how to set them.

Vari-mu compressors are the oldest design and still the smoothest. Here’s how the tube circuit works, how it sounds, and where to use it.

The knee decides how gently a compressor starts working. Here’s the difference between hard and soft knee, and how to set it for each source.