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Compressors
In this series of videos, we look at what compressors do and why they are used. Then we put some sounds through one and see what effect it has.
Part 1
Part 2
What They Do And Why We Use Them
In this video, we look at what a compressor does and why they are used.
Discuss this tutorial here.
timestamp 0:20  If some parts of a recording are too quiet, we can't just increase the volume because
  • there may not be enough headroom
  • the loud parts will become too loud
timestamp 0:45  
  • Dynamic range
    The difference in volume between the loudest and quietest parts of a recording.
  • Headroom
    How much we can increase a signal's volume before it reaches the maximum.
  • Threshold
    Everything quieter than the threshold will remain unchanged, everything over it will have its volume reduced.
  • Ratio
    Controls how much the volume gets reduced once it goes over the threshold.
timestamp 1:29   A compressor can be configured to work as a limiter by setting a really high ratio, which stops the volume from ever going over the threshold.
timestamp 1:40   By using a compressor to squash down the loud parts of a recording, we get more headroom and can then increase the recording's volume by more.
timestamp 1:56   In summary, we use a compressor
  • to reduce the dynamic range of a recording,
  • which evens out changes in volume,
  • and allows us to increase the overall volume.