Improve Or Ruin Your Audio With an Effect Called Compression

Have you ever experienced a song that starts too quietly, causing you to turn up the volume, only for it to become unbearably loud once the whole band joins in? Or, while watching TV, the commercials are much louder than the actual show, forcing you to constantly adjust the volume? In both cases, you were “compressing” the sound level, trying to maintain a comfortable listening experience.

Compression can be automated, saving your remote-pressing thumb some work. Compressors, both hardware and software, are essential tools in audio recording Tracking Studio - What do we mean for "tracking studio"? Individuals interested in the music industry may eventually want to create their own recordings, either vocal or instrumental. These recordings can be the starting point for many people's careers. To achieve an exceptional recording, you need a high-quality recording studio or tracking studio that captures all nuances of… or broadcasting. They are often used to even out uneven sounds, like voices, and are essential for many musical instruments and final mixes.

Improving Audio with Compression:

The primary purpose of compression is to even out the overall volume of your audio. However, compression can also add strength to your sound, making drums punchier and entire mixes feel louder and more powerful.

Compression can be combined with EQ to “de-ess” vocals and remove excessive sibilance (the hissing sound associated with the letter “S”). It can also be used as a noise gate, filtering out unwanted background noise while allowing louder sounds, like voices, to pass through.

Ruining Audio with Compression:

When used incorrectly, compression can severely damage your audio quality. Common mistakes include using too much compression, resulting in sibilance or “pumping” (unnatural rhythmic fluctuations in volume). Over-compression can also strip the life from music, flattening the dynamic range and making it sound monotonous and fatiguing to the listener.

To avoid these issues, use compression in moderation and be mindful of preserving the natural dynamics of your audio. It’s essential to strike the right balance between achieving a louder, more consistent sound and maintaining the expressive, dynamic quality that brings life to music.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME