I know, it sounds a bit scary... but really compression is a super simple concept, that is overcomplicated by a lot of videos I watched when I was learning.

We're going to be using the default compressor in Logic, on the Platinum Digital mode, keeping it default. The stock copmpressor in whichever DAW you're using will behave in exactly the same way though. It'll share the same controls and perform the same function. Sometimes different compressos look slightly different, and sometimes they ditch some of the controls to make them even simpler, but they all do the same job.

In this lesson we look at how a compressor affects an audio signal. Specifically we talk about how they are used to reduce the amount of dynamic range in a track. If a song has a dramatic difference in the louds and quiets, it makes it more difficult to slot it into a mix. This is particularly true of vocals, guitars and drums.

We run through the basic controls on a compressor too, I've listen the main ones below with a brief description of what it does:

THRESHOLD - Sets the level at which your compressor will start working. This is measured in dB and any signal above the dB you set will be compressed

RATIO - Ratio is measure of how much a compressor will reduce the signal when it goes above your threshold. This is shown as a, you guessed it, ratio. Such as 4:1 or 10:1. The higher the first number in the ratio, the greater the gain reduction.

ATTACK & RELEASE - These controls are pretty self explanatory. They describe the speed at which your compressor "Attacks" the signal and then how long it takes to "release" after the signal has dropped below the threshold.

When you properly understand these four controls, you've pretty much cracked compression.

I really can't overstate how absolutely crucial this tool is to your production journey. I have been producing for five years and still spend time researching different compressors, buying different models for different jobs and improving my skills. It's an amazingly simple concept that can level up your production quality a hundred times.

Having a good grasp on what different settings are good for is super important. For example, a really common mistake is hitting your percussion and drums with a hard and fast compressor to bring them forward in your mix, makes sense. Except snares are meant to be dynamic! A really hard snap followed by a short, tone filled tail. If you compress a snare too hard, it just loses all the punch.

In this lesson we specifically look at using stages of compression on a vocal. As I explain in the video, it's far more transparent to use a few compressors doing a little bit of work each, than hitting a vocal with one super hard compressor.

Man, I could write pages and pages on this stuff! I'll restrain myself. Please, please make sure you understand this concept though. Experiment, play with the different settings, and the different models in Logic.

FOR NEXT TIME...

The thing with Compression is there's always more to learn.

If you really want to improve with this tool, you just need to play with it a tonne and work out what sounds good. Trust your ears.

I want you to take the basic Platinum Digital compressor in Logic, then make your drums "Better".

I'm not going to define what Better means. I think it's different for everyone, but if you play around with different settings for the kick, snare, percussion you'll grow a far better understanding of this tool than reading pages and pages on the topic.

Exactly the same for your vocals. Delete the compressors we added this lesson and try adding your own. Mess around with settings, see if you can bring the vocal further forward in the mix without destroying the dynamics in the performance.

Good Luck..!