Understanding compression
The Idea behind Compressors
Before starting open up some any function inside computer you need to understand that everything that happens in computer is literally numbers but every all process is masked by what we call as a function or tools
The main idea that people forgot since the first time a computer was selling to now, is that a computer is literally a place with a lot of mathematic equations, that are there for solve some kind a problem we got.
The first information we have on hands will define what program choose. All the time when we are opening up a program, literally what we are saying is ‘hey computer I have this problem to solve’ and it’s depends what is your problem, It’s about image, sound, writing, etc. In other words, every program is literally a global mathematic specific equation for your problem and inside it we have some kind function that we call a plugins
Understanding the information above is easier we try explain the compressor because as said above plugins are function to solve a little tiny problem to turn your global equation into more accurate. As always, every mathematic function got some question and this question has their variables that are necessary to answer for having your problem solved.
Once it is clear, now we go to describe the real problem. A sound is a wave and a wave got his own behavior that we call in math as linear wave and nonlinear wave.
Figure 1: Wave Description
Linear wave
Looking at this image above we say that a wave is a linear wave when it has the same amplitude and wavelength during the time it was reproduced.
Nonlinear wave
A wave is nonlinear wave when it doesn’t have the same amplitude and wavelength during the time it’s reproduced
When we are working in a composition song, we know that is more possible we find a lot of nonlinear waves, but even when we have a linear wave sometimes, we want to bring some kind harmonics or even gain more sound body, in this moment we have a lot of function (Plugins) that we can use and one of them is compression.
In practice
As all math function the compressor got five question to work on your wave shape and they are:
1. What is the reduction you want me to do (threshold);
2. How you want to me to do it brutally or softening (Ratio)
3. Do you me make it fast or slowly when something go above the reduction (attack)
4. After it how much time I need to take to out (Release)
5. Do you want me out so fast after release (sustain)
In practice is literally a conversation between you and the compressor function. It is like:
You: Hey compressor I have these waves here and I want it with a more similar linear behavior.
Figure 2: Compressor from Image-line with sound in.
Compressor: Great. I have and wave pass through my body but what do you want?
You: I want you controlling the shape of this wave using this line (Threshold) as parameter to reduce all other waves from this sound that go above this line.
Figure 3: Compressor from Image-line with threshold in action.
Compressor: Great I understand, but how do you want me to do it?
You: Punch it (Ratio).
Figure 4: Compressor from Image-line with Threshold and Ratio in action.
Compressor: How fast do you want me do it (Attack)?
You: Slowly.
Figure 5: Compressor from Image-line: Attack in action.
Compressor: After I punch it slowly how much time do you want me take to out of (Release)?
You: Fast.
Figure 6: Compressor from Image-line: Release in action.
Compressor: After I punch it slowly and stop compressing it fast, do you want me out fast or slowly (Sustain)?
You: fast, please.
Recommendation
The secret is understanding that each sound got its right threshold, ratio, attack and release but all this variable depends on what genre and what is you focus when you are using the compressor for compressing something.
To finish you need to understand that when you got a lot of instruments playing together the attack need to take more time because what we want is preserve the transients we got on and if it’s for master is important you follow the standard parameter for threshold, that changes for each genre and this information can be find easily on internet.
Here I have a little video which I got more detail about it showing the compressor in action.
If you like the information here and want to save it for read it in other time you need you can get it on the end of this page in PDF.
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2nd: Error album - https://www.beatport.com/release/error/3053091
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