This video tutorial takes a look at audio compression. Compressors can be in the form of software plugins, like the one built into Ableton Live 8, or physical hardware and control the dynamic range of an audio signal. They take an incoming audio signal and attenuate the signal after it exceeds the threshold.

There are 4 basic settings that you’ll find on the majority of compressors: threshold, ratio, attack, and release.

1. Threshold is the amplitude level that compression will occur if the incoming audio signal exceeds it.
2. Ratio is the amount of compression that will be applied. The amount of compression increases as the ratio increases.
3. Attack is the amount of time the compressor waits after the threshold is exceeded to apply compression.
4. Release is the amount of time after compression begins that the compressor stops effecting the audio signal