{"id":63420,"date":"2025-03-31T10:54:17","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T08:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/?p=63420"},"modified":"2025-07-03T17:46:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T15:46:47","slug":"compression-in-the-mix-an-easy-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/blog\/compression-in-the-mix-an-easy-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Compression In The Mix \u2013 An Easy Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"63420\" class=\"elementor elementor-63420 elementor-63238\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-24838fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24838fd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-45d7b92\" data-id=\"45d7b92\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-438e3c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"438e3c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Compression is certainly one of the most exciting topics in music production, as it is for the students of <a href=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/\">HOFA-College, our online academy for audio engineering<\/a>. Using a compressor, however, can be quite challenging, especially for beginners. We have a few explanations and tips on what an audio compressor actually is, what options for adjustment and application it offers in a mix, and how the use of compression can be purposefully trained in mixing and mastering.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f659d3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2f659d3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b66b32c\" data-id=\"b66b32c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05121ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"05121ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What does a compressor do and why do you need one? <\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c06dae4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c06dae4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There is a widespread myth that a compressor makes audio signals louder. But that is precisely what it does not do. Quite the opposite: a compressor usually makes an audio signal initially quieter.<\/p><p>But how does such a myth become established? To answer this question, we need to take a closer look at the concept of dynamics in audio engineering. In a nutshell, the term dynamics describes the difference between the quietest and loudest levels of an audio signal. This difference can also be identified visually in the waveform of an audio signal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f28550 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5f28550\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1623\" height=\"505\" src=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wellenform-MonoSignal-neu.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-63346\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wellenform-MonoSignal-neu.png 1623w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wellenform-MonoSignal-neu-300x93.png 300w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wellenform-MonoSignal-neu-1024x319.png 1024w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wellenform-MonoSignal-neu-768x239.png 768w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wellenform-MonoSignal-neu-360x112.png 360w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Wellenform-MonoSignal-neu-1536x478.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1623px) 100vw, 1623px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Waveform of a mono signal<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2f41ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a2f41ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In itself, a dynamic signal is not bad at all, and it reflects the sound source as close to the original as possible. In music production and mixing, however, we always have to consider the relationship between a signal and other elements in the mix. In this context, too much dynamics is usually perceived as unstable, which is why it is necessary to reduce the dynamic range of signals.<\/p><p>This is exactly where the compressor steps in. It ensures that the louder parts of a signal are attenuated, bringing them closer to the quieter parts of the signal. The result: a lower dynamic range that allows the producer or mix engineer to place a signal in the mix more consistently without the level peaks standing out too much or the quieter signal parts getting lost.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7de2b88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7de2b88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"529\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unkomp-vs.-komp-neu.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-63349\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unkomp-vs.-komp-neu.png 529w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unkomp-vs.-komp-neu-265x300.png 265w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/unkomp-vs.-komp-neu-360x408.png 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 529px) 100vw, 529px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Above: uncompressed signal | Below: compressed signal<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-274263c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"274263c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d02c06d\" data-id=\"d02c06d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-846364e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"846364e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>You are fascinated by mixing &amp; music production?<br \/>And you want to learn all about it?<\/strong><\/p><p>Realize your dreams with the HOFA-College online courses in audio engineering \u2013 with fun and from home!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03c156a elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"03c156a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/en\/courses\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Compare the courses<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6186f10 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6186f10\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-459472b\" data-id=\"459472b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f76f522 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f76f522\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Parameters of a compressor<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3708396 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3708396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>So that&#8217;s what a compressor does. But how does the compressor know when to make a signal quieter and how much to reduce it? To accomplish this, compressors offer various adjustable parameters, starting with the <b>threshold<\/b>. This sets a value in dB above which the compressor starts to reduce the signal. The lower the threshold, the more of the signal will be reduced by the compressor.<\/p><p>Furthermore, the ratio can be set in which the compressor attenuates the signal above the threshold. You can use the parameter <b>ratio<\/b> for this, which is usually displayed as Value:1.<\/p><p>As an example: if the threshold at the compressor input is exceeded by 8 dB and the ratio is set to 4:1, the compressor reduces the output to only 2 dB.<\/p><p>This example clearly shows that the compressor itself can only make the signal quieter. This inevitably changes the balance in the mix, which is why the loss of volume caused by the compression should be compensated. This can be done using the <strong>makeup gain<\/strong>. To restore the original balance in the mix and ensure that the uncompressed and compressed signals can be compared objectively, the makeup gain should be set so that the uncompressed and compressed signals are perceived as equally loud. The specified parameters can be displayed in the typical compression diagram:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd5b045 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bd5b045\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"325\" src=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kompressionsdiagramm_EN.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-63472\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kompressionsdiagramm_EN.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kompressionsdiagramm_EN-300x98.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kompressionsdiagramm_EN-768x250.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Kompressionsdiagramm_EN-360x117.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b97aa9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"6b97aa9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;vimeo&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-container brlbs-cmpnt-content-blocker brlbs-cmpnt-with-individual-styles\" data-borlabs-cookie-content-blocker-id=\"vimeo-content-blocker\" data-borlabs-cookie-content=\"PGlmcmFtZSBjbGFzcz0iZWxlbWVudG9yLXZpZGVvLWlmcmFtZSIgYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuIGFsbG93PSJjbGlwYm9hcmQtd3JpdGUiIHRpdGxlPSJ2aW1lbyBWaWRlbyBQbGF5ZXIiIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF5ZXIudmltZW8uY29tL3ZpZGVvLzEwNzIxMTc3NDI\/Y29sb3ImYW1wO2F1dG9wYXVzZT0wJmFtcDtsb29wPTAmYW1wO211dGVkPTAmYW1wO3RpdGxlPTEmYW1wO3BvcnRyYWl0PTEmYW1wO2J5bGluZT0xJmFtcDtoPTdmY2YwMDI2OTAjdD0iPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==\"><div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-preset-c brlbs-cmpnt-cb-vimeo\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-thumbnail\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/borlabs-cookie\/1\/brlbs-cb-vimeo-main.png')\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-main\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-play-button\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-content\"> <p class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-description\">You are currently viewing a placeholder content from <strong>Vimeo<\/strong>. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.<\/p> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-provider-toggle\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-show-provider-information role=\"button\">More Information<\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-buttons\"> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-unblock role=\"button\">Unblock content<\/a> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-accept-service role=\"button\" style=\"display: inherit\">Accept required service and unblock content<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-449993d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"449993d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The compressor&#8217;s <strong>control times<\/strong> are not visible in this diagram. While <strong>attack<\/strong> determines how quickly the compressor starts working after the threshold is exceeded, the <strong>release<\/strong> time determines the speed at which the compressor returns to the zero state after the threshold is undershot.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bb0dc1b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bb0dc1b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8fec1a0\" data-id=\"8fec1a0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b75cd8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"b75cd8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"40778\" class=\"elementor elementor-40778 elementor-40769\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1f4660 e-con-full elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a1f4660\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88197f2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"88197f2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51bb25c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51bb25c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"font-size: 1.2em;\">Ends in <span class=\"countdown-aktionsblock-blog-en\" style=\"white-space:nowrap;\">a short while<\/span><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9296f3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9296f3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\u2744\ufe0f Winter Special \u2744\ufe0f<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ab1644 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5ab1644\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/en\/bachelor-studies\/diploma\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EN_College_Winter_Aktion.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-71874\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EN_College_Winter_Aktion.png 1000w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EN_College_Winter_Aktion-300x207.png 300w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/EN_College_Winter_Aktion-768x529.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c69dd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8c69dd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Start your audio engineering course now and save up to 30%.<br>In addition, you will get all 59 HOFA plugins for free.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10e2f43 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"10e2f43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/en\/bachelor-studies\/diploma\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Learn more<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-378d36d elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-hofa_countdown\" data-id=\"378d36d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"hofa_countdown.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        if (!countdown) {\n            var countdown = {};\n        }\n        countdown['.countdown-aktionsblock-blog-en'] = {\"abbr\":true,\"akk\":false,\"date\":\"\",\"datetime\":\"2026-03-04 00:00\",\"format\":\"%h%th : %m%tm : %s%ts\",\"min_days\":0,\"remain\":true,\"target\":\".countdown-aktionsblock-blog-en\",\"text\":\"%s\",\"time\":\"\",\"end\":1772578800,\"diff\":-2835194,\"lang\":\"en\"};\n    <\/script>\n    \t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f2db141 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f2db141\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f219c48\" data-id=\"f219c48\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f96ab09 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f96ab09\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Applications<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc4971e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc4971e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Whether producing, recording, mixing or mastering: compression is an indispensable tool in all areas of audio engineering and music production. By understanding the parameters of compression, we can decide which signals require compression and what we want to achieve by using it.<\/p><p>Let&#8217;s get one thing clear: there is not just one correct compression setting. The possible applications in mixing are too diverse and the needs in producing are too individual. Nevertheless, there are a some landmarks regarding the parameters that can be used for various applications in the mix, and a look at a signal&#8217;s waveform is often helpful.<\/p><p>Let&#8217;s assume we want to control level peaks without reducing the dynamics too obviously. In such a case, a rather low ratio and a rather high threshold are an obvious choice. This approach is conceivable, for example, for group or even sum compression.<\/p><p>It is a different matter if we deliberately want to limit the dynamics, for example to stabilise a vocal recording; in this case, a significant reduction and respective settings of the threshold and the ratio can achieve the desired result.<\/p><p>By adjusting the control times, we can further shape the waveform according to our specific needs. This way, transients and the decay phase of a signal can be specifically emphasised by adjusting the attack and release times. If, for example, we want the transients to remain unaffected by the compression, the attack time must be set to a slightly longer value. If, on the other hand, we want the transients in a signal to be controlled as much as possible, the attack time can be set to a shorter value.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8001721 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8001721\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"764\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/attack-VGL-neu-blau.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-63351\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/attack-VGL-neu-blau.png 764w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/attack-VGL-neu-blau-300x295.png 300w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/attack-VGL-neu-blau-360x353.png 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 764px) 100vw, 764px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Above: fast attack (short attack time) | Below: slow attack (long attack time)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0632dd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0632dd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This approach can be transferred to the release time in reverse. If you want to emphasise the sustain of a signal or make it appear longer, a short release time is recommended. A longer release time, on the other hand, ensures that the compressor returns to its initial state more slowly, making the decay appear more organic or even shorter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd63f29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dd63f29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"764\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/release-vgl-neu-blau.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-63353\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/release-vgl-neu-blau.png 764w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/release-vgl-neu-blau-300x295.png 300w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/release-vgl-neu-blau-360x353.png 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 764px) 100vw, 764px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Above: fast release (short release time) | Below: slow release (long release time)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-807728a elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"807728a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;vimeo&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-container brlbs-cmpnt-content-blocker brlbs-cmpnt-with-individual-styles\" data-borlabs-cookie-content-blocker-id=\"vimeo-content-blocker\" data-borlabs-cookie-content=\"PGlmcmFtZSBjbGFzcz0iZWxlbWVudG9yLXZpZGVvLWlmcmFtZSIgYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuIGFsbG93PSJjbGlwYm9hcmQtd3JpdGUiIHRpdGxlPSJ2aW1lbyBWaWRlbyBQbGF5ZXIiIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF5ZXIudmltZW8uY29tL3ZpZGVvLzEwNzIxMTgyNDU\/Y29sb3ImYW1wO2F1dG9wYXVzZT0wJmFtcDtsb29wPTAmYW1wO211dGVkPTAmYW1wO3RpdGxlPTEmYW1wO3BvcnRyYWl0PTEmYW1wO2J5bGluZT0xJmFtcDtoPTNjMTcwYWFhMDkjdD0iPjwvaWZyYW1lPg==\"><div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-preset-c brlbs-cmpnt-cb-vimeo\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-thumbnail\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/borlabs-cookie\/1\/brlbs-cb-vimeo-main.png')\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-main\"> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-play-button\"><\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-content\"> <p class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-description\">You are currently viewing a placeholder content from <strong>Vimeo<\/strong>. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.<\/p> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-provider-toggle\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-show-provider-information role=\"button\">More Information<\/a> <\/div> <div class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-buttons\"> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-unblock role=\"button\">Unblock content<\/a> <a class=\"brlbs-cmpnt-cb-btn\" href=\"#\" data-borlabs-cookie-accept-service role=\"button\" style=\"display: inherit\">Accept required service and unblock content<\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9ea2fda elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9ea2fda\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b68ec1e\" data-id=\"b68ec1e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0818c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b0818c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Practising compression<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-144272c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"144272c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Theory is all well and good, but how can you train your ears to recognise compression when mixing? To do that, you first have to get to know the compressor. The stock compressors of the common DAWs are very suitable for this purpose, as they offer the common parameters and the compression diagram mentioned above.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cebd367 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cebd367\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"853\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Stock-Comp.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-63257\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Stock-Comp.png 853w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Stock-Comp-300x119.png 300w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Stock-Comp-768x303.png 768w, https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Stock-Comp-360x142.png 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Stock compressor in Studio One Pro 7<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9483f70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9483f70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From here on, we highly recommend experimenting. Common musical signals such as a snare or vocals are well suited to immediately understand the effect of compression in the mix. Try out extreme values to find out how the settings affect parameters such as transient, decay, background noise and, above all, signal stability.<\/p><p>In the HOFA online courses in audio engineering, you will find a large number of tutorials, comprehensive knowledge and tips on the subject of compression, as well as a wide range of training material. The <a href=\"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/bachelor-studies\/diploma\/\">HOFA AUDIO DIPLOMA<\/a> online course in particular prepares you for all the tasks involved in music production.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d457ef2 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"d457ef2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"\/en\/courses\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Compare the courses<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does an audio compressor actually do? What options for adjustment and application does it offer in a mix? In this article, you will get all the answers and tips on how the correct use of compression can be trained in mixing and mastering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":63316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[123,121],"class_list":["post-63420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-2","tag-mixing-en","tag-music-production-en"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hofa-college.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}