What does audio compression do?
By Sodaphonic · Updated
Audio compression reduces differences between loud and quiet moments. Learn the basic controls and how it differs from MP3 compression.
An audio compressor reduces gain when the input exceeds a threshold. This can make an uneven voice recording easier to balance in a mix. It is different from file compression such as MP3 encoding.
Threshold determines when compression begins. Ratio determines how strongly levels above the threshold are reduced. Attack and release control how quickly the compressor reacts and recovers.
To try it, open a recording with quiet and loud phrases, select the audio, and choose Effects → Compressor. Make a small adjustment, listen, and compare using Undo before exporting a separate copy.
Excessive compression can make breaths and background noise distracting. Normalisation adjusts overall gain to reach a target peak; compression changes the relationship between loud and quiet moments. Neither removes background noise or repairs a clipped recording.
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