The Skinny on Compression - Posted on 2015-06-23 by John Nelson

Compression - one of the big cornerstones of recording.  A powerful tool - when used correctly can dramatically enhance and embelish a mix.  When used "incorrectly", can make a mix sound...well, less than stellar.  My big take-a-way from this chapter was learning about the individual components of the compressor.  What each of the knobs due, and why they do it.  This is very helpful to me, because I have been relying too heavily on the "crutches" of the plugin presets.  Presets can be great, but learning to listen and experiment with the sounds is critical.  Every song will have its own soul, its own vibe.  Being able to truly listen and tap into that vibe is truly necessary to determine what needs to be added and subtracted to help accentuate what's already there.  Just as Michelangelo said, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.", so must an audio engineer listen to the individual song before swinging the compressor wildly.