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12.8 Steinberg Compressor 337
12.8 Steinberg Compressor
Compressor reduces the dynamic range of the audio, making softer sounds louder or louder
sounds softer, or both.
Compressor features separate controls for threshold, ratio, attack, hold, release and make-
up gain parameters. Compressor features a separate display that graphically illustrates the
compressor curve shaped according to the Threshold and Ratio parameter settings. Com-
pressor also features a Gain Reduction meter that shows the amount of gain reduction in
dB, Soft knee/Hard knee compression modes and a program-dependent Auto feature for
the Release parameter.
The following parameters are available:
Threshold (-60 to 0dB)
Determines the level where Compressor "kicks in". Signal levels above the set threshold
are affected, but signal levels below are not processed.
Ratio (1:1 to 8:1)
Sets the amount of gain reduction applied to signals over the set threshold. A ratio of
3:1 means that for every 3dB the input level increases, the output level will increase by
only 1dB.
Soft Knee button
If this button is off, signals above the threshold are compressed instantly according to
the set ratio (hard knee). When Soft Knee is activated, the onset of compression is
more gradual, producing a less drastic result.
Make-up (0 to 24dB or Auto mode)
This parameter is used to compensate for output gain loss, caused by compression.
If the Auto button is activated, the knob becomes dark and the output is automatically
adjusted for gain loss.
Attack (0.1 to 100ms)
Determines how fast Compressor will respond to signals above the set threshold. If
the attack time is long, more of the early part of the signal (attack) passes through
unprocessed.
WaveLab 7