{"id":7847,"date":"2026-02-06T14:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T19:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=7847"},"modified":"2026-02-06T14:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T19:19:50","slug":"what-is-compression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-compression\/","title":{"rendered":"What is compression? A music production guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compression is an indispensable tool that\u2019s found across individual tracks, mix buses, and mastering chains.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most popular effects among musicians and engineers, audio compression is used for taming dynamics, manipulating <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/synthesizer-basics\/#ADSREnvelopes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">amplitude envelopes,<\/a> peak limiting, sidechaining, <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/how-to-use-parallel-compression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">parallel processing,<\/a> and more. Yet, despite its popularity, compression can be quite enigmatic for novices and veterans alike, since differences in dynamic range are often harder to discern when compared to other sonic properties like pitch and tempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what <em>is<\/em> compression? In this blog post, let\u2019s demystify audio compression by discussing what it is, what its parameters are, and how it\u2019s used in music production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feel free to use the table of contents below to quickly navigate to a specific section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you&#8217;ll learn:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\"><a href=\"#Definition\"><strong>What is compression in music?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\"><a href=\"#AudioExamples\"><strong>What compression sounds like<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\"><a href=\"#HowToUse\"><strong>How to use compressors in your music<\/strong><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Threshold\"><strong>Threshold<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Ratio\"><strong>Ratio<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#AttackAndRelease\"><strong>Attack and release<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#Knee\"><strong>Knee<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#MakeUpGain\"><strong>Make up gain<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\"><a href=\"#Importance\"><strong>Why compression is important<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Feeling ready? Let&#8217;s dive into the world of sound compression!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-f5a2734ea82e3ec51d9db4acbad33d87\" style=\"background-color:#62daff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>New subscribers can try all of Splice\u2014including 200 monthly sample download credits, full access to all premium INSTRUMENT presets, and more\u2014for $4.99\/mo.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Definition\">What is compression in music?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Compression<\/strong> is a processing technique that reduces the overall dynamic range of a piece of audio by detecting when it exceeds a specified level, and then attenuating it by a specified amount. Put simply, it narrows the difference in volume between the loudest and softest parts of a track so that it\u2019s more consistent in level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This dynamic control can be essential for keeping audio sounding even and preventing sudden jumps in volume. It&#8217;s especially helpful on sounds like vocals, where a performance can have sudden jumps in level that a compressor can smooth out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever drawn <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/exploring-automation-curves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">automation curves<\/a> for a track\u2019s level, you\u2019ve likely unknowingly done some manual compression\u2014you probably brought down parts that were excessively loud (<strong>downward compression<\/strong>) and brought up parts that were too soft (<strong>upward compression<\/strong>). Though it\u2019s generally less customizable, a compressor automates this process for us, which can 1) save us a lot of time, and 2) introduce sonic characteristics and use cases that are unique to compression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"AudioExamples\">What does audio compression sound like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s hear how compression sounds in action\u2014below is an uncompressed drum groove:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uncompressed.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now let&#8217;s listen to how it sounds compressed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compressed.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While there&#8217;s a significant difference in level between the hats and the kick \/ snare in the uncompressed groove, all of the elements are much more even in the compressed version. This is visually reinforced when we compare the two waveforms:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"858\" height=\"309\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uncompressed-drums.png\" alt=\"uncompressed-drums\" class=\"wp-image-7860 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uncompressed-drums.png 858w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uncompressed-drums-400x144.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uncompressed-drums-355x128.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/uncompressed-drums-768x277.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 858px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 858\/309;\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The uncompressed drum groove<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"858\" height=\"305\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compressed-drums.png\" alt=\"compressed-drums\" class=\"wp-image-7863 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compressed-drums.png 858w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compressed-drums-400x142.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compressed-drums-355x126.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compressed-drums-768x273.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 858px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 858\/305;\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The compressed drum groove<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we have a general understanding of audio compression, let&#8217;s dive into its parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-f5a2734ea82e3ec51d9db4acbad33d87\" style=\"background-color:#62daff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/plans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>New subscribers can try all of Splice\u2014including 200 monthly sample download credits, full access to all premium INSTRUMENT presets, and more\u2014for $4.99\/mo.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"HowToUse\">How to use compressors in your music<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>compressor<\/strong> is simply a device\u2014either physical hardware or a virtual plugin\u2014that applies compression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although there are always exceptions, most compressors share a common set of parameters. Understanding what each one does will allow us to use compression in our music with more intentionality and ease.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/what-is-compression-in-post-01-1024x673.png\" alt=\"The built-in compressor in Logic Pro\" class=\"wp-image-7848 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/what-is-compression-in-post-01-1024x673.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/what-is-compression-in-post-01-400x263.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/what-is-compression-in-post-01-355x233.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/what-is-compression-in-post-01-768x504.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/what-is-compression-in-post-01.png 1052w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/673;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The built-in compressor in Logic Pro<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Threshold\">Threshold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A compressor\u2019s <strong>threshold<\/strong>, expressed in decibels (dB), determines the level at which the compressor starts compressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The threshold can be set strategically to target specific moments in your audio. For example, if a drum groove\u2019s snare is too loud, you can set the threshold so that it\u2019s low enough that the snare exceeds it, but high enough that the rest of the kit is bypassed (the best way to do this is slowly raise or lower the threshold until the meter only reacts to the snare).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"248\" height=\"244\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compression-threshold.png\" alt=\"compressor-threshold\" class=\"wp-image-7849 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 248px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 248\/244;\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Ratio\">Ratio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the compressor has detected that the input signal has exceeded the threshold, it starts attenuating the signal. The amount the level is reduced is determined by the <strong>ratio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an example, if the threshold is set to -20 dB, the input signal hits -16 dB, and the ratio is set to 2:1, the output signal will be attenuated to -18 dB. Because the input surpassed the threshold by 4 dB, the 2:1 ratio cuts this value in half, resulting in the output of -18 dB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/mastering-101-limiting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">limiter<\/a> is essentially a compressor with an &#8216;infinite&#8217; ratio (think 10:1 or more). While a compressor (particularly one with a lower ratio) gently tames peaks, a limiter aggressively puts a halt on any level that exceeds the threshold (also referred to as its <strong>ceiling<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"675\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph.png\" alt=\"A visualization of how ratios are applied in compression\" class=\"wp-image-7850 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph.png 1080w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph-400x250.png 400w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph-1024x640.png 1024w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph-355x222.png 355w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph-768x480.png 768w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph-500x312.png 500w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph-345x215.png 345w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/What_is_Compression_Graph-250x156.png 250w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1080px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1080\/675;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A visualization of how ratios are applied in compression<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"AttackAndRelease\">Attack and release<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>attack<\/strong> of a compressor, typically measured in milliseconds (ms), determines how quickly it pulls the input signal down to the full ratio value when it exceeds the threshold. Meanwhile, the <strong>release<\/strong> is the opposite, representing the total time it takes for the signal to return to an uncompressed state.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"384\" height=\"232\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compression-attack-release.png\" alt=\"compressor-attack-release\" class=\"wp-image-7851 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compression-attack-release.png 384w, https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compression-attack-release-355x214.png 355w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 384px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 384\/232;\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Knee\">Knee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>knee<\/strong> determines the character of the gain reduction that\u2019s applied to a signal. It ranges from a value of 0.0 to 1.0, with 0.0 being a <strong>hard knee<\/strong> and 1.0 being a <strong>soft knee<\/strong>. A hard knee begins reducing gain abruptly when the compressor exceeds the threshold, whereas a soft knee introduces gain reduction gradually as the signal approaches the threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A compressor&#8217;s knee is more nuanced in its impact than attack and release times, but can be valuable nonetheless. In general, try leaning towards fast attack and release times with a hard knee for more noticeable \/ aggressive compression, and slow attack and release times with a soft knee for subtle \/ gentle compression.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"235\" height=\"220\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compression-knee.png\" alt=\"compressor-knee\" class=\"wp-image-7852 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 235px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 235\/220;\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"MakeUpGain\">Make up gain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We often associate compression with making a track louder. However, we\u2019ve learned that by definition, compression actually <em>reduces<\/em> level. <strong>Make up gain<\/strong> is what allows compression to make a track louder. We can compensate for the level that we lost using this parameter, and because we tamed the peaks, we can actually make the overall audio louder without running into clipping.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"232\" height=\"237\" data-src=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/compression-make-up-gain.png\" alt=\"compressor-make-up-gain\" class=\"wp-image-7855 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 232px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 232\/237;\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Importance\">The big picture: Why are compressors important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Compression is a highly important audio effect to understand because it regularly touches every aspect of digital music creation, from <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/sound-design-techniques-sampling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sound design techniques<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/an-introduction-to-mixing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mixing<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/category\/tips-tutorials\/mastering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mastering.<\/a> It can be used in creative and musical ways, but it can also turn a dynamic and exciting mix into a flat and fatiguing one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2009\/12\/31\/122114058\/the-loudness-wars-why-music-sounds-worse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">if used irresponsibly.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide should give you a strong foundational understanding of compression and its common parameters. That said, just like how you can&#8217;t learn to ride a bike by reading a book, you can&#8217;t become an expert at compression just by checking out an article or watching a single YouTube video; now it&#8217;s time for you to open up your DAW and experiment with all of the parameters yourself. Doing so will start to give you a real feel for when compression is helping or hurting your music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any questions about compression? Leave them in the comments section of our tutorial video above, and subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@splice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Splice YouTube channel<\/a> for more tips, tutorials, and insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Explore royalty-free one-shots, loops, FX, MIDI, and presets from leading artists, producers, and sound designers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/sounds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Join Splice today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let\u2019s demystify audio compression by discussing what it is, what its parameters are, and how it\u2019s used in music production.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":7853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1846,1696,1702,49],"tags":[1638,619,918],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Compression? A Music Production Guide - Blog | Splice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this guide to audio compressors, we answer the question, \u201cWhat is compression?\u201d by breaking down how it works, key parameters, and applications in music.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/what-is-compression\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is Compression? 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