How Does
How Sonic Compressors Work
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By eHow Contributing Writer
What Compressors Do
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Sonic compressors limit the highest and lowest frequencies of a signal. This results in fewer rough edges and a flatter, more compressed sound that "jumps out" at the listener. In audio recording, compressors are most frequently used on vocals.
How It Works
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An audio compressor or dynamic range compressor has two circuits. The incoming signal is split. It goes to a variable gain amplifier and a side circuit that calculates the amount of gain reduction. The circuit sends the gain reduction to the amplifier, and the signal is modified.
Controls
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A compressor's effects are controlled by a gate or threshold. This sets the level above which the signal is reduced. If the level is five decibels, any signal coming through the compressor louder than five decibels will have gain reduction. The second control is ratio, which sets the amount of reduction. The third is attack and release, which sets the time between the signal entering the circuit and the gain reduction.
eHow Article: How Sonic Compressors Work
