Threshold decides when it starts
Lower threshold means more of the signal crosses the line, so the compressor works more often.
See what compression is doing
Move the controls and watch the transfer curve, gain reduction, and output level change in real time.
Compression Curve
Input peak
-6.0 dB
Gain reduction
3.0 dB
Output peak
-5.1 dB
Gain reduction3.0 dB
Output level-5.1 dB
Settings
Ratio decides how hard it clamps
A 4:1 ratio means every 4 dB above the threshold becomes roughly 1 dB at the output.
Attack shapes the transient
Slower attack lets the first hit through. Faster attack grabs the front and can make sounds feel tighter.