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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: Matt Quinn on April 22, 2008, 02:16:36 PM

Title: Simple Compressor question
Post by: Matt Quinn on April 22, 2008, 02:16:36 PM
Or maybe not so simple.....

I (mostly) understand what a compressor is & how it works, but I'm still confused on . For arguments sake, let's keep it basic.  Say I have a show, and I run it through a simple compressor, Threshold is set to -6db, Ratio is 2:1, output gain is 0. Now, in my understanding, this means that everything *higher* than -6db should be compressed at a ratio of 2:1, reducing the volume of passages that exceed the threshold, and anything *lower* than -6db should be left untouched.

So why, when I run a compressor with these exact settings, does it raise the OVERALL volume of the file? FWIW I'm using CoolEditPro, though I suspect other applications act the same.


Thanks!
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: bluegrass_brad on April 22, 2008, 02:20:18 PM
Alot of compressor plug-in's have an "auto-gain" or "auto make-p" setting where it will raise the overall volume to make up for the volume lost in compression, so make sure that is off  Most also have a place where you can apply gain after compression, so make sure that is set to 0
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: Matt Quinn on April 22, 2008, 02:41:12 PM
Quote from: bluegrass_brad on April 22, 2008, 02:20:18 PM
Alot of compressor plug-in's have an "auto-gain" or "auto make-p" setting where it will raise the overall volume to make up for the volume lost in compression, so make sure that is off  Most also have a place where you can apply gain after compression, so make sure that is set to 0



I'm using a built in compressor, not a plug in, not sure it makes a difference though.

The Compressor Output gain is definitely at 0. Not sure about the auto-gain stuff, I didn't see any parameters indicating that happening.


Thanks for the response though!
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: bluegrass_brad on April 22, 2008, 02:44:00 PM
What kind of compressor?
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: Matt Quinn on April 22, 2008, 02:46:00 PM
Quote from: bluegrass_brad on April 22, 2008, 02:44:00 PM
What kind of compressor?



Just the built in compressor effect in CEP..........no preset, just simply set to the parameters above- Ratio 2:1 @ Threshold: -6, everything below that flat, Output Gain = 0
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: bluegrass_brad on April 22, 2008, 02:54:20 PM
I havent ever used CEP (mac guy here) but it sure sounds like makeup gain to me.
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: Matt Quinn on April 22, 2008, 04:05:37 PM
thanks for the advice, +t- gonna go poke around & see if there's anything like that I can turn off.
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: bluegrass_brad on April 22, 2008, 04:29:41 PM
maybe look for a different VST to use instead of that one.
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: Brian Skalinder on April 22, 2008, 04:49:36 PM
FWIW, just tested Audition 1.5 and the built-in compressor (Effects | Amplitude | Dynamics Processing | Traditional tab) works fine for me:


Did you confirm the Attack / Release tab's Output and Input gain is also set to 0?  Perhaps it's not zero from some previous action (pretty sure CEP/Audition remembers the previously used settings).
Title: Re: Simple Compressor question
Post by: Matt Quinn on April 22, 2008, 06:07:49 PM
thanks Brian, I'll give it a whirl tonight!