Topic: Simple Compressor question

[Matt Quinn]

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!

[bluegrass_brad]

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

[Matt Quinn]

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!

[bluegrass_brad]

What kind of compressor?

[Matt Quinn]

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

[bluegrass_brad]

I havent ever used CEP (mac guy here) but it sure sounds like makeup gain to me.

[Matt Quinn]

thanks for the advice, +t- gonna go poke around & see if there's anything like that I can turn off.

[bluegrass_brad]

maybe look for a different VST to use instead of that one.

[Brian Skalinder]

FWIW, just tested Audition 1.5 and the built-in compressor (Effects | Amplitude | Dynamics Processing | Traditional tab) works fine for me:

• Section 1 (not numbered) = Compress
• Ratio = 2:1
• Threshold = -6
• Section 2 = Flat
• Output Compensation = 0

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).

[Matt Quinn]

thanks Brian, I'll give it a whirl tonight!