Can someone explain to me the function of a compressor?

[jethrobull]

Lol now I ask advice and I get this is answer. I will just download the plugins and figure it out

it's difficult to explain without images.
at it's most basic level it is used to control dynamic ranges.
what that means in practice depends on the material in question. and what the users wants.

so really, the best option is to pick one of the compressors, then find as many youtube vids for that particular compressor, this will make it easier to follow a tutorial.
then once you feel more confident with compression, you can look at others and see where the differences lay.

What the hell is a compressor?

i use one post mincer, to get rid of victims.

[whyterabbyt]

Over a given period of time, in a signal, there'll be a change in volume from one volume level to another, which is effectively a slope. Compressors basically make that slope more or less steep dependent on how steep it currently is.

The traditional use was to 'even out' fast changes in volume level. Nowadays its also used for making individual sounds more pronounced, or even for changes in timbre (eg when emulating the timbral 'character' of certain real-world compressors)

[Mushy Mushy]

Image 1: Original signal
Image 2: Squashed (ie, compressed signal)
Image 3: Squashed signal now boosted, resulting in moar moarness (ie, 11)

Don't be confused when you read a compressor makes things louder, it doesn't. They reduce the signal in order to free up headroom into which you can increase the volume.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Simple, but effective graphic

[Kongru]

A compressor compresses things, an expander expands things.

[Googly Smythe]

A compressor compresses things, an expander expands things.

You should write for Cubase's manual.

[chk071]

@chk071, sooner or later you are going to have to come to terms with fact that you only exist in the minds of others. You have no self, no “life” no other worth in any matter of meaning... you only exist to serve others.

The sad realization of life as it is on the internet.

Anyway, it's not as if i didn't do my job here. I pointed to the world of wisdom revealed by the almighty Google machine.

[fmr]

A compressor compresses things, an expander expands things.

You should write for Cubase's manual.

[mladi]

I use this one:

[Mushy Mushy]

What do you use if you work in the evenings though? Hyunight?

[vurt]

:monocle:

[jochicago]

A compressor is the second most important signal manipulator and the hardest to learn. It will take you years before you feel you can command them properly. The smallest amount of information you need to know to use a compressor competently is several pages long.

Watch a few videos, read a few articles, spend a few hours. Best recommendation: start getting the hang of very simple compressors, like start with SLAX.

[dirtysnow]

[img]
Don't be confused when you read a compressor makes things louder, it doesn't. They reduce the signal in order to free up headroom into which you can increase the volume.

Should note that perceptual loudness is about average as opposed to peak. So the squashed signal, when brought up to the same peak, will sound louder.

[Googly Smythe]

[img]
Don't be confused when you read a compressor makes things louder, it doesn't. They reduce the signal in order to free up headroom into which you can increase the volume.

Should note that perceptual loudness is about average as opposed to peak. So the squashed signal, when brought up to the same peak, will sound louder.

I would agree with this, except to say...
...And that's called compensation. Having to do that is what you might call a consequence of compression.
I'm feeling picky tonite.

[Aleatoriac]

The function of an audio signal compressor is to bring up the noise floor and destroy transients.