🎛️ Compression Masterclass – Types, Applications & Creative Uses
In this lesson, you'll learn:
✅ What compression is and how it works.
✅ Different types of compression & when to use them.
✅ Step-by-step guides for mixing & mastering.
✅ Creative compression tricks to enhance your sound.
📌 1️⃣ What is Compression?
Compression reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal, making loud parts quieter and quiet parts louder.
💡 Why use it?
✔ Makes vocals and instruments consistent in volume.
✔ Controls peaks to prevent distortion.
✔ Adds punch, clarity, and sustain to sounds.
🛠️ Main Controls:
- Threshold – The volume level at which compression starts.
- Ratio – How much compression is applied. (e.g., 4:1 = for every 4dB above the threshold, only 1dB is heard).
- Attack – How fast compression starts after a sound exceeds the threshold.
- Release – How fast compression stops after the sound falls below the threshold.
- Makeup Gain – Boosts the output to recover lost volume.
📌 2️⃣ Types of Compression & Applications
🔹 1️⃣ VCA Compression (Precise & Clean)
✔ Best for: Drums, Vocals, Mastering
✔ Sound: Transparent, fast, and punchy
✔ Examples: SSL Bus Compressor, Waves API-2500
✅ Use When:
- You want tight, controlled compression (great for drum buses).
- You need a consistent vocal level without adding too much color.
- You’re mastering and want subtle glue in the mix.
🛠️ Settings for Punchy Drums:
- Threshold: -6dB
- Ratio: 4:1
- Attack: Fast (1ms – 10ms)
- Release: Medium (50ms – 150ms)
- Makeup Gain: Adjust to match the original level.
🔹 2️⃣ Optical Compression (Smooth & Natural)
✔ Best for: Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Instruments
✔ Sound: Warm, smooth, and musical
✔ Examples: LA-2A, CLA-2A
✅ Use When:
- You need gentle, natural leveling on vocals.
- You want a rounder, fuller sound on bass or guitars.
- You’re working with live recordings that need dynamic control.
🛠️ Settings for Vocals:
- Threshold: Adjust until 3-5dB of gain reduction.
- Ratio: 2:1 or 3:1
- Attack: Slow (Optical compressors have fixed attack).
- Release: Slow (Optical compressors have fixed release).
- Makeup Gain: Adjust to balance volume.
🔹 3️⃣ FET Compression (Aggressive & Punchy)
✔ Best for: Rock Vocals, Drums, Guitars, Parallel Compression
✔ Sound: Fast, aggressive, colorful
✔ Examples: 1176 Compressor (CLA-76, UAD 1176)
✅ Use When:
- You need fast attack for an aggressive, upfront sound.
- You want to add energy to rock vocals or punch to drums.
- You need parallel compression for a thick mix.
🛠️ Settings for In-Your-Face Rock Vocals:
- Threshold: Adjust for 5-10dB reduction.
- Ratio: 4:1, 8:1, or even 20:1 (All-Buttons Mode)
- Attack: Fast (1ms – 5ms)
- Release: Medium (50ms – 100ms)
- Makeup Gain: Adjust to restore volume.
🔹 4️⃣ Variable-Mu Compression (Warm & Vintage)
✔ Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus, Vocals
✔ Sound: Smooth, warm, and analog-sounding
✔ Examples: Fairchild 670, Manley Vari-Mu
✅ Use When:
- You need gentle glue for mix bus/mastering.
- You want to add warmth to digital mixes.
- You’re mixing jazz, orchestral, or vintage-style music.
🛠️ Settings for Master Bus Compression:
- Threshold: Just enough to get 1-2dB reduction.
- Ratio: 2:1 or lower.
- Attack: Slow (10ms – 30ms)
- Release: Slow (200ms – 500ms)
- Makeup Gain: Adjust to match the original level.
📌 3️⃣ How to Use Compression Step-by-Step
🎤 Step-by-Step Vocal Compression
1️⃣ Insert Fruity Compressor (or any compressor) on your vocal track.
2️⃣ Set Threshold so that peaks are reduced by 3-6dB.
3️⃣ Set Ratio to 3:1 (for smooth compression) or 4:1 (for tighter vocals).
4️⃣ Set Attack to 15ms – 30ms (so transients remain natural).
5️⃣ Set Release to 40ms – 100ms (so compression breathes naturally).
6️⃣ Adjust Makeup Gain to bring the volume back.
7️⃣ A/B test with & without compression to make sure it improves clarity.
🎚️ Before: Vocals have uneven volume, making some words too loud or quiet.
🎚️ After: Vocals sound smooth and consistent.
🥁 Step-by-Step Drum Bus Compression
1️⃣ Insert Fruity Compressor or SSL Bus Compressor on your Drum Bus.
2️⃣ Set Threshold so that peaks are reduced by 3-5dB.
3️⃣ Set Ratio to 4:1 for punchy drums.
4️⃣ Set Attack to 10ms – 30ms (lets transients punch through).
5️⃣ Set Release to Auto or 100ms (reacts naturally to the beat).
6️⃣ Adjust Makeup Gain to restore volume.
7️⃣ A/B test to ensure the drums remain powerful.
🎚️ Before: Drums feel disconnected and uneven.
🎚️ After: Drums feel tight, punchy, and glued together.
📌 4️⃣ Creative Compression Techniques
🎧 🔹 Parallel Compression (New York Compression)
✔ Goal: Make drums & vocals sound thicker without losing dynamics.
🛠️ Steps:
1️⃣ Duplicate your drum or vocal track.
2️⃣ Apply heavy compression on the duplicate (Threshold: -10dB, Ratio: 10:1, Fast Attack).
3️⃣ Mix it low underneath the original track (blend to taste).
🎚️ Result: You keep the punch of the original, but the compression adds body & thickness.
🎵 🔹 Sidechain Compression (Ducking Effect)
✔ Goal: Make bass duck under the kick for a cleaner low-end.
🛠️ Steps:
1️⃣ Insert Fruity Limiter on the bass track.
2️⃣ Set Sidechain input to the kick drum.
3️⃣ Lower Threshold so bass dips when the kick hits.
4️⃣ Adjust Attack/Release for smooth ducking.
🎚️ Result: The kick cuts through clearly, avoiding bass muddiness.
🚀 Lesson Summary
✅ Types of Compression: VCA, Optical, FET, Variable-Mu
✅ When to Use Each Type: Drums, Vocals, Mastering, Mix Bus
✅ Step-by-Step Guides for Vocals & Drums
✅ Creative Uses: Parallel Compression, Sidechain Compression
🔜 Next Lesson: Multiband Compression – Controlling Different Frequency Ranges Separately!
Would you like FL Studio stock plugin alternatives for each compressor type? 🚀
