Native Instruments O Kore 2 - Page 143

KORE 2 – 143
3.8.7 Easy Compressor
The eaSy CoMPreSSor is a simple but powerful tool to control dynamic range.
A compressor is a preamp with variable gain depending on the input signal.
When the input signal exceeds the tHreSHold, the gain goes down to reduce
the output level. The amount of reduction depends on the r atio control.
For example, with a 4:1 ratio, a 4dB increase in the input level results in
a 1dB output level increase. With an innite (inf) ratio, the output signal
will not increase above the tHreSHold, regardless of how much the input
level exceeds the tHreSHold.
Compression has many uses: You can use it to control lter resonance
with synthesizers, compensate for singers with a poor microphone
technique, and increase guitar sustain by reducing peaks and creating
a more consistent level. However, restricting the peaks may make the
average signal level seem softer. Use the out gain control to compensate
by increasing the output level.
The compressor analyses the incoming signal to decide when to apply
compression. You can inuence this process with the attaCK and releaSe
parameters.
attaCK determines how fast the algorithm reacts to signals above
the threshold level, while releaSe sets how much time it takes for the
compression to stop after the signal drops below the threshold. Optimum
settings depend on the audio material being compressed; with drums, for
instance, a long a ttaCK time allows peaks to pass without compression,