Input Meter

Indicates the level of the unprocessed input signal to the Compressor.

Output Meter

Indicates the output level of the Compressor, including any gain compensation added through the Gain parameter

Reduction

Indicates the amount of gain reduction in dB.

Phase Invert

Allows you to invert the phase (polarity) of the input signal in order to change frequency response between "multi-miked" sources or to correct for miswired microphone cables.

Gain

Provides overall output gain adjustment. It allows you to compensate for heavily compressed signals.

Threshold

Allows you to set the threshold level. Signals that exceed this level are compressed. Signals that are below it are unaffected. A level setting of 0 dB is equivalent to no compression. Unlike scales on analog compressors, metering scales on a digital device reflect a 0-dB value, which indicates full scale (FS) — the full-code signal level. There is no headroom above 0 dB.

Ratio

Allows you to set the compression ratio. The range is based on decibels above the threshold. If this parameter is set to 2:1, for example, it compresses changes in signals above the threshold by one half.

Attack

Allows you to set the Compressor's attack time. The smaller the value, the faster the attack. The faster the attack, the faster the Compressor applies attenuation to the signal. If you use fast attack times and heavy limiting, you should use a proportionally longer release time, particularly with material that contains many peaks in close proximity.

Release

Allows you to control how long it takes for the Compressor to be fully deactivated after the input signal drops below the threshold level. If you use heavy compression, you should use proportionally longer release times. This prevents pumping, which might occur when the Compressor is forced to jump back and forth between compressed and uncompressed signal levels. Lengthening the release time helps smooth these changes in level by introducing a lag in the ramp-up and ramp-down times of attenuation. Use shorter release times on material with few peaks that do not occur in close proximity to each other.

Knee

Allows you to set the rate at which the compressor reaches full compression once the threshold has been exceeded. This parameter ranges from 0 (hardest response) to 200 (softest response).

Graph

Displays the response curve set by the Compressor's Threshold, Ratio, and Knee settings. As you adjust these parameters, refer to the graph to see how the shape of this curve changes. It allows you to see the effect of your settings.

External Key

This parameter has no effect on the AudioSuite plug-ins.

Key Listen

This parameter has no effect on the AudioSuite plug-ins.