Compression
One of the principal uses of compression is the control of level in vocals. Many singers train for years to achieve the degree of breath control necessary for an even tone and expressive performance. Other vocalists rely on an instinctive voice production technique, which may need help in the studio to maintain a consistent level, and result in a vocal track which 'sits' correctly in the mix.
The level of a vocal may vary widely, and appear like the unprocessed signal in the diagram :
LevelSignal LevelSignal
LevelSignal
Threshold level
Unprocessed signal | Time |
|
Threshold level
3:1 Compression above threshold | Time |
|
With gain make up | Time |
Diagram 1
The unprocessed signal has a large dynamic range between the highest and lowest levels. Applying compression reduces the highest levels, reducing the dynamic range. Because the peak level of the signal is now lower,
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