18 EMX5016CF Owner’s Manual
Making the Most of Your Mixer
Mixer Basics
Compression
Have you ever wondered why professionally produced recordings sound so different from your own? There are
numerous reasons, of course, but one important factor is the judicious use of compression.
One form of compression known as “limiting” can,
when properly used, produce a smooth, unified
sound with no excessive peaks or distortion.
Compression can also be used within a mix to
make a voice or instrument seem to come
forward, or simply to even out level differences.
Compression can be used to make a mix seem
bigger and louder by producing a more “saturated”
sound. Professional compressors have numerous
parameters that need to be carefully adjusted:
attack, release, threshold, level, and sometimes
more. A professional sound engineer might need
to spend a considerable amount of time, based on
a considerable amount of experience, to set each
of these parameters to achieve the desired sound.
The EMX compressor makes achieving great
sound much easier. All you need to do is set a
single “compression” control and all of the pertinent
parameters are automatically adjusted for you.
The engineers who designed this fine compressor paid careful attention to achieving the best sound quality
possible so that you can quickly achieve pro-quality compression without having to worry about a confusing
multitude of settings.
A common example of the use of compression is to “tame” a vocal that has a wide dynamic range in order to
tighten up the mix. With the right amount of compression you’ll be able to clearly hear whispered passages
while passionate shouts are still well balanced in the mix. Compression can also be valuable on bass guitar,
producing a smooth bass sound that stays solid through the tune. Compression can also be applied to guitar
tracks to add extra sustain. Too much compression can be a cause of feedback, however, so use it sparingly.

Music First—Then Mix

In any case, the music comes first. Think about the music and let it guide the mix, rather than trying to do things
the other way around. What is the music saying and what instrument or technique is being used to drive the
message? That’s where the focus of your mix should be. You’re using a high-tech tool to do the mixing, but the
mix itself is as much art as the music. Approach it that way and your mixes will become a vital part of the music.
OUTPUT
INPUT
(Min)
(Max)