ABSTRACT
Perhaps the most misused and overused tool in mixing is the compressor - which is especially worrying considering how predominant compressors are in contemporary mixes. It is no secret that compressors can make sounds louder, bigger, punchier, richer, or more powerful. Dynamics are a crucial aspect of a musical piece and a key messenger of musical expression. One problem in early radio transmissions was that, if program levels exceeded a certain threshold, the transmitter would overload and blow - never a good thing, particularly during the climax of a thrilling sports broadcast. Studio engineers quickly borrowed compressors for their recording studios as, just like radio engineers, they had to gain-ride live performances. The explanation of how compressors work is often oversimplified and inaccurate. The threshold is the level above which gain reduction starts. Any signal exceeding the threshold is known as an overshooting signal and would normally be reduced in level.
