The threshold is generaly measured in dB. You set the threshold depending on the amplitude of the waveform you are trying to compress. I you set the threshold above the peak of the wave, then the compressor will no do anything.

It will only compress the signal that goes over the threshold, so the overall volume will not drop by the ratio, just the signal above that volume.

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Thank you cheggy!

But I'm still wondering, why this compressor yesterday didn't cut this certain peak. If reduced treshold more and more until halfway. The track was exported as a wave file, where the volume faders are as close as possible to the treshold, where the track starts to clip. So why did this compressing no effect by putting the Attack and Release values to 0?

there was a good thread some time ago with extensive feedback of dj thy (he knows all about sound theory). Just do some search

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are you using the compressor in reason? because i have always had trouble with the compressor in reason not functioning correctly

a compressor is basicly a tool that gives you the ability to manipulate the dynamics in a sound. in other words the diference between the peaks and the lows if I'm not misstaken

the ratio decides how much the sound will be compressed (2:1 or 3:1 etc)

the threshold is what tells the compressor when it should start compress and it's meazured in db just like someone said (although in reason it's not meazured in db for some reason )

so basicly, if you set a compressor to:
ratio - 2:1
thres. - 15

it means that the compressor will start it's work when the signal goes over -15db and it will be compressed two times it's regular state

feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on anything as I'm no real expert on the subject

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quote:

Originally posted by Ian Vanderson But I'm still wondering, why this compressor yesterday didn't cut this certain peak. If reduced treshold more and more until halfway. The track was exported as a wave file, where the volume faders are as close as possible to the treshold, where the track starts to clip. So why did this compressing no effect by putting the Attack and Release values to 0?

Does reason have a built in limiter? You might want to try putting a limiter on the offending track to get rid of those unwanted peaks.

compression tutorial (basic beginners guide)

~Ross B

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Thank you, guys.

I think, I've understood the last subtleties of the compressor after that great article on ww.ethanwiner.com .

quote:

Originally posted by Vizay ... and it will be compressed two times it's regular state.

And this was the point, I concern most. The signal won't be compressed relatively to its regular state. It is only the part above the treshold, that will be compressed. Just a subtlety, but important to know.

And yes, it was the Reason (2.5) Compressor Unit, that I used. I'm still wondering, if Reason takes the whole availible volume range as basic for the treshold range or only the volume range of the current signal. However, don't know why, but somehow this Reason Compressor device doesn't seem to be the "only truth".

Hope to get some better results by using Waves Gold or TRex.