If we left the dynamic range wide open like you would hear it in real life, it would be incredibly distracting, not to mention potentially painful. Let’s imagine for a second that we have a vocalist who whispers and screams during the same chorus. To help your audio signals sound natural on a recording without poking out of the speakers, reducing the dynamic range is important. The dynamic range is the difference between the softest and loudest parts of your audio signal. What Is Compression and Why Do I Need It?Ĭompression is an audio processing tool that reduces the dynamic range of a signal. In this article, we want to dive in and talk about finding the perfect compressions settings for your mixes! Of course, trying to break down a bit subject like compression can be quite difficult, especially when you realize how many controls there are. Compression is one of the most powerful tools in your mixing arsenal, and learning how to use a compressor properly is essential for mixing high-quality, radio-ready music.