A compressor reduces the dynamic range of audio by attenuating loud signals that exceed a set threshold. This makes quiet sounds more audible and prevents loud peaks from clipping or dominating a mix.
Key parameters:
- Threshold — the level above which compression begins
- Ratio — how much gain reduction to apply (e.g., 4:1 means 4 dB over threshold becomes 1 dB)
- Attack — how quickly the compressor reacts to signals exceeding the threshold
- Release — how quickly the compressor stops reducing gain after the signal falls below threshold
- Makeup gain — compensates for the overall volume reduction
In game audio, compression is critical for ensuring dialogue remains intelligible over music and sound effects, and for making sure sound effects have consistent perceived loudness across different playback systems.