Threshold and Ratio
A quick answer to a FAQ:
“What is a ‘high’ threshold? What’s a ‘high’ ratio?”
When it comes to ‘highs’ and ‘lows,’ the threshold and ratio knobs are opposites of each other.
A ‘high’ ratio means a higher number. For example, 8:1 is a high ratio.
A high ratio is more aggressive than a low ratio.
But the threshold is flipped. A ‘high’ threshold means a lower number. For example, -5dBs is a high threshold. A high threshold is less aggressive than a low threshold.
Here’s my rule of thumb: the closer a threshold is to 0, the ‘higher’ it is. But the closer a ratio is to 0, the ‘lower’ it is.
Hopefully that will help to clear up some confusion!
[h4][b]Action Items[/b][/h4]
I’ve got two assignments for you on this activity.
First: Head to [url=https://codepen.io/animalsnacks/full/VRweeb]the compression visualizer[/url] and play with the threshold and ratio.
To make it easier to see that what these two settings do to the waveform, just set the attack and release as fast as possible.
Turn the threshold down. See how the waveform becomes less and less recognizable, the lower you go?
Now turn the threshold up, and the ratio up. See how you change the shape of everything above the threshold when you make a larger ratio?
Second: Check out[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNRGqHzMKc&feature=youtu.be] this awesome video[/url] that shows what the threshold and ratio do to a waveform in realtime.
I’ve sent this to many students to help them understand what the heck is going on when you mess with the threshold, ratio, and even makeup gain.
It’s a podcast instead of music, so that’s a little unfortunate. But the effect is the same.
As you watch, try to link up what you are hearing with what you are seeing. What does the voice sound like when the threshold gets turned down? What does it sound like when the ratio gets turned up, while the threshold is high as well?
If you can learn to connect what you’re seeing to what you’re hearing, you’ll be well on your way to compressing with intention.
“What is a ‘high’ threshold? What’s a ‘high’ ratio?”
When it comes to ‘highs’ and ‘lows,’ the threshold and ratio knobs are opposites of each other.
A ‘high’ ratio means a higher number. For example, 8:1 is a high ratio.
A high ratio is more aggressive than a low ratio.
But the threshold is flipped. A ‘high’ threshold means a lower number. For example, -5dBs is a high threshold. A high threshold is less aggressive than a low threshold.
Here’s my rule of thumb: the closer a threshold is to 0, the ‘higher’ it is. But the closer a ratio is to 0, the ‘lower’ it is.
Hopefully that will help to clear up some confusion!
[h4][b]Action Items[/b][/h4]
I’ve got two assignments for you on this activity.
First: Head to [url=https://codepen.io/animalsnacks/full/VRweeb]the compression visualizer[/url] and play with the threshold and ratio.
To make it easier to see that what these two settings do to the waveform, just set the attack and release as fast as possible.
Turn the threshold down. See how the waveform becomes less and less recognizable, the lower you go?
Now turn the threshold up, and the ratio up. See how you change the shape of everything above the threshold when you make a larger ratio?
Second: Check out[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gNRGqHzMKc&feature=youtu.be] this awesome video[/url] that shows what the threshold and ratio do to a waveform in realtime.
I’ve sent this to many students to help them understand what the heck is going on when you mess with the threshold, ratio, and even makeup gain.
It’s a podcast instead of music, so that’s a little unfortunate. But the effect is the same.
As you watch, try to link up what you are hearing with what you are seeing. What does the voice sound like when the threshold gets turned down? What does it sound like when the ratio gets turned up, while the threshold is high as well?
If you can learn to connect what you’re seeing to what you’re hearing, you’ll be well on your way to compressing with intention.