An effect that reduces the dynamic range, evening out loud and quiet parts.
Compression is a dynamics process that automatically turns down a signal when it gets louder than a set threshold, narrowing the gap between the loudest and quietest parts of a performance. The result is a more even, controlled and often punchier sound — a compressed vocal stays present and intelligible throughout rather than jumping forward on loud words and disappearing on quiet ones. Compression is everywhere in modern music: on vocals, drums, bass, and across whole mixes. Its key controls are threshold (where it starts working), ratio (how hard), and attack and release (how fast it reacts), and learning to hear its effect is a core mixing skill.
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