The Compression Visualiser

Here’s the thing about learning compression – you can’t see it. You tweak a knob, something changes, but you’re not really sure what. Or why. So you just keep tweaking and hoping.

This visualiser fixes that. Adjust threshold, ratio, attack, and release and actually watch how they shape the signal. See the transient punch through on a slow attack. See it get squashed on a fast attack. See the gain reduction kick in and release.

Once you can see what the compressor is doing, you start to understand what you’re supposed to be listening for.

Things to try:

Slow the attack down (30ms+) and watch the transient spike through before compression kicks in. That’s your punch.

Speed the attack up (under 5ms) and watch that transient disappear. That’s how you kill punch without realising it.

Crank the ratio past 10:1 and watch the signal flatten out. That’s limiting territory.

Play with the release and watch how the gain reduction recovers. Too fast and it’s pumping. Too slow and it never lets go.

The goal here isn’t to mix with your eyes – that’s a trap. The goal is to build the connection between what you’re seeing and what you’re hearing. Then when you’re back in your DAW, you’ll know what to listen for.