Compression Explained

Settings Cheat Sheet

Source Ratio Gain Reduction Attack Release

Kick Drum 4:1 – 8:1 4-10db 5ms – 15ms 50ms – 200ms

Snare Drum 4:1 – 8:1 4-10db 3ms – 15ms 50ms – 250ms
Toms 4:1 – 8:1 4-10db 8ms – 15ms 100ms – 300ms
Overheads 2:1 – 4:1 2-10db 1ms – 30ms 250ms – 1sec
Room Mics 4:1 – Infinite 2-20db 3ms and under 50ms – 1sec
Drum Bus 2:1 -8:1 4-10db 5ms – 10ms 50ms – 500ms

Bass Guitar DI 2:1 – 10:1 6-10db 10ms – 30ms 30ms – 100ms

Bass Guitar Amp 2:1 – 6:1 2-6db 5ms – 30ms 30ms – 100ms
Synth Bass – EDM 4:1 – 10:1 6-10db 10ms – 30ms 30ms – 100ms

Acoustic Guitar 2:1 – 6:1 4-20db 10ms – 20ms 50ms – 250ms

Electric Guitar – Clean 2:1 – 6:1 1-6db 10ms – 30ms 50ms – 500ms
Electric Guitar – Dirty 2:1 – 4:1 1-4db 5ms – 30ms 100ms – 300ms
Electric Guitar – Distorted 2:1 and under 0-2db 3ms to 20ms 30ms – 500ms

Piano 4:1 – 8:1 4-8db 20ms – 50ms 300ms – 1 sec

Strings 2:1 – 4:1 0-4db 20ms – 50ms 300ms – 1 sec

Vocal – Male Lead 4:1 – 8:1 2-10db 15ms – 30ms 100ms – 300ms
Vocal – Female Lead 2:1 – 8:1 2-10db 15ms – 30ms 100ms – 300ms

Mix Buss 2:1 – 4:1 0-4db 3ms – 10ms 300ms – 3 sec

Mastering 2:1 – Infinite 1-8db 1ms and under 500ms – 3sec