Plugin interface — screenshot pending
Compressor

Compressor

Steinberg

Where to get itIncluded with Cubase. It is part of that DAW, not a separate download.steinberg.net

Compressor is a dynamic range control plugin that makes softer sounds louder or louder sounds softer through threshold-and-ratio-based gain reduction. It features a graphical display of the compression curve, a gain reduction meter, selectable soft knee or hard knee modes, and program-dependent automatic release, making it suitable for both gentle shaping and aggressive ducking across various material types.

Written from the manual and checked against it. How we check

Key Features

01Graphical compression curve display shaped by Threshold and Ratio
02Gain Reduction meter showing dB reduction in real-time
03Soft Knee / Hard Knee compression modes
04Program-dependent Auto Release
05Analysis control from Pure Peak to Pure RMS
06Attack (0.1 to 100 ms) with early signal pass-through
07Hold (0 to 5000 ms) for ducking applications
08Live mode to disable look-ahead and eliminate latency
09Make-Up Gain (0 to 24 dB) with optional Auto mode
10Dry Mix for blending dry and compressed signals
11External side-chain support
12High Ratio fixed at 20:1

Things to Try

  • 01Use RMS mode for vocals and other material with few transients for smoother, more transparent compression
  • 02Switch to Peak mode for percussive material with lots of transient peaks for more precise control
  • 03Set short Hold times (0-5000 ms range) for DJ-style ducking effects
  • 04Activate Auto Release to let the plugin automatically find the best release setting for your audio material
  • 05Engage Live mode to eliminate look-ahead latency when processing live audio in real-time
User Manual↗

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