🎧 Compression Simulator

Adjust threshold, ratio, attack and release controls — and hear exactly how each one shapes your audio in real-time. No DAW needed.

🎤 Audio Source

Choose a sound to compress. Each source demonstrates different compression behaviors.

🎛️ Compression Controls

-20 dB
Signal level where compression begins. Lower = more compression.
4:1
How aggressively signal above threshold is reduced.
10 ms
How fast compression engages. Slow = punchy transients.
100 ms
How fast compression lets go. Affects rhythmic feel.
0 dB
Boost output to compensate for reduced volume.
6 dB
Soft knee = gradual onset. Hard knee (0) = abrupt.
Input Level
-∞ dB
Output Level
-∞ dB
Gain Reduction
0 dB
💡 What's happening: With these settings, any signal above -20 dB gets reduced by a 4:1 ratio. The compressor kicks in after 10 ms (letting some transient through) and releases after 100 ms. This is a classic vocal or bus compression setting — controlled without being squashed.

📌 Quick Presets

Click a preset to load common compression settings and hear the difference.

🎤 Vocal

Smooth, controlled vocals. Fast attack, medium release.

🥁 Punchy Drums

Slow attack lets transients through. Adds punch and weight.

🎵 Bus Glue

Gentle compression that makes a mix feel cohesive.

🚨 Limiter

Extreme ratio. Brickwall limiting for loudness.

🔀 NY Parallel

Heavy squash settings used in parallel compression.

🌱 Gentle Touch

Barely-there compression. Subtle dynamic control.