Heavy settings will not usually yield pleasant sounds. Achieving good results on an upward compressor typically requires that you use subtle settings. MaxxVolume also includes a noise gate and a leveller. These models both include not only low-level compressors but downward compressors as well, allowing you to squash a source from above and below if you want to.
Waves offers a few different compressors with low-level capabilities: MaxxVolume and the MV2.
It is available in faithful plugin form as the CLA-2A. The LA-2A hardware unit is ubiquitous in commercial studios and has been heard on countless recordings. Technically referred to as a "leveling amplifier" (hence the "LA" in the name) it combined both electro-optical circuitry and a tube amplifier for a smooth and pleasing compression that was particularly useful on vocal tracks, but also great on other sources. Perhaps the most famous optical compressor of all time is the Teletronix LA-2A. Unlike other compressor types, hardware optical compressors have fixed ratios, typically 3:1. The response of this setup is smooth and transparent. In an optical compressor, the detection circuit is unique the audio signal is turned into light, which triggers an electro-optical sensor that governs the amount of gain reduction. Virtually any compression task, because they're so versatile Not as good for: Ĭompressors typically split your input signal into two parts: One is sent through a detection circuit, which determines how the compressor will act, and the other is the audio that's operated upon by the compressor and sent to the output.Buss compression-both master and subgroup.Smoothing out peaks in a transparent way-for example, restricting the dynamic range of a vocal or instrument performance without squashing transients.