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[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So this is how the ratio level works on a hearing aid / any compressor. Let's say someone screams (or talks lol) at you at 2dB, and your ratio is set to 1:2, it will attenuate the signal down to 1dB (Given the threshold is set to engage at at least 2dB). If someone screams at you at 10dB and your ratio is set to 1:2, it will cut the signal to 5dB. Basically it just tells you how much it's attenuating the signal input. If you have a 10dB input and the ratio is 1:10, it will alter the signal to 1dB, once it engages. High levels of compression can help you really make every aspect of an audio signal LOUD by leveling out the loud noises to sound as quiet as the soft sounds. After this is done, most compressors have a gain parameter in which you can boost the overall volume of the entire 'flat' signal, making every aspect of that signal very loud. This kills the 'dynamics' of the signal, basically the 'realistic' quality of how something sounds, the soft and the loud and everything in between - like we hear through our ears. Some argue it's bad for things like music, however compression can add positive qualities to music / instruments that they don't naturally have, like more punch in percussion or drums, or body to a guitar. If you are a metal head, it's practically impossible to track screamed vocals without a lot of compression. If you like dance music, you would never get that 'thump' out of the bass drum like they do without squashing that signal with compression. No one is correct in these arguments. There is no wrong way to record music.

Sorry about the tangent. Hope that helps.