1176 Compressor Plugin Reaper: Understanding Compression Types

When it comes to audio processing, compression is a crucial technique used to control the dynamics of your audio. You'll come across various types of compressors, each with its own unique characteristics and applications. In this article, we'll delve into the different types of compressors, including upward compression and expansion, limiters, broadband, multiband, transparent, and characterful compressors.

Upward Compression and Expansion

Upward compression and expansion are two techniques that flip standard compression on its head. Upward compression reduces the volume of low-level signals while upward expansion increases the volume of high-level signals. This is often used in music production to even out the dynamics of a track or to create a sense of space.

Limiters: The Ultimate Peak Control

A limiter is essentially a compressor set at a high ratio, which completely cuts off all peaks over a certain level. Limiters are used to prevent your audio from exceeding maximum levels, ensuring that your tracks don't get distorted or clipped. We've included some limiter plugins below for you to try out.

Frequency-Selective Compression

Compressors can be applied to low, high, or mid-range frequencies independently, allowing for more precise control over the frequency spectrum. This is particularly useful when working with vocals or instruments that have a strong presence in specific frequency ranges.

Transparent vs Characterful Compressors

One of the main divides in compressor types is between those described as transparent and those that are 'characterful'. Transparent compressors aim to do their job without altering the sound of your audio, controlling dynamics while remaining faithful to the input audio. On the other hand, characterful compressors often emulate vintage hardware and may alter the sound of your audio slightly through subtle EQ or filtering, or by adding a touch of musically-pleasing distortion.

In conclusion, understanding the different types of compressors available in Reaper can help you make informed decisions when choosing the right plugin for your project. Whether you're looking for transparent dynamics control or characterful tone-shaping, there's a compressor out there that suits your needs.

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