The knowledge: compression techniques
Like manual methods, a compressor also manages dynamics by reducing level, but it does it automatically, depending on the settings you choose. To help understand how this works, let’s keep the car suspension analogy in mind. The suspension is a compressor, of sorts, controlling the ‘dynamics’ of the road’s surface – the bumps, peaks and troughs.
Smooth it over
The overall smoothness of the ride is determined by the stiffness of the springs in the suspension. If you lean on the car, how easily does it sink down to absorb the weight? In a compressor, this overall ‘softness’ is determined by the ratio.
A lower ratio gives you a smoother ride; most family cars have their suspension set up this way, but there’s more movement in the car and less control for aggressive driving. Higher ratios are analogous to a sports suspension in a car, where the smoothness of the ride is less important than control.