Let's Build a... Compressor

Compression is a dark art, so it's time to think like a DSP programmer. In this video, we build a dynamics gate, look at the nature of amplitude and decibels, and then enter log space to make a tweakable compressor. Because in Bitwig, we can even build devices that lookahead into the future. 🔮🪵 Contents: 0:00 What is a compressor? And why? 3:07 A compressor uses one incoming signal as Audio, Control & Timing 4:43 First, let's build a "Gate" with linear thinking 5:53 Comparing signals with Logic processors, and the difference between instantaneous amplitude and averaged level 11:31 Decibels just fit our ears 👂 16:33 Adding a lookahead feature that can see the future (thank you, Time Shift) 22:06 It's Compressor time, so welcome to the Logarithmic domain 28:18 Now let's make the Ratio work 32:32 Time for some modifications, and why do we build? 🛠️ 35:38 Twist: How about our gain reduction also triggered external audio FX? Learn more about Bitwig Studio at www.bitwig.com Follow Bitwig: Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/bitwig Facebook ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/bitwig Twitter ➡️ https://twitter.com/Bitwig TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@bitwig_official #Bitwig #BitwigStudio #musicproduction #musicproducer