Apply amplitude and compression effects to audio

Learn to apply and control amplitude and compression effects in Adobe Audition.

The Amplitude and Compression > Amplify effect boosts or attenuates an audio signal. Because the effect operates in real time, you can combine it with other effects in the Effects Rack.

Boost or attenuate individual audio channels.

Moves the channel sliders together.

Channel Mixer effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Channel Mixer effect alters the balance of stereo or surround channels. You change the apparent position of sounds, correct mismatched levels, or address phasing issues.

Select the output channel.

To mix into the output channel, determine the percentage of the current channels. For a stereo file, for example, an L value of 50 and an R value of 50 results in an output channel that contains equal audio from the current left and right channels.

Inverts a channel’s phase. Inverting all channels causes no perceived difference in sound. Inverting only one channel, however, can greatly change the sound.

DeEsser effect

The Amplitude and Compression > DeEsser effect removes sibilance, “ess” sounds heard in speech and singing that can distort high frequencies.

The graph reveals the processed frequencies. To see how much audio content exists in the processed range, select the Preview   button .

Choose Broadband to uniformly compress all frequencies, or Multiband to compress only the sibilance range. Multiband is best suited for most audio content, but it slightly increases processing time.

Sets the amplitude above which compression occurs.

Specifies the frequency at which sibilance is most intense. To verify, adjust this setting while playing audio.

Determines the frequency range that triggers the compressor.

To visually adjust Center Frequency and Bandwidth, drag the edges of the selection in the graph.

Lets you hear detected sibilance. Start playback, and fine-tune settings above.

Shows the compression level of the processed frequencies.

Dynamics Processing effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Dynamics Processing effect can be used as a compressor, limiter, or expander. As a compressor and limiter, this effect reduces dynamic range, producing consistent volume levels. As an expander, it increases dynamic range by reducing the level of low‑level signals. With extreme expander settings, you can create a noise gate that totally eliminates noise below a specific amplitude threshold.

The Dynamics Processing effect can produce subtle changes that you notice only after repeated listening. When applying this effect in the Waveform Editor, use a copy of the original file so you can return to the original audio if necessary.

In the Dynamic Processing Effect, you can view the Level Meter and the Gain Reduction Meter. Level Meter shows the input level of the audio and Gain Reduction Meter shows how audio signals are compressed or expanded. These meters are visible on the right side of the graph as shown below.

Dynamics tab

Depicts input level along the horizontal ruler (x‑axis) and the new output level along the vertical ruler (y‑axis). The default graph, with a straight line from the lower left to the upper right, depicts a signal that has been left untouched; every input level has the same output level. Adjusting the graph changes the relationship between input and output levels, altering dynamic range.

For example, if a desirable sonic element occurs around ‑20 dB, you can boost the input signal at that level, but leave everything else unchanged. You can also draw an inverse line (from the upper left to the lower right) that boosts quiet sounds and suppress loud ones.

Adds a control point in the graph using the numerical input and output levels you specify. This method is more precise than clicking the graph to add points.

To numerically adjust an existing control point, right-click it and select Edit Point.

Removes selected point from the graph.

Flips the graph, converting compression into expansion, or the other way around.

Resets the graph to its default state.

Creates smoother, curved transitions between control points, rather than more abrupt, linear transitions. Learn more about spline curves for graphs.

Boosts the processed signal.

Settings tab

General

The General section provides overall settings.

Addresses transient spikes that can occur at the onset of loud signals that extend beyond the compressor’s Attack Time settings. Extending Look-Ahead Time causes compression to attack before the audio gets loud, ensuring that amplitude never exceeds a certain level. Conversely, reducing Look-Ahead Time is desirable to enhance the impact of percussive music, such as drum hits.

Completely silences signals that are expanded below a 50-to-1 ratio.

Level Detector

The Level Detector section determines the original input amplitude.

Applies gain to the signal before it enters the Level Detector.

Determines how many milliseconds it takes for the input signal to register a changed amplitude level. For example, if audio suddenly drops 30 dB, the specified attack time passes before the input registers an amplitude change. This avoids erroneous amplitude readings due to temporary changes.

Determines how many milliseconds the current amplitude level is maintained before another amplitude change can register.

Use fast attack and release settings for audio with fast transients, and slower settings for less percussive audio.

Determines levels based on amplitude peaks. This mode is a bit more difficult to use than RMS, because peaks aren’t precisely reflected in the Dynamics graph. However, it can be helpful when audio has loud transient peaks you want to subdue.

Determines levels based on the root-mean-square formula, an averaging method that more closely matches the way people perceive volume. This mode precisely reflects amplitudes in the Dynamics graph. For example, a limiter (represented by a flat horizontal line) at ‑10 dB reflects an average RMS amplitude of ‑10 dB.

Gain Processor

Adjusting the Gain Processor settings amplifies or attenuates the signal depending on the amplitude detected.

Applies gain to the output signal after all dynamics processing.

Determines how many milliseconds it takes for the output signal to reach the specified level. For example, if audio suddenly drops 30 dB, the specified attack time passes before the output level changes.

Determines how many milliseconds the current output level is maintained.

Note: If the sum of Attack and Release times is too short (less than about 30 milliseconds), audible artifacts can be heard. To see good attack and release times for different types of audio content, choose various options from the Presets menu.

Processes all channels equally, preserving the stereo or surround balance. For example, a compressed drum beat on the left channel reduces the right channel level by an equal amount.

Band Limiting

Use the options in the Band Limiting section to restrict dynamics processing to a specific frequency range.

Is the lowest frequency that dynamics processing affects.

Is the highest frequency that dynamics processing affects.

Dynamic Effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Dynamics Effects consist of four sections. They are Auto Gate, Compressor, Expander, and Limiter. You can individually control each one of the sections. The LED and gain reduction meters help you get an overview of how the audio signal is processed.

There are different parameters under the Dynamic effect.

Remove noise below a certain amplitude threshold. The LED meter is green when audio passes through the gate. The meter turns red when there is no audio passing, and yellow during the attack, release, and hold times.

Reduces the dynamic range of the audio signal by attenuating audio that exceeds a specific threshold. The Ratio parameter can be used to control the change in dynamic range, while the Attack and Release parameter changes the temporal behavior. Use the Gain parameter to increase the audio level after compressing the signal. The Gain Reduction meter indicates the degree to which the audio level has been reduced.

Increases the dynamic range of the audio signal by attenuating audio below the specified threshold. The ratio parameter can be used to control the change in dynamic range. The gain reduction meter indicates the level of audio level reduction.

Attenuate audio that exceeds a specified threshold. The meter LED turns on when the signal is limited.

Fade Envelope effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Fade Envelope lets you reduce or increase amplitude over time by applying a customizable volume envelope.

In the Waveform Editor panel, select the yellow envelope line to add keyframes, and drag them up or down to change amplitude. Learn how to select, reposition, or delete multiple keyframes.

Gain Envelope effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Fade Envelope lets you boost or reduce amplitude over time.

In the Waveform Editor panel, select the yellow envelope line to add keyframes, and drag them up or down to change amplitude. Learn to select, reposition, or delete multiple keyframes.

Hard Limiter effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Hard Limiter effect significantly attenuates audio that exceeds a specified threshold. Typically, limiting is applied with an input boost, a technique that increases overall volume while avoiding distortion.

Sets the maximum sample amplitude allowed.

Preamplifies audio before you limit it, making a selection louder without clipping it. As you increase this level, compression increases. Try extreme settings to achieve the loud, high‑impact audio heard in contemporary pop music.

Sets the amount of time (in milliseconds) to attenuate the audio before the loudest peak is hit. Make sure that the value is at least 5 milliseconds. If this value is too small, audible distortion effects occur.

Sets the time (in milliseconds) for the attenuation to rebound back 12 dB (or roughly the time needed for audio to resume normal volume if a loud peak is encountered). In general, a setting of around 100 (the default) works well and preserves low bass frequencies. If this value is too large, the audio may remain quiet and take some time to return to normal levels.

Links the loudness of all channels together, preserving the stereo or surround balance.

Multiband Compressor effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Multiband Compressor effect lets you independently compress four different frequency bands. Because each band typically contains unique dynamic content, multiband compression is a powerful tool for audio mastering.

Controls in the Multiband Compressor let you precisely define crossover frequencies and apply band‑specific compression settings. To preview bands in isolation, or Bypass buttons to pass bands through without processing, select the Solo buttons. After you fine‑tune individual bands, select Link Band Controls to adjust them globally, and then optimize overall volume with the Output Gain slider and Limiter settings.

Sets the crossover frequencies, which determine the width of each band. Either enter specific Low, Midrange, and High frequencies, or drag the crossover markers above the graph.

Let you hear specific frequency bands. Enable one Solo button at a time to hear bands in isolation, or enable multiple buttons to hear two or more bands together.

Bypass individual bands so they pass through without processing.

Set the input level at which compression begins. Possible values range from ‑60 to 0 dB. The best setting depends on audio content and musical style. To compress only extreme peaks and retain more dynamic range, try thresholds around 5 dB below the peak input level. To highly compress audio and greatly reduce dynamic range, try settings around 15 dB below the peak input level.

Measure input amplitude. To reset peak and clip indicators, double‑click the meters.

Measure amplitude reductions with red meters that extend from top (minimal reduction) to bottom (maximum reduction).

Boosts or cuts amplitude after compression. Possible values range from ‑18 to +18 dB, where 0 is unity gain.

Sets a compression ratio between 1‑to‑1 and 30‑to‑1. For example, a setting of 3.0 outputs 1 dB for every 3-dB increase above the compression threshold. Typical settings range from 2.0 to 5.0; higher settings produce the compressed sound often heard in pop music.

Determines how quickly compression is applied when audio exceeds the threshold. Possible values range from 0 milliseconds to 500 milliseconds. The default, 10 milliseconds, works well for a wide range of audio. Faster settings work better for audio with fast transients, but such settings sound unnatural for less percussive audio.

Determines how quickly compression stops after audio drops below the threshold. Possible values range from 0 milliseconds to 5000 milliseconds. The default, 100 milliseconds, works well for a wide range of audio. Try faster settings for audio with fast transients, and slower settings for less percussive audio.

Boosts or cuts overall output level after compression. Possible values range from ‑18 to +18 dB, where 0 is unity gain. To reset peak and clip indicators, double‑click the meters.

Applies limiting after Output Gain, at the end of the signal path, optimizing overall levels. Specify Threshold, Attack, and Release settings that are less aggressive than similar band‑specific settings. Then specify a Margin setting to determine the absolute ceiling relative to 0 dBFS.

Displays the frequency spectrum of the input signal, rather than the output signal, in the multiband graph. To quickly see the amount of compression applied to each band, toggle this option on and off.

Applies immediate, hard limiting at the current Margin setting. Deselect this option to apply slower soft limiting, which sounds less compressed but can exceed the Margin setting. The maximum Attack time for brickwall limiting is 5 ms.

Lets you globally adjust the compression settings for all bands, while retaining relative differences between bands.

To temporarily link band controls, hold down Alt+Shift (Windows) or Option+Shift (macOS). To reset a control in all bands, hold down Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift (macOS), and select the control.

Normalize effect (Waveform Editor only)

The Amplitude and Compression > Normalize effect lets you set a peak level for a file or selection. When you normalize audio to 100%, you achieve the maximum amplitude that digital audio allows, which is 0 dBFS. If you’re sending audio to a mastering engineer, however, normalize audio to between –3 and –6 dBFS, providing a cushion for further processing.

The Normalize effect amplifies the entire file or selection equally. For example, if the original audio reaches a loud peak of 80% and a quiet low of 20%, normalizing to 100% amplifies the loud peak to 100% and the quiet low to 40%.

Sets the percentage of the highest peak relative to the maximum amplitude.

Uses all channels of a stereo or surround waveform to calculate the amplification amount. If this option is deselected, the amount is calculated separately for each channel, potentially amplifying one considerably more than others.

Lets you adjust the position of the waveform in the wave display. Some recording hardware introduces a DC bias, causing the recorded waveform to appear to be above or below the normal center line in the wave display. To center the waveform, set the percentage to zero. To skew the entire selected waveform above or below the center line, specify a positive or negative percentage.

Single-band Compressor effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Single-band Compressor effect reduces dynamic range, producing consistent volume levels and increasing perceived loudness. Single-band compression is effective for voiceovers because it helps the speaker stand out over musical soundtracks and background audio.

Sets the input level at which compression begins. The best setting depends on audio content and style. To compress only extreme peaks and retain more dynamic range, try thresholds around 5 dB below the peak input level. To highly compress audio and greatly reduce dynamic range, try settings around 15 dB below the peak input level.

Sets a compression ratio between 1‑to‑1 and 30‑to‑1. For example, a setting of three outputs 1 dB for every 3-dB increase above the threshold. Typical settings range from 2 to 5; higher settings produce the compressed sound often heard in pop music.

Determines how quickly compression starts after audio exceeds the Threshold setting. The default, 10 milliseconds, works well for a wide range of source material. Use faster settings only for audio with quick transients, such as percussion recordings.

Determines how quickly compression stops when audio drops below the Threshold setting. The default, 100 milliseconds, works well for a wide range of audio. Try faster settings for audio with fast transients, and slower settings for less percussive audio.

Boosts or cuts amplitude after compression. Possible values range from ‑30 dB to +30 dB, where 0 is unity gain.

Speech Volume Leveler effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Speech Volume Leveler is a compression effect that optimizes dialogue, even out levels, and removes background noise.

For the best results, do the following:

The Speech Volume Leveler effect has the following settings to adjust:

Sets the desired output level relative to zero dBFS. Learn more about measuring amplitude in dBFS.

At low settings, amplifies speech slightly without boosting the noise floor. At high settings, amplifies the entire signal more as the signal drops closer to the noise floor.

Interprets shorter, low-volume passages as speech that you want to amplify. For most audio content, deselect this option to produce smoother sound.

Minimizes background noises while amplifying and leveling only speech. For best results with most content, specify a Target Dynamic Range value between –45dB and –60dB.

Maintains a strong level if the processed signal falls below a threshold relative to zero dBFS.

Eliminates background noise by dramatically reducing output level when the signal drops by an offset you specify.

Tube-modeled Compressor effect

The Amplitude and Compression > Tube-modeled Compressor effect simulates the warmth of vintage hardware compressors. Use this effect to add subtle distortion that pleasantly colors audio.

Sets the input level at which compression begins. Possible values range from ‑60 to 0 dB. The best setting depends on audio content and musical style. To compress only extreme peaks and retain more dynamic range, try thresholds around 5 dB below the peak input level; to highly compress audio and greatly reduce dynamic range, try settings around 15 dB below the peak input level.

To the left of the slider, these meters measure input amplitude. To reset peak and clip indicators, double‑click the meters.

To the right of the slider, these meters measure amplitude reduction with red bars that extend from top (minimal reduction) to bottom (maximum reduction).

Boosts or cuts amplitude after compression. Possible values range from ‑18 to +18 dB, where 0 is unity gain.

Sets a compression ratio between 1‑to‑1 and 30‑to‑1. For example, a setting of 3.0 outputs 1 dB for every 3 dB increase above the compression threshold. Typical settings range from 2.0 to 5.0; higher settings produce the compressed sound often heard in pop music.

Determines how quickly compression is applied when audio exceeds the threshold. Possible values range from 0 to 500 milliseconds. The default, 10 milliseconds, works well for a wide range of audio. Faster settings work better for audio with fast transients, but such settings sound unnatural for less percussive audio.

Determines how quickly compression stops after audio drops below the threshold. Possible values range from 0 to 5000 milliseconds. The default, 100 milliseconds, works well for a wide range of audio. Try faster settings for audio with fast transients, and slower settings for less percussive audio.