• 🎚️ Compressor Ratio Calculator

    Calculate estimated gain reduction from a compressor ratio, input level, and threshold.

    Estimated Gain Reduction
    4.50 dB
    4:1 compression
    Input Level -6.00 dB
    Threshold -12.00 dB
    Amount Over Threshold 6.00 dB
    Output Level -10.50 dB
    Input Level -6.00 dB
    Threshold -12.00 dB
    Level Above Threshold 6.00 dB
    Compressed Amount Above Threshold 1.50 dB
    Estimated Gain Reduction 4.50 dB
    Output Before Makeup -10.50 dB
    💡 Tip: A higher compression ratio produces more gain reduction for audio that exceeds the threshold. A 2:1 ratio is generally gentler than 4:1, while very high ratios can approach limiting behavior.
    This calculator models a basic hard-knee compressor. Real compressors may use soft knees, program-dependent behavior, lookahead, RMS or peak detection, attack and release characteristics, and other processing that can produce different results.

  • A Compressor Ratio Calculator can help musicians, producers, and mixing engineers understand how a compressor's ratio affects the amount of gain reduction applied to a signal. The ratio determines how much the portion of the signal above the threshold is reduced.

    For example, with a 4:1 compression ratio, a signal that is 4 dB above the threshold will be reduced to approximately 1 dB above the threshold. That produces approximately 3 dB of gain reduction.

    Lower ratios such as 2:1 generally provide gentler dynamic control, while higher ratios such as 8:1 or 10:1 produce much stronger compression. Very high ratios can approach limiting behavior.

    The amount of gain reduction also depends on the relationship between the input level and threshold. If the signal never exceeds the threshold, a basic compressor will not apply gain reduction.

    Tip: Don't choose a compressor ratio by itself. Threshold, attack, release, knee, and the amount of gain reduction all work together to determine how compression sounds. Use this calculator to understand the math, then adjust the compressor by ear for the particular instrument or mix.