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?
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[@AlmerosMusicCode]

Best way to teach how compressors work... Build one! Great video! The grid is powerful in many different ways.

[@aweidenhammer]

I’ve been hoping for more deep dives like this. I’m watching and loving these!

[@bitegoatie]

I just love watching a video (which is one thing I do when I really need distraction from pain and can't manage something more active) done by someone like this guy, who knows his shit. It isn't just that we get the benefit of experience and expertise from someone who put time and talent into learning a subject. Being really good at something and being generous with that knowledge bespeaks a certain integrity and sense of responsibility for the things one does, which then extends to the sense that in sharing elements of the things one has learned to do, one doesn't simply advertise one's work. Passing on knowledge feeds a community and models the thought processes that facilitate developing expertise in a field and reflect the integrity of people doing the work. There are developers in this field, to return to the narrow example of audio-processing software, who have some expertise but lack the confidence and perspective to do education work along these lines, for fear of helping competitors. Which is a very silly way to think, but there are such people - and there are one or two not too far from the place where Bitwig has its home (among many other places).
Anyway, thanks for a distracting, enjoyable bit of geeking out with this lovely DAW.

[@OdoSendaidokai]

Thanks so much for another great deep dive video into the grid ! 🌻🌻🌻

[@benjaminjoeBF3]

And it sounds pretty pretty good aswell! Love these more in-depth dives into the grid.

[@Yohmss]

You are not human, you are a machine 😄
thanks so much for all these tips !

[@surferroscoe]

Funny you should mention the log domain, I just thought about it the other day. Fyi, barely passed math in school

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

much appreciated content type, so enjoyable!

[@jshstuff]

shift to add an attenuator?! such a random shortfut but I'm here for it

[@olivergretz]

Great tutorial, thx! Did you build Compressor+ basically also just with FX grid modules? (conceptionally)

[@toavnwub]

loving these videos!

[@TheQxY]

FYI this video did not show up in my feed and only found it by randomly looking on your channel. This might explain the low number of views.

[@bitwig]

Thank you for the heads up.

[@benjaminjoeBF3]

same

[@Artek604]

same for me; weird

[@paterfiets]

Same

[@TildeSounds]

same for me yeah, glad i came across it today in my recommended tho

[@TildeSounds]

very nice, thanks a ton. i played around with this before but what i ended up with was rather shitty hahaha

[@Artek604]

A pro-tip to Dave - you can type in the parameter values in Bitwig ;) :D

[@boronoro]

That felt like 5 minutes. 😮

[@mr_whyy]

I really wanna try bitwig, i'm an fl addict but i think both can be used for different kind of projects :)

[@JohnSmith-pn2vl]

go for it, it's literally a click away.

[@meru_lpz]

How would you implement a "hold" parameter in this compressor?

[@machinegreen492]

this is very cool, but can you add a videoplayer vst, please)

[@carmeloscozzola6472]

Very nice, thank you! Now… can you make a real time auto-tune?

[@anissbenthami]

Timing signals as you described them are actually "activation signals". Your appellation is confusing

[@Punia-Sahaab]

We can buy a compressor plugin, but we cannot buy Piano roll, ARA support or Video Playback support for Bitwig.

[@Goettel]

It's threshold, not thresh-hold.