Mixing Faster with Auto-threshold

The first thing you do when you open a new instance of any compressor plugin is find the threshold dial. Then, you tweak it until you get the appropriate level for your sound. And because every sound is different, there is no single threshold setting that will work for every source, so you have to go through this process every single time you use a compressor. 

Unless, that is, your compressor has auto-threshold. And while Open Compressor is not the first plugin with this feature, it's central to the ethos, because it gives you the rare ability to jump straight in to tweaking your sound, without losing your flow. 

Take control for faster mixes

Engage auto threshold in Open Compressor, and the processor is going to apply an amount of gain reduction — a percentage — regardless of the absolute level of the source. This means that if your vocal goes from a whisper to a scream in the same take, Open Compressor will ride the threshold to ensure your compressor tone remains constant. It also means that you can open an instance of Open Compressor on some low-level FX sounds, then open another on your high-energy drum buss, and get going with the same repeatable step: pressing the auto-threshold button. 

The benefits really come into play when you're mixing. Being able to work fast and stay focussed is really important when you're mixing. And any unnecessary time spend dialing in threshold is going to slow you down and distract your flow. 

Why doesn't Open Compressor open up with auto-threshold enabled? 

By default, auto-threshold is off when you open Open Compressor. This is to conserve DSP as much as possible, which is a priority for folks using lots of instances on multiple audio channels. But most DAWs let you save your own default preset, per plugin, so if you'd prefer to have auto-threshold on by default, you can set this up. We'll be covering this on the blog soon.

If you don't have Open Compressor yet, you can try it for free, or buy it, here. If you already use it, leave us your feedback — we'd love to hear your thoughts!