Adobe Audition: Apply Dynamics Compressor to balance audio
Adobe Audition
Demo summary
The user demonstrates applying a compressor via the Dynamics effect, selecting a 'soft compression' preset and manually adjusting the threshold to -15.4 dB and the ratio.
Step-by-step
- Open the Dynamics effect panel
- Select the 'Soft compression' preset as a starting point
- Ensure only the Compressor checkbox is selected (uncheck Autogate and Expander)
- Adjust the Threshold slider to approximately -15.4 dB
- Set the Ratio slider to a value between 2 and 4
- Apply the effect to the audio
Options
- Use Autogate or Expander within the Dynamics panel
- Use the 'Soft compression' preset without manual modifications
Watch out for
- The compressor and EQ are complex concepts that require effort to learn
- Too much compression will make the audio sound unnatural
- The suggested threshold settings (-15 to -18) depend on having normalized the audio to -3dB first
Tips
- Use a threshold between -15 and -18 for typical recordings
- Set a ratio between 2 and 4 for standard voice recordings
- Experiment with the ratio and threshold to find the best balance for your specific recording
- Use Dynamics because it is simpler to configure than standalone compression tools
Highlights
“the compressor and EQ are a bit complex concepts and you will have to put some effort into learning them”
All demos from “How to make your voice sound better using Adobe Audition in 5 simple steps (2026)”
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- 7:312:02Apply Dynamics Compressor to balance audioCurrentThe user demonstrates applying a compressor via the Dynamics effect, selecting a 'soft compression' preset and manually adjusting the threshold to -15.4 dB and the ratio.Adobe Audition· AI Audio Editor
- 9:410:09Final normalization after compressionThe narrator performs a final normalization step to -3dB to restore proper levels after the compression process altered the peak volume.Adobe Audition· AI Audio Editor
- Watch “How to make your voice sound better using Adobe Audition in 5 simple steps (2026)” →
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