Glossary
Compressor
An audio processor that reduces the gap between the loudest and quietest parts of a recording.
A compressor is an audio processing tool that automatically turns down a signal once it crosses a set threshold, then often boosts the overall level back up afterward. The practical effect is narrowing the gap between a track's loudest and quietest moments, so a host's whisper and their laugh end up closer in perceived volume.
For podcasting, this evens out a recording where mic distance and vocal energy naturally vary throughout a conversation, making the final episode more comfortable to listen to at a consistent volume without a listener needing to constantly adjust the volume dial on their phone or car stereo.
Compression is typically applied during editing after gain staging and before final loudness normalization, using settings like threshold, ratio, attack and release that most editing software offers as presets for speech. Overdoing compression can make a voice sound flat, pumped or fatiguing, so light, consistent settings usually work better than an aggressive setting applied once and forgotten across every future episode of the show.