Compressor and limiter

Even out level differences

Open Process → Compressor…. Threshold sets where compression begins; ratio sets how strongly levels above it are reduced. Knee softens the transition, attack and release shape the response, lookahead lets the compressor anticipate transients, and makeup gain restores level afterwards. A curve shows the static input-to-output relationship. Defaults are a −18 dBFS threshold, 4:1 ratio, 6 dB knee, 10 ms attack, 100 ms release, and 5 ms lookahead.

Linked channels keep stereo balance; independent channels compress each side on its own. Listen for pumping and raised breath noise. Compression never changes duration.

Constrain sample peaks

Process → Limiter… sets a sample-peak ceiling, −1 dBFS by default, with a threshold, soft knee, lookahead, release, and stereo linking. Lowering the threshold raises the quieter material toward the ceiling. Existing region gain and fades are included in the detection.

This is a sample-peak limiter, not a true-peak or integrated-loudness tool. MP3 encoding can push reconstructed peaks slightly higher, so listen to the exported file too.

Apply and compare

Start with a short representative selection. Apply, listen, and undo to compare at the same listening volume. Both processors support cancellation, one-step undo, and Repeat Last Effect, and both remember their last applied settings. Use Normalize for an overall peak, the Compressor for variation within a passage, and the Limiter to hold peaks while raising the rest.