⚡ Why Your Mix Still Feels Messy (Even With EQ Dialed In)

Let’s be real—compression is the most misunderstood tool in live sound.I’ve seen two extremes:👉 Techs who slap a compressor on everything and squash the life out of the mix.👉 Techs who are scared to touch it and end up chasing faders the whole service.

The truth? Compression is a seatbelt for your mix.

It keeps things under control... while still letting the music breathe.

Here’s the breakdown:

🎛️ What Compression Does

Turns down the loud parts.
Brings up the quiet parts.
Keeps dynamics balanced so instruments/vocals sit steady in the mix.

🎤 On Vocals

Smooths out whispers vs. belting.
Keeps the vocal “up front” without riding the fader every line.

🥁 On Drums

Tightens kick and snare so they punch but don’t overwhelm.

🎹 On Instruments

Helps guitars and keys stay present without poking out randomly.

Basic starting point for live vocals:

Threshold: aim for 3–6 dB of gain reduction
Ratio: 3:1 or 4:1
Attack: medium (20–40ms) so natural punch comes through
Release: medium-fast (100–200ms) to reset quickly

⚡ Pro tip: Compression isn’t about squashing—it’s about control. If you hear the compressor working, you probably went too far.

💬 Question for you: What’s the hardest thing for you to compress in your church mix—vocals, drums, or something else?

— Nate

Vocals 🎤

Drums 🥁

Instruments 🎸

Something else (comment below)👇

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