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Compra tutorial: set up a compressor, from control to ducking

2 min read · Updated

Compra is a compressor with 3 characters (Clean, VCA, Opto), external sidechain and lookahead. It steadies a vocal, adds punch to drums, glues a bus or ducks a sound under the kick. Insert it on a track or a bus. The numbers match the markers on the screenshot.

Step by step

NAUPLY Compra tutorial: set up a compressor, from control to ducking interface, with numbered markers for each step

  1. Insert Compra

    Insert Compra on the track or bus, open its window and start playback.

  2. Start from a preset

    Pick a preset close to your source, for example Vocals > Vocal Leveler, Drums > Drum Bus Punch or Mix Bus > Mix Bus Glue.

  3. Set ratio and threshold

    By hand: RATIO around 3:1, then lower THRESHOLD until you get 3 to 6 dB of gain reduction on loud passages.

  4. Set attack and release

    A slower ATTACK (10 to 30 ms) keeps the punch, a faster one flattens peaks. Set RELEASE so the reduction breathes with the tempo.

  5. Make up the level

    Compensate with MAKEUP (or switch AUTO on), then compare with BYPASS at equal loudness.

  6. Parallel compression

    Lower MIX (40 to 70%) to blend the compressed and dry signals.

  7. Sidechain ducking

    In your DAW, send the trigger track (the kick, for example) to Compra's sidechain input, then switch EXTERNAL on.

The compressor controls

THRESHOLD sets the level where compression starts, RATIO its strength (from 1:1 to 20:1, and infinity at the end of travel), ATTACK and RELEASE its speed, KNEE the transition (0 = hard, up to 24 dB = very gradual). On the curve, dragging sets the threshold and the wheel sets the ratio.

Three characters: Clean, VCA, Opto

Clean is transparent. VCA has a snappy release, for drum punch. Opto releases depending on the material, with a soft knee: ideal for a vocal or a bus you want to smooth without hearing it.

Parallel and detection

MIX blends the compressed and dry signals, perfectly aligned: parallel compression keeps natural transients while adding density. MAKEUP AUTO adds half of the static reduction; OUTPUT sets the final gain.

DETECTOR Peak reacts to peaks, RMS to average level, more gently. ST. LINK applies the same reduction to both channels. LOOKAHEAD (0 to 10 ms) anticipates peaks, at the cost of a little latency shown at the top right.

Ducking with the sidechain

With EXTERNAL on, compression is triggered by the sidechain input you routed in your DAW: a bass that steps aside under the kick, music that dips under a voice. HPF and HPF FREQ stop the key's low end from causing pumping, and LISTEN plays the key. With nothing routed, the status line says so and the internal key is used. For frequency-targeted ducking, Ducora is built for the job.

Frequently asked questions

How much gain reduction on a vocal?
3 to 6 dB on loud passages is a good starting point, with a ratio around 3:1.
Is Compra transparent when it is not compressing?
Yes: at RATIO 1:1 and MIX 100%, the signal comes out bit-identical.
How do I duck the bass under the kick?
Route the kick to Compra's sidechain input in your DAW, switch EXTERNAL on and set threshold, attack and release so the bass steps aside just for the kick.

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