Train Your Ears

When you first start using compression, you probably won’t hear it right away. 

And that’s normal. 

Compression isn’t like adding reverb or delay, it’s really subtle.

It takes time for your ears to learn what it’s really doing to your vocal. At first, you might twist the knobs and think:

“I don’t hear a difference.”

But trust me, the difference is there. You just need patience and practice to train your ears. 👂

Don’t rush it. 

Use compression, experiment, and even overdo it on purpose a few times.

The more you practice, the faster you’ll start to recognize when it’s helping your vocal sit perfectly in the mix, and when it’s not.

So in this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know: what dynamics are, what a compressor actually does, how to use it on vocals, and which plugins I recommend to get started. 

Let's dive in. 🤿

What Is Vocal Dynamics? 

Before we even touch a compressor, you need to understand one thing: dynamics. ↕️

In music, dynamics simply means the difference between the quietest and the loudest parts of your performance. On vocals, that range can be huge.

Think about it:

• In a rap verse, you might be laid back, almost whispering on some bars.
• Then the hook hits, and suddenly you’re louder, hyped, and pushing way more energy. 

Dynamic vocals:

Consistent vocals:

That jump between quiet and loud is your vocal dynamic range.

It’s natural, it’s part of the performance, and it’s what makes a vocal feel alive.

But in a recording, too much dynamics can actually make things messy.

If your verse is super quiet and your hook is way louder, the listener ends up reaching for the volume knob. And in the mix, the engineer has to work twice as hard to balance everything out.

That’s exactly where compression comes in: not to kill your dynamics, but to control them just enough so your vocal feels powerful and consistent from start to finish. 👀

What Does a Compressor Actually Do? 

So now that you know what dynamics are, let’s break down what a compressor actually does.

The simplest way to think about it is this: a compressor is like having someone with super quick hands sitting on your volume knob. Whenever you get too loud, they turn you down. Whenever you get too quiet, they let you back up.

That’s it, control.

Not magic, not “better vocals instantly,” just control. 🎛️

Here’s a quick rundown of the main controls you’ll see on almost every compressor:

• Threshold - the point where the compressor kicks in. If your vocal goes above this level, the compressor starts reducing it.
• Ratio - how much the compressor reduces the signal once it’s above the threshold. Higher ratio = stronger squeeze.
• Attack - how fast the compressor reacts when you cross the threshold. Fast attack clamps down right away, slow attack lets a little punch through.
• Release - how quickly the compressor stops working after the signal drops back down.
• Make-up Gain - after compression turns things down, you can use this to bring the whole vocal back up to a good level.

Sounds technical? Sure. But the big picture is simple: a compressor evens out your performance so the quiet stuff doesn’t get lost and the loud stuff doesn’t blow up the mix. 

How to Use Compression on Vocals 

Alright, so now you know what a compressor does, the real question is: how do you actually use it on your vocals? 🎙️

The first rule is simple: don’t overdo it.

If you slam your vocals with too much compression, they’ll start sounding flat, lifeless, and over-processed. The sweet spot for most vocals is around 3–5 dB of gain reduction on your loudest parts.

That’s enough to control the dynamics without killing the vibe. 🎯

Another great move is using multiple compressors in a chain instead of one doing all the heavy lifting.

For example, you can set one compressor with a slower attack and release to gently control the overall level, and then add a second, faster compressor to catch only the peaks and spikes. This way each compressor does a little bit of work, and your vocal stays smooth and natural.

Also remember: different vocal styles need different treatment.

• Rap vocals are often aggressive and sit right on top of the beat, so they usually need more control to stay consistent.
• Singing vocals can be treated more gently, letting some of the natural dynamics come through for emotion and feel.

Compression is about balance.

Too little, and your vocal gets lost in the mix. Too much, and it sounds unnatural.

The trick is finding that middle ground where your voice feels powerful, clear, and glued into the track.

Before we move on to the plugins I recommend, let me give you one important piece of advice.

In the beginning, don’t be afraid to throw a compressor on everything and even overcompress your vocals.

Seriously.

You need to overdo it a few times to really train your ears to hear what “too much” sounds like. Once you know that feeling, you won’t make the same mistake later. 🎧

Recommended Vocal Compressors (my picks)

Which plugins should you actually grab for your vocals? Here are my go-to picks, classics, freebies, and easy wins. 🏆

LA-2A
The legendary vocal compressor. Smooth, warm, and almost impossible to make sound bad. With its slower attack and release, it keeps vocals natural and polished, perfect for that “radio-ready” sound. It also has amazing "color".

1176
The complete opposite of the LA-2A. Fast, punchy, and aggressive. Perfect for rap vocals, ad-libs, and anything that needs to cut right through the mix. The 1176 grabs peaks instantly, which makes your vocal sit upfront and energetic. Many engineers love using LA-2A and 1176 together: one for smoothness, one for punch.

Supercharger (Native Instruments, there is a free version)
If you’re just starting out, this is a no-brainer. It’s free, easy to use, and sounds solid right away. You don’t get lost in a ton of controls, just dial it in and you’re good to go. Perfect for learning how compression actually feels on vocals.

R-Vox (Waves)
One of the simplest but most powerful compressors ever made and my go-to for vocals. Producers love it for rap vocals because it keeps them loud, clear, and punchy without killing the energy. Super fast, super effective, and often available on sale.

The truth is, you don’t need 20 compressors to get pro vocals.

Learn how to use just one or two of these properly, and you’ll be ahead of most beginners.

Once your ears are trained, then you can start experimenting with different flavors. 👂

Bonus Tip

Here’s something I’ve learned from running tons of sessions: sometimes it helps to record with a compressor already on your vocal chain, just for monitoring. You can even build yourself a small vocal chain.

Why?

Because when you hear yourself compressed in your headphones, it feels closer to how it’ll sound in the final mix. 🎚️

That can actually change the way you perform, you push less, you control your delivery better, and you naturally sit more evenly on the beat.

Just keep it safe: don’t print the compression into your recording, only use it for monitoring. 🎧

That way you always keep a clean, raw vocal track.

Later, you can load up the same compressor in the mix and dial it in properly. It’s the best of both worlds, you get the vibe in your headphones without locking yourself into a bad take.

Wrapping It Up 

At the end of the day, compression isn’t about making your vocals “louder.” It’s about control, keeping your performance consistent, balanced, and glued into the mix.

With time, your ears will tell you what’s too much and what’s just right.

Pair that knowledge with a solid compressor and your vocals will instantly sound more professional. 🎙️

The best part? You can do all of this from your home studio. No million-dollar gear required, just good ears and practice.

If you don't want to bother yourself with all this technicalities and you record in FL Studio you can always grab my recording template.

Take care,

Baxon 👊