Discuss the various methods you use in music production, from compressor settings to equipment type.
By moonlake Sun Jun 15, 2025 3:47 pm
In the MPC,

I use AIR compressor on the master track, no limiter or anything else.
I use a threshold of -9 dB for the comp, ratio ~ 2.8, gain 0- 3 dB,
"New York Style" wet mix: 71%

I level everything so that its just around 0 dB FS peak.

Then I bring the export into Audacity and use Loudness Normalisation at - 14 dB.

However, with these settings in the MPC its usually already leveled so well the difference is often just 1 dB and the waveform hardly moves.
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By v00d00ppl Sat Nov 01, 2025 1:59 pm
I don’t use audacity anymore but I’ll try to help still. So when you export the WAV from the MPC is it low volume ? Do you use makeup gain when you compress on the master bus ? That’s something I like to do even at low polished ratios like 1.25:1. You may want to use the makeup gain a little more . I get that it’s a computer program but using makeup gain on a compresser at low ratios will keep the sound intact while leveling up the gain.
By moonlake Thu Apr 30, 2026 10:14 pm
sorry only saw your reply just now.
Yes I use makeup gain to adjust, or if its too hot already I level the tracks down.
However my post wasnt so much a question but a tip:
with these settings,
comp threshold -9dB
compression 2.8:1
make-up so peaks are just below 0 dB,
mix 71%

you already get the recommended -14dB lufs quite realiably,
even without Audacity.