One fun way to explore compression is by creating ASMR. Since a compressor takes loud sounds and makes them softer, the subtler sounds, like breathing, lip movements, and other intimate noises, come to the forefront. It’s fascinating to put sounds under a microscope by compressing them greatly. To achieve the most extreme compression, lower your threshold to a very low level, increase the ratio to a very high level, and set the attack to be fast (leftmost position counterclockwise). Keep the release at a medium setting. At this point, you will likely have compressed the sound so much that you won’t be able to hear anything. In other words, you've given your sound the most extreme haircut imaginable, leaving it practically bald. It's time to grow your hair back. Apply some makeup gain, and you will be able to hear the sound again. ![[ASMR - Extreme Compression.mp4]]