What is Compression Knee?

Compression Knee refers to how gradually or abruptly a compressor begins to apply gain reduction once the signal exceeds the threshold. It is known for shaping the transition between uncompressed and compressed audio.

The concept typically includes two main types: a hard knee, where compression starts suddenly at the threshold, and a soft knee, where compression begins more gradually before the threshold is reached.

Compression Knee emphasizes smoothness and control, affecting how natural or aggressive the compression sounds.

A hard knee produces a more noticeable, punchy effect, while a soft knee results in a smoother and more transparent response.

Today, Compression Knee is an important parameter in dynamics processing, valued for its role in fine-tuning how compression is applied and how it affects the overall sound.