Knobs and Monitors

Call Contact the business

Knobs and Monitors Professional audio mixing and mastering services Audio Mixing and Mastering services

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 9/100⏱️ ATTACK & RELEASE — THE TIMING OF COMPRESSIONSo far, we've learned...
18/08/2026

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 9/100
⏱️ ATTACK & RELEASE — THE TIMING OF COMPRESSION
So far, we've learned what compression is, and we've looked at Threshold and Ratio.
Today, let's talk about two controls that determine WHEN compression happens and WHEN it stops.
🎛️ ATTACK
Attack controls how quickly the compressor starts reducing the signal after it crosses the threshold.
⚡ FAST ATTACK
The compressor reacts quickly and controls the peaks more aggressively.
🐢 SLOW ATTACK
Allows more of the initial transient through, which can preserve punch and energy.
🎛️ RELEASE
Release controls how quickly the compressor stops reducing the signal after it falls back below the threshold.
⚡ FAST RELEASE
The compressor lets go quickly. This can add energy, but too much can create an unnatural or “pumping” sound.
🐢 SLOW RELEASE
The compression stays active longer, creating smoother control — but if it's too slow, the sound can lose energy and feel lifeless.
🎯 THE GOAL:
Find the balance between control and natural movement.
💡 PRO TIP:
When adjusting attack, listen to the transient and punch of the sound.
When adjusting release, listen to how naturally the compression returns to normal.
Don't rely only on the numbers.
Listen to what the compressor is doing.
🎧 PART 9/100 — SEE YOU TOMORROW!
Follow Noble Icon for Part 10.
Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World
MusicProduction MixingEngineer Mastering K***sAndMonitorsAudioWorld NobleIcon

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 8/100🎛️ UNDERSTANDING THRESHOLD & RATIOYesterday, we introduced compressi...
16/08/2026

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 8/100
🎛️ UNDERSTANDING THRESHOLD & RATIO
Yesterday, we introduced compression and what it does.
Today, let's look at two of the most important controls on a compressor:
THRESHOLD & RATIO.
🎯 THRESHOLD — WHEN COMPRESSION STARTS
The threshold determines the level at which the compressor begins working.
If the audio signal stays below the threshold, the compressor does nothing.
Once the signal goes above the threshold, compression kicks in.
Think of it as a gatekeeper deciding when compression should start.
🎚️ RATIO — HOW MUCH COMPRESSION
The ratio determines how strongly the signal is reduced once it crosses the threshold.
For example:
2:1 — Gentle compression
4:1 — Moderate compression
6:1 — Stronger compression
10:1 — Heavy compression
∞:1 — Limiting
So if a signal goes 4dB above the threshold with a 4:1 ratio, only about 1dB will come through above the threshold.
💡 PRO TIP:
Lowering the threshold generally means more of your signal will be compressed.
Increasing the ratio generally means stronger compression.
But remember:
MORE COMPRESSION DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN A BETTER MIX.
Start gently, listen carefully and watch your gain reduction meter.
🎧 PART 8/100 — SEE YOU TOMORROW!
Follow Noble Icon for Part 9.
Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World
AudioEngineering MusicProduction MixingEngineer Mastering K***sAndMonitorsAudioWorld NobleIcon

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 7/100🎛️ WHAT IS COMPRESSION?We've covered the basics of EQ. Now, let's mo...
15/08/2026

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 7/100

🎛️ WHAT IS COMPRESSION?

We've covered the basics of EQ. Now, let's move into another very important part of mixing:

COMPRESSION.

So, what exactly is compression?

Compression is a tool used to control the dynamic range of an audio signal.

In simple terms, it helps control the difference between the loudest and quietest parts of a sound.

🎯 WHY DO WE USE IT?

Compression can help:

✅ Control excessive peaks
✅ Make vocals more consistent
✅ Give drums more punch and control
✅ Make bass sit more evenly in the mix
✅ Help instruments sit better together
✅ Create a more controlled and polished sound

💡 HERE'S AN IMPORTANT POINT:

Compression isn't simply about making something louder.

It's about controlling dynamics.

A good compressor can make a performance feel more consistent, controlled and powerful without destroying the natural character of the sound.

🎧 PRO TIP:

Don't compress just because you have a compressor plugin.

Listen first. Identify the problem. Then decide whether compression is actually the right solution.

Over-compression can make your audio sound flat, lifeless and unnatural.

Compression is about balance and control — not making everything loud.

🎧 PART 7/100 — THE COMPRESSION SERIES BEGINS!

Follow Noble Icon for Part 8 tomorrow.

Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

MusicProduction MixingEngineer Mastering K***sAndMonitorsAudioWorld NobleIcon

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 6/100🎛️ COMMON EQ PROBLEMS & HOW TO FIX THEMEQ isn't only about making th...
13/08/2026

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 6/100

🎛️ COMMON EQ PROBLEMS & HOW TO FIX THEM

EQ isn't only about making things sound better. A big part of mixing is knowing how to identify problems and correct them.

Here are some common problems you may encounter:

🌫️ MUDDY MIX
The mix sounds cloudy or unclear.
👉🏽 Try checking the low-mid area, often around 200Hz–400Hz.

📦 BOXY SOUND
Vocals or instruments sound trapped or “boxy.”
👉🏽 Check around 300Hz–600Hz.

😣 HARSH / SHRILL SOUND
The high end becomes uncomfortable to listen to.
👉🏽 Check the high-mids, often around 2kHz–6kHz.

🔍 LACK OF CLARITY
The mix sounds dull or lacks definition.
👉🏽 A small adjustment around 3kHz–5kHz may help.

🗣️ EXCESSIVE SIBILANCE
Vocals have too much “S” or “SH” sound.
👉🏽 Look around 5kHz–8kHz and make a controlled reduction if necessary.

🔊 WEAK LOW END
The mix sounds thin and lacks weight.
👉🏽 Check the low frequencies around 60Hz–120Hz.

🎯 REMEMBER:

These frequency ranges are guidelines, not fixed rules.

Every voice, instrument, microphone and recording is different.

💡 PRO TIP:

Don't EQ by numbers alone.

Listen for the problem first, find the frequency, make a small adjustment, and then listen again.

Use EQ as a tool to solve problems — not as a competition to see how much you can boost or cut.

🎧 PART 6/100 — SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.

Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

MixingEngineer Mastering EQTips K***sAndMonitorsAudioWorld NobleIcon

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 5/100🎛️ EQ TYPES — AND WHEN TO USE THEMNow that we understand what EQ is ...
12/08/2026

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 5/100

🎛️ EQ TYPES — AND WHEN TO USE THEM

Now that we understand what EQ is and how frequencies are distributed, let's look at the different types of EQ you may encounter.

🎚️ PARAMETRIC EQ
The most flexible and precise. You can control frequency, gain and bandwidth (Q).

🎚️ GRAPHIC EQ
Uses fixed frequency bands with sliders. Great for quick, broad adjustments.

🎚️ SHELF EQ
Boosts or cuts everything above or below a selected frequency. Great for adding overall warmth or brightness.

🎚️ HIGH-PASS / LOW-PASS FILTER
A High-Pass Filter (HPF) removes unwanted low frequencies, while a Low-Pass Filter (LPF) removes unwanted high frequencies.

🎚️ NOTCH / BAND-STOP EQ
Used to remove a very specific and often problematic frequency.

🎯 THE GOAL:

Don't use an EQ simply because you have one available.

Use the right EQ for the right job.

💡 PRO TIP:

Start with a good sound before you start correcting it.

Make small adjustments, use your ears, and always bypass your EQ occasionally to make sure your changes are actually improving the sound.

EQ is about balance, not perfection.

🎧 PART 5/100 — SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.

Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

MusicProduction MixingEngineer Mastering K***sAndMonitorsAudioWorld NobleIcon

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 4/100🎧 UNDERSTANDING THE FREQUENCY SPECTRUMEvery sound we hear is made up...
11/08/2026

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 4/100

🎧 UNDERSTANDING THE FREQUENCY SPECTRUM

Every sound we hear is made up of different frequencies.

Understanding the frequency spectrum is essential because it helps you know where different sounds live in a mix.

🔊 SUB-BASS — 20Hz–60Hz
The deep rumble and low-end power.

🎸 BASS — 60Hz–250Hz
Body, weight and warmth.

🥁 LOW-MIDS — 250Hz–2kHz
The body and character of many instruments. Too much can make a mix sound muddy.

🎤 HIGH-MIDS — 2kHz–6kHz
Clarity, definition and presence.

✨ PRESENCE — 6kHz–10kHz
Attack, brightness and detail.

🌬️ AIR — 10kHz–20kHz
Openness, sparkle and a sense of space.

🎯 WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

When you understand where frequencies sit, you can make better EQ decisions, identify frequency clashes and create space for different elements in your mix.

💡 PRO TIP:

You don't need to boost or cut every frequency you see on a spectrum analyzer.

Use your ears first.

The analyzer is a tool to help you understand what you're hearing — not to tell you what your mix should sound like.

🎧 PART 4/100 — SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.

Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

MusicProduction MixingEngineer Mastering K***sAndMonitorsAudioWorld NobleIcon

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 3/100🎛️ WHAT IS EQ?EQ — Equalization — is one of the most important tools...
10/08/2026

🎚️ 100 DAYS OF AUDIO MIXING & MASTERING — PART 3/100

🎛️ WHAT IS EQ?

EQ — Equalization — is one of the most important tools in audio mixing.

Simply put, EQ allows you to boost or reduce specific frequencies in an audio signal.

Why do we use it?

✅ To remove unwanted frequencies
✅ To reduce muddiness
✅ To add clarity and presence
✅ To shape the tone of an instrument or vocal
✅ To create space between different elements in a mix
✅ To help everything sit together naturally

Think of EQ like shaping the sound with a frequency control k**b.

🎯 THE GOAL:

Not to make everything brighter, louder or bigger — but to make each element fit where it needs to fit.

💡 PRO TIP:

Less is often more.

Don't EQ simply because you have an EQ plugin available. Listen first, identify the problem, then make the smallest adjustment that solves it.

Use your ears, not just your eyes. 👂🏽🎧

🎧 PART 3/100 — SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.

Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

MusicProduction MixingEngineer Mastering K***sAndMonitorsAudioWorld NobleIcon

PART 2/100 — KEEP LEARNING!Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.Noble IconFor K***s and Monitors Audio World
09/08/2026

PART 2/100 — KEEP LEARNING!
Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.
Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

PART 2/100 — KEEP LEARNING!Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.Noble IconFor K***s and Monitors Audio World
09/08/2026

PART 2/100 — KEEP LEARNING!
Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.
Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

Introduction to audio mixing and mastering Day 1/100Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.Noble IconFor K***s and Monito...
09/08/2026

Introduction to audio mixing and mastering Day 1/100

Follow Noble Icon for the next lesson.
Noble Icon
For K***s and Monitors Audio World

Address

Jos

Telephone

+2348162522701

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Knobs and Monitors posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Knobs and Monitors:

Shortcuts

Share