In a recent 'Ask a Professor' segment, one of our instructors answered a question from a member:

How do I hear compression artifacts (and avoid using compression in a way that hurts the sound)?

The answer is really practical and helpful, so I wanted to share it with you. Here’s the video: WATCH VIDEO​

​

A few helpful takeaways from the video:

• Use bypass as a learning tool. Turn the compressor on/off and listen for the delta (what actually changed).
• A compressor does two main things:
  1. Controls dynamic range (loud parts get quieter)
  2. Adds color / harmonic distortion (sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious)

My favorite part is the example Gabe shares from a drum tracking session where he and his students intentionally slam a compressor until it sounds ugly… then blend it in to add grit and energy. It’s a great reminder that “wrong” settings can become the right choice when you use them on purpose.

Want more like this?

This Ask a Professor segment is part of the Audio University Membership, where members get:

• Full access to Ask a Professor (questions answered by experts who can teach)
• Mix reviews and community feedback
• The full course library (including Mixing Essentials and Ear Training)
• Live sessions like Office Hours (and more)

Heads up: Membership pricing increases on January 1st 2026.

If you want to lock in the current rate before it goes up, you can join here:
​JOIN AUDIO UNIVERSITY​

Either way, I hope the video helps you hear compression more clearly and use it in your own mixes.

Talk soon,
Kyle