itch.io

well it depends a bit. While compression and limiting are technically the same thing, they do get used differently. Compressing a signal means you add volume while compressing the dynamics over a certain threshold. So for example everything other 36 db gets compressed by a ratio of 1:4 meaning for every 4db over the threshold of 36db it only gets 1db louder (so for example instead of 40db it will be 37db).

Limiting is making something quittier over a certain threshold so it won’t get as loud. While brickwall limiting says it can‘t get louder.

So compression does not really have to do with the target db of your output. Generally a glue compressor should only compress the siglnal between 1-4 db. If you need higher compression, I’d recommend using a compressor in parallel, like an affect bus before the master. Just question every track into this, except the percussions and drums and squash that thing as hard you like. Then dial in the volume of that effect bus to taste. This will get you more punch and dynamic while also giving you that squeezed sound.