I recommend using compressor plugins which graphically show the threshold and ratio settings on an x-y plot and gain changes that are dynamically applied. I had a hard time visualizing the effect of dynamic processing in general until I starting using a plugin that showed all of this going on, along with an excellent set of presets for different specific uses. Yes, use your ears. For those that think in waveforms and mathematics, graphic displays can shorten the learning curve.

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