Yes that's right, don't compress. With modern equipment there is never any technical need to compress, so there is absolutely no reason why compression should be the norm. There must be a good solid justification for you to reach for your plug-in drop-down menu.
Consequently, when should you compress audio?
You want the compressor to engage as soon as signal rises above the threshold, and you want it to stop compressing as soon as it falls below the threshold. Peak compression has been applied to the second half of the following audio example.
Also Know, does compressing audio reduce quality? Lossy compression reduces the file size with some loss of sound quality compared with the original. A high-quality, high-resolution system is more likely to be able to resolve the difference between a lossy file and the original or a lossless file.
Accordingly, is compressing audio good?
Compression is often used in music production to make instruments more consistent in dynamic range, so that they "sit" more nicely in the mix with the other instruments (neither disappear during short periods of time, nor overpower the other instruments during short periods).
Should you compress or EQ first?
Each position, EQ pre (before) or EQ post (after) compression produces a distinctly different sound, a different tonal quality, and coloration. As a rule, using EQ in front of your compressor produces a warmer, rounder tone, while using EQ after your compressor produces a cleaner, clearer sound.
