Compressors

When it comes to dynamics processing, we’ve never had it so good. Once upon a time, even the largest studios had only basic...

I thought I had a handle on this, but seem to have a hard time understanding the difference between a compressor’s ‘Hold’ and its ‘Release’. Can you help explain?

Could you explain (slowly!) the basic principles of how a compressor works, and what each control does, the ratio control in particular?

I have a compressor with inserts to access the side-chain. What is the side-chain and what would you use these inserts for?

In my hardware-based setup, with my TC electronics Triple*C compressor, is it possible to do the kind of limiting on a full mix where you end up with a waveform that is levelled off at the top and bottom, 'brick wall'-style?