Compressor attack time

[zebadee]

This must be a really simple question to answer:

Why with a compressor can you increase the volume of a track?Surly with a delay in time before the comprssor starts working (the attack time setting) the peak level of the track will be the same as it was before compression?

 

[bizarre]

you don't get a dly because of the attack time, the attack time determines how fast the compressor starts working after threshold is reached. There is a output fader/slide/knob where you can make sure that the peak level is the same.
Some effects add a short delay, that's because they have a "look ahead function" meaning they have better time to process the file. If you use such a device in your multitrack session, you can +/- dly the track to make it fit
bizz

 

[zebadee]

oops

sorry I phrased my question badly, what I meant was - if the compressor is not compressing as soon as the level exceeds the threshold, then there must be a small bit that is has exceeded the threshold and not been compressed.

How can you increase the overall volume of a track if parts of it (the bits over the compressor threshold but before the compressor had started working) are the same as if compression was not applied?

 

[bizarre]

well - i guess we're moving in on the subject " Right use of the compressor"
if u use a long attack time, it's typically on vocals to get the breathing before the actual word, bass or toms to make it say WH..before..ow!!! - what I mean is, you make your settings to acomplish each other´, as I read your question, I'm thinkin' "that would be a bad ajustment - fiddle around the knobs a bit"
hope this was kind of the answer you were lookin' for
bizz