The Free Mixing Cheat Sheet
Compression starting settings for every instrument — ratio, attack, release and gain reduction — plus the full frequency map showing what lives where. One page. Print it, pin it above the desk, keep it open while you mix.
Sound Familiar?
You've got a good take. Now what?
You open a compressor and stare at it. Attack? Release? Ratio? You move a knob, it sounds different but not better, so you move it back. Twenty minutes later you're still on the same track.
The information is out there — but it's buried in 40-minute videos and forum arguments, and none of it tells you the actual numbers to start from.
This sheet does. Find your instrument, read the numbers, dial them in, then use your ears for the part that actually matters.
What You Get
One Page. Everything You Need to Start.
See For Yourself
A Look at the Actual Numbers
This is a slice of the compression quick-reference — one of several tables in the guide. Every instrument in the sheet gets this level of detail, plus its own full chain.
| Instrument | Ratio | Attack | Release | Gain Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead vocal | 2:1–3:1 | 5–10 ms | 80 ms / auto | 3–6 dB |
| Acoustic guitar | 2:1 | 20 ms | 150 ms | 2–3 dB |
| Bass | 4:1 | 15–20 ms | 140 ms | 4–6 dB |
| Kick | 4:1 | 10–15 ms | 120 ms | 3–5 dB |
| Snare | 4:1 | 5–10 ms | 100 ms | 4–6 dB |
Plus the reasoning: slower attack keeps the punch, release should breathe with the music.
Questions
Before You Buy
Get It Now
Grab it. It costs nothing.
One page of settings you will use on every song. Free, instant download.