FOSSPicks
Audio compressor
Squeezer
If you want to get into making your own podcast, or really any kind of audio recording, one of the most important effects you need to use is called a compressor. This has nothing to do with the output file size, but instead it is a process to control the dynamic range of an audio signal. The dynamic range is the amplitude distance between the quietest sounds and the loudest sounds, and getting it right can make all the difference between producing something that sounds amateur and recording something that sounds professional. A typical jazz or classical music recording, for example, will have a high dynamic range, which means there's a big difference between the quietest sounds and the loudest, much like there is in a live performance. Pop music, on the other hand, especially on Spotify or broadcast on the radio, will have a very narrow dynamic range. The amplitude of the audio stays mostly the same for the duration of the track. You can check this by opening different kinds of audio files in an audio editor like Audacity.
A compressor touches almost every aspect of the audio it processes, imbibing the audio with its character, which makes every compressor different. And there are many, including those built into Audacity and Ardour, expensive plugins you can buy, and real outboard hardware from the 1950s to the 2020s. But unlike other operating systems, Linux doesn't have the same breadth of compressor options to choose between, which is why the release of this Squeezer compressor, as both a standalone and plugin effect, is so welcome. Squeezer is one of the best compressors we've used on Linux. It has every option you need, from trigger threshold and aggressiveness (ratio), to its attack and release time. It even has high and low cut filters that will work on other audio channels. But most importantly, it sounds amazing, and it's open source.
Project Website
http://www.mzuther.de/en/software/squeezer/
![](/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/issues/2020/236/fosspicks/fig664f7eb8f1ec319c452265cfb5eeaebf.png/769378-1-eng-US/fig664f7eb8f1ec319c452265cfb5eeaebf.png_large.png)
VR desktop
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
![Learn More](https://www.linux-magazine.com/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/media/linux-magazine-eng-us/images/misc/learn-more/834592-1-eng-US/Learn-More_medium.png)
News
-
NVIDIA Released Driver for Upcoming NVIDIA 560 GPU for Linux
Not only has NVIDIA released the driver for its upcoming CPU series, it's the first release that defaults to using open-source GPU kernel modules.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 24.07 Released
If you’re into rolling release Linux distributions, OpenMandriva ROME has a new snapshot with a new kernel.
-
Kernel 6.10 Available for General Usage
Linus Torvalds has released the 6.10 kernel and it includes significant performance increases for Intel Core hybrid systems and more.
-
TUXEDO Computers Releases InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9 Laptop
Sporting either AMD or Intel CPUs, the TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 is an extremely compact, lightweight, sturdy powerhouse.
-
Google Extends Support for Linux Kernels Used for Android
Because the LTS Linux kernel releases are so important to Android, Google has decided to extend the support period beyond that offered by the kernel development team.
-
Linux Mint 22 Stable Delayed
If you're anxious about getting your hands on the stable release of Linux Mint 22, it looks as if you're going to have to wait a bit longer.
-
Nitrux 3.5.1 Available for Install
The latest version of the immutable, systemd-free distribution includes an updated kernel and NVIDIA driver.
-
Debian 12.6 Released with Plenty of Bug Fixes and Updates
The sixth update to Debian "Bookworm" is all about security mitigations and making adjustments for some "serious problems."
-
Canonical Offers 12-Year LTS for Open Source Docker Images
Canonical is expanding its LTS offering to reach beyond the DEB packages with a new distro-less Docker image.
-
Plasma Desktop 6.1 Released with Several Enhancements
If you're a fan of Plasma Desktop, you should be excited about this new point release.