Final answer:
Compressors are used to manage sudden peaks in sound level, protecting equipment from overload and providing a smoother, more consistent sound in a mix.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compressors are used to hold down sudden peaks in sound level, which protects your equipment from overload, and gives your mix a more constant, even sound. A compressor works by automatically reducing the gain of a signal that exceeds a certain threshold. It is essential in both live sound and recording to manage the dynamic range of the audio. When the incoming level exceeds the set threshold, the compressor reduces the level of the signal, usually measured in decibels (dB). This process is known as 'gain reduction'.
While a limiter also deals with controlling dynamics, it is far more aggressive than a compressor and is designed to prevent a signal from exceeding a specified output level, effectively limiting the peaks of a signal to a certain threshold. On the contrary, an expander increases the dynamic range of an audio signal, making quiet sounds quieter and loud sounds louder, which is the opposite of what a compressor does. Lastly, reverb relates to the persistence of sound after a sound is produced, and is not a tool to control dynamic range but rather to add a sense of space to the audio.
It is worth mentioning that proper damping is important in controlled sound amplification, which decreases the amplitude of the wave as it propagates. Additionally, the decibel scale is essential for understanding sound intensity levels, as it measures sound pressure in relation to a reference level.