Use Kdenlive Compressor to Even Out Dialogue Volume

This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to use the Compressor audio effect in Kdenlive to balance and even out dialogue volume. You will learn how to locate the effect, apply it to your audio clips or tracks, and adjust key settings like threshold, ratio, attack, and release to achieve professional, consistent audio levels in your video projects.

Step 1: Add the Compressor Effect to Your Audio

To begin, you need to apply the compressor effect to your dialogue.

Open your project in Kdenlive and ensure your audio clip is on the timeline.
Go to the Effects tab (usually located in the top-left or bottom-left panel). If you do not see it, enable it via View > Effects.
In the search bar of the Effects tab, type Compressor.
Drag and drop the Compressor (or SC Compressor) effect directly onto your audio clip in the timeline, or onto the entire audio track header if you want to apply it to all clips on that track.

Step 2: Understand the Key Settings

Once applied, click on the audio clip to open the Effect/Composition Stack panel. You will see several sliders. To even out dialogue, you need to adjust these core parameters:

Threshold (dB): This determines the volume level at which the compressor starts working. Any audio louder than this threshold will be quieted down.
Ratio: This controls how much the volume is reduced once it goes over the threshold. A higher ratio means more compression.
Attack (ms): This is how quickly the compressor starts reducing the volume after the audio crosses the threshold.
Release (ms): This is how quickly the compressor stops compressing after the audio falls back below the threshold.
Makeup Gain (dB): Since compressing reduces the volume of the loudest parts, makeup gain allows you to boost the entire audio signal back up, making the quiet parts louder and more audible.

Step 3: Configure Settings for Dialogue

For natural-sounding spoken word or dialogue, use the following baseline settings and adjust them to fit your specific recording:

Set the Ratio to 2:1 or 3:1. This is a gentle, standard ratio for dialogue that keeps the voice sounding natural without sounding heavily processed or “squashed.”
Set the Attack to 5ms – 10ms. A fast attack time ensures that sudden loud bursts or sharp consonants are caught quickly.
Set the Release to 100ms – 150ms. A moderate release time prevents the volume from pumping up and down unnaturally between words.
Adjust the Threshold. Look at your audio meter. Find the average level of the quieter parts of your dialogue. Set your threshold slightly below the peaks of your normal speaking level (typically between -12dB and -20dB).
Adjust the Makeup Gain. Once you have compressed the peaks, increase the Makeup Gain (usually by 2dB to 5dB) until the overall dialogue sits comfortably around -12dB to -6dB on your master audio meter.

Step 4: Preview and Fine-Tune

Play your timeline and listen closely to the dialogue. Use the power/enable button next to the Compressor effect in the Effect Stack to toggle the effect on and off.

If the dialogue still has too many volume jumps, lower the Threshold or increase the Ratio slightly.
If the audio sounds muffled or “breathy,” increase the Release time or lower the Ratio.