Set the difficulty to Easy — only Threshold will be active. Press New Round, then toggle between Target and My Comp to hear the difference. Drag the Threshold knob until your compressed signal matches the target, then press Check Answer.
Once you're comfortable with Threshold, move up to Medium (adds Ratio), then Hard and Pro to introduce Attack and Release. Each new parameter adds a layer of complexity.
Threshold — determines how loud a signal must be before the compressor acts. A lower threshold means more of the signal gets compressed, making it sound more "squashed" or controlled overall.
Ratio — how aggressively the compressor reduces gain above the threshold. A high ratio (10:1, 20:1) sounds heavily clamped; a low ratio (2:1) is subtle and gentle.
Attack — how quickly the compressor clamps down after the signal exceeds the threshold. A slow attack lets transients (the initial punch of a kick or snare) pass through; a fast attack kills them.
Release — how quickly the compressor lets go after the signal drops below the threshold. Too fast causes a "pumping" or "breathing" effect; too slow keeps the signal permanently squashed.
Knee — how gradually compression kicks in around the threshold. A hard knee (0 dB) is abrupt; a soft knee (wide) eases in smoothly.
Makeup Gain — because compression reduces overall level, makeup gain adds volume back. Match it so the Target and your comp sound equally loud before comparing tone.