Attack and release time in mastering?

There is no real answer. It depends on the material. Train your ears and trust them :wink:

Use a low ratio if you don’t want pumping effect. Don’t set your attack time too short (below 20-30 ms). If you do, you will destroy the punch. Use the soft knee for safety. Set the release time around 400-600 ms and adjust it to fit your track’s rhythmic structure.

The mastering compressor is mostly triggered by the kick & bass. If you need to cut low frequencies with EQ, do it before the compressor. By doing this, you will prevent unnecessary triggering of the compressor.

Play with the attack and release settings to train your ear.

Good luck :slight_smile: