what does compression do?

Compression is key to apparent loudness and flat dynamics (range of volume). If you want your tracks to sound "expensive" and "big" use a compressor. The parameters can be confusing, but there's a good way to go about dialing in the right values. The basic parameters are attack, release, and threshold.

Attack

this value tells the compressor how long to wait before acting on the signal


Release

this value tells the compressor how long to compress before backing off the signal


Threshold

this value tells the compressor when to "activate" based on how much gain the signal has


...begin by setting the attack at zero, release at max, and thresh at infinity

the result will be a dynamically flat signal

next tweak the attack knob to let a bit of the beginning of the signal out

this will result in more initial punch, making for a cutty sound that comes out of the mix in the front

the release knob will change the flat/loudness of the end of the signal

compression = amplitude shaper = in your face = expensive

for example

Mariah Carey's track "Emotions"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlyVcQ8GmK0

analog kick

If you really want phat kick and bass, you should check out something like this

http://www.jomox.com/product_details.php?lang=2&category=1&product_id=4

here's a great sample library I found online:

drum and synth samples