Attack and release fast enough to track waveform cycles produce distortion

When attack and release are fast enough that the compressor reacts to individual waveform cycles rather than the overall level contour, the gain reduction reshapes the waveform and adds distortion — worst on slow-moving bass and ruthlessly exposed on delicate acoustic instruments. A related issue: on percussive bass and kicks, attack times under ~50 ms clamp the first cycles and thin the low end, shifting the tonal balance.

Examples

A 5 ms release on a bass modulates gain at the note’s fundamental, adding a distorted texture that sounds like clipping; a sub-50 ms attack on a kick drains its low-end weight.

Assessment

Explain why very fast compressor time constants generate distortion and why short attacks thin percussive bass.