Dynamic range compressors are one of the most ubiquitous audio effects used in music production and mixing contexts. The ballistics settings, of attack and release time, in a dynamic range compressor (DRC) are considered highly important for influencing the perceived response of the compressor, and the manner in which they shape an audio signal. The ability to perceive the effect of compression ballistics is important to better understand how these tools can be best utilised in music production. We present an audibility threshold test, in a web-based format, using an ABX test methodology, where participants were asked to identify which of the presented audio examples they perceived as different to a reference file. DRC attack and release settings were varied and applied to a set of audio examples. The results demonstrate that larger ranges of change in the ballistics settings are more noticeable than small changes. The test also demonstrated that the perception of changes in ballistics settings vary when compressor threshold settings were changed. Lighter levels of compression with a higher threshold generally yielded more noticeable results, especially where the effects of large changes in ballistics settings were measured. Finally, it was observed that participants with above average or expert levels of experience (4 years or more) were more likely to perceive small differences in attack and release times than those with less developed critical listening skills.
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