editing compressor - input output gain

[trueindie]

I wanted to know what exactly the compressor input and output gain sliders did and signified and looked around on the web for answers like this

"Input Gain sets the level going into the interface and Output Gain sets the level going out of the interface."

And I still don't know what the hell that means. What is the significance of this. What am I trying to accomplish with the input gain, and what am I trying to accomplish with the output gain??

Can one of you audio geniuses please enlighten me?

thx in advance

 

[TheWAVLab]

Compressors are designed to reduce the dynamic range of audio. It can reduce the louder parts (output gain) and can increase the quiet parts (input gain). Turn up input gain.... quiet stuff gets louder. Turn down output gain... reduce the louder parts.

Most real compressors use ratio and threshold settings to give a finer control over the rate of gain reduction. http://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/the-beginners-guide-to-compression--audio-953

 

[trueindie]

Compressors are designed to reduce the dynamic range of audio. It can reduce the louder parts (output gain) and can increase the quiet parts (input gain). Turn up input gain.... quiet stuff gets louder. Turn down output gain... reduce the louder parts.

Most real compressors use ratio and threshold settings to give a finer control over the rate of gain reduction. http://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/the-beginners-guide-to-compression--audio-953

Thank you!
Makes a lot more sense now.