What (vocals, drums, bass) are you trying to compress?
Whether you're using the CLA-2A, a free trial, or one of its excellent free alternatives, here are a few quick tips: Waves Cla-2a Compressor- Free Download
The plugin was developed in collaboration with world-renowned, Grammy® award-winning mixing engineer Chris Lord-Alge (CLA). His personal vintage LA-2A unit was used as the model, and he also contributed his own custom presets, making his signature sound accessible to producers and engineers worldwide. What (vocals, drums, bass) are you trying to compress