Cubase - best way to automate gain before compression?

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[untouchable_888]

Is there a reason you don't just automate input gain on the compressor like the rest of the world?

One reason I can think of - you can't "see" your changes. Often times when your ears deceive you, the waveform is your best guide.

I disagree with this philosophy.
I am a firm believer that your eyes can decieve you. Further more, when listening to music, you don't watch it, you listen. When mixing you should make decisions based on what you hear, not what you see.