A method for automatic gain control comprising the steps of measuring a signal using compressed sensing to produce a sequence of blocks of measurements, applying a gain to one of the blocks of measurements, adjusting the gain based upon a deviation of a saturation rate of the one of the blocks of measurements from a predetermined nonzero saturation rate and applying the adjusted gain to a second of the blocks of measurements. Alternatively, a method for automatic gain control comprising the steps of applying a gain to a signal, computing a saturation rate of the signal and adjusting the gain based upon a difference between the saturation rate of the signal and a predetermined nonzero saturation rate.