Components - Dynamics

Dynamic processors play a vital roles in audio engineering, ensuring that sound is clear, balanced, and free of distortion while allowing for creative expression in music and sound design.

Limiter

Is a type of dynamic processor that prevents an audio signal from exceeding a specified threshold. When the signal reaches the threshold, the limiter reduces the gain to keep the output level from going any higher.

• Threshold: The level at which the limiter begins to take effect. Signals above this level are attenuated.

• Attack and Release Times: These control how quickly the limiter responds to peaks (attack) and how quickly it returns to normal after the peak passes (release).

Dynamic Range Expander

Increases the dynamic range of an audio signal by making quiet sounds quieter and loud sounds louder. This contrasts with compression, which reduces the dynamic range.

• Attack and Release Times: These settings determine how quickly the expander reacts to changes in signal level.

• Ratio: For every x dB below the threshold, the output will drop by the configured amount.

• Threshold: The level at which the expander begins to take effect. Signals below this level are affected by the expander.

Dynamic Range Compressor

Reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal by attenuating the loud parts and allowing quieter parts to remain more prominent. It smooths out the volume levels within a signal.

• Attack and Release Times: These parameters control how quickly the compressor responds to signal changes (attack) and how quickly it returns to normal after the signal drops below the threshold (release).

• Ratio: Defines how much the signal will be reduced once it exceeds the threshold (e.g., a 4:1 ratio means that for every 4 dB the input exceeds the threshold, the output increases by 1 dB).

• Threshold: The level at which the compressor starts to reduce the gain of the signal.