Brian
MCTC Sound Arts
© Brian Heller www.WhatTheHeller.com
Subtle | Extreme | |
---|---|---|
Decrease | Compression | Limiting |
Increase | Expansion | Gating |
The limiter severely reduces any signal that is above its threshold. Limiting is essentially extreme compression (with a high threshold & high ratio).
The compressor controls the dynamic range by reducing the gain of any signal that is above its threshold, by the amount of the ratio.
Parsons ASSR to 4:40
Remember, compression is among the most difficult of the tools to hear, have control of, and apply confidently. Practice & gaining experience are the answers!
In its simplest form, the gate silences any signal that is not above its threshold.
In practice, there are a few other controls to help make the gate more musically useful...
The expander does the opposite of the compressor– Widens the dynamic range by decreasing the gain of any signal that is below its threshold. It is essentially a gate with a ratio control, to make it less extreme.
Certain compressors (including the Distressors and vintage plug-in emulations) use an input control instead of a threshold. This means the threshold is fixed, but because the input level into the compressor is varied, it can work the same way.
Just be aware that this control will need to move in the opposite direction of a threshold to achieve the same result.
How long does it take the compressor to get to full gain reduction once triggered?
How long it take the compressor to stop working?
By Brian