Chapter 18Dynamics Processing
Dynamics processors are designed to automatically control the amplitude, or gain, of an audio signal and consist of two families: compressors and expanders. Using the technical definition, compressors and expanders both change the gain of a signal after its level rises above a predetermined threshold value. A compressor reduces the gain of the signal once it goes over the threshold. An expander raises the gain of a signal after it crosses above the threshold. With the exception of noise reduction systems, true expanders are rare since they can easily cause instability, runaway gain, and distortion. What is normally called an “expander” today is actually a downward expander. A downward expander reduces the gain of ...
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