Mixing Audio, 2nd Edition

15	Introduction todynamic rangeprocessors

Chapters 16–20 deal with compressors, limiters, gates, expanders and duckers. All fall into a group called dynamic range processors. Dynamic range processors have similarities worth discussing as a background to the succeeding chapters.

Dynamic range

Dynamic range is defined as the difference between the softest and loudest sounds a system can accommodate. Our auditory system, digital systems (such as an audio sequencer or a CD) and analog systems (such as a loudspeaker or a tape) are all associated with dynamic range. Absolute level measurements are expressed in various dB notations – dBSPL, dBu, dBFS, etc. Dynamic range, like any difference between two level measurements, is expressed in plain ...