<< I, for one, would NOT apply a Compressor, since this will raise the nois=
e floor of the quieter sections. Instead apply a Limiter, which will change=
only the peaks. >>
There's a bit of a misrepresentation of function in this statement. Both a =
compressor & a limiter do the same thing, which is to restrict dynamics abo=
ve a selected threshold. The only distinction is in the severity of the com=
pression ratio. Both reduce the peak to average level. Both can raise the n=
oise floor, if the user chooses to set the makeup gain parameter to do that=
. Fully featured compressors & limiters can do whatever the user wishes, th=
us making a low ratio compressor setting less extreme in its topping off of=
peaks, while providing no makeup gain, if that's what one wants. Generally=
, the desired aim of dynamics modification is specifically to restrict the =
peak to average range, with the intent to bring up low level content (which=
includes noise floor) in order to insure that detail is audible at the int=
ended listening level, but that certainly isn't the only way to process, & =
a compressor doesn't by nature impose only that approach.
Scott Fraser
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