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Re: Some basic processing questions

Subject: Re: Some basic processing questions
From: "Scott Fraser" scottbfraser
Date: Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:37 am ((PST))
<< 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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