Dynamic Processing

Question 1

After the peaks in the dynamic range have been reduced when a compressor it used, what boosts the whole signal after

Answer 1

Make up gain

Question 2

What is knee in compression?

Answer 2

The characteristic bend in the response curve when the signal crosses the threshold. A soft knee compressor gradually applies the ratio, whereas a hard knee compressor will apply the ratio instantly once the signal is above the threshold

Question 3

What is ratio in compression

Answer 3

Ratio of input volume:output volume, how much the compressor will reduce the signal by once the signal is above the threshold, the amount of compression

Question 4

When the release is set too fast on compression what can happen?

Answer 4

It can introduce ‘pumping’ or ‘ducking’ effects

Question 5

What is side chain compression

Answer 5

Is where a compressor is triggered by the volume of one track, but the compressor is applied to another

Question 6

What frequencies do sibilance occur

Answer 6

5kHz - 10kHz

Question 7

What are limiters

Answer 7

Compressors with extreme settings, they will have a ratio set as close to infinity:1 as possible, they are used to prevent signals from increasing beyond a certain level to avoid damaging equipment or increasing beyond an acceptable limit, controlling the peaks a compressor might have missed

Question 8

What is a expander

Answer 8

It works in the opposite way of a compressor - they reduce the level of signals that fall below a set threshold, expanding the dynamic range

Question 9

What are noise gates

Answer 9

They are extreme expanders - they have a very high ratio reducing any signal to silence when it passes below the threshold. They are used to reduce background noise