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Tips on using this article - I suggest you use a pair of good headphones when listening to the
sounds here. The sound icons are arranged from left to right in order of increasing audio
quality (.au format, .wav, and .mp2 or MPEG 2 audio). The respective file sizes are noted
below the icons. The sound files were created using a DigiTech RP-1 and Csound.
Introduction
As the name implies, compression reduces the dynamic range of a signal. It is used
extensively in audio recording, production work, noise reduction, and live performance
applications, but it does need to be used with care. It's commonly said that compressors make
loud sounds quieter, and the quiet sounds louder, but this is actually only half correct.
How it Works
A compressor is basically a variable gain device, where the amount of gain used depends on
the level of the input. In this case, the gain will be reduced when the signal level is high which
makes louder passages softer, reducing the dynamic range. The basic scheme is shown in
Figure 1.
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Sound Set 1: A heavily compressed pinch harmonic played on a
guitar. Without any compression, the pinch harmonic would
seem to decay much more rapidly (because the compressor holds
the volume fairly constant for a while). Once the harmonic falls
below the threshold, noise and the other strings that were ringing
fade in and can be heard - the 'breathing' effect.
Other Notes
Ducking/Cross Limiting
So far, we have been talking about compressors that process the signal that is being used in
the level detection process. But in some cases, you would prefer to have a signal's level
controlled by a different signal - when one signal level is high, the other signal is attenuated,
as in Figure 4. This is called 'ducking' (since it 'ducks' a signal out of the way) or cross
limiting. The most common example would be a radio DJ. While music is playing, speaking
into the microphone will cause the level of the music to drop so that it's easier to understand
the DJ. When mixing in the studio, a ducker can also be used to emphasize certain elements,
such as the kick drum. The kick could lower other tracks in the mix, increasing its 'presence.'