Compression

Question 1

What is a compressor?

Answer 1

An automated method for reducing the dynamic range of music

Question 2

What is noisegate?

Answer 2

An extreme expander
• high ratio - reduction of low level noise to silence
• used with drums to cut out the bleed from the rest of the drum kit

Question 3

What is the threshold?

Answer 3

The pre-set point at which, ONCE PASSED, a compressor or gate starts working, e.g. 50 dB

Question 5

What is the ratio?

Answer 5

The amount the signal is reduced by once the threshold has been passed.

Question 6

What is the attack?

Answer 6

The time taken for the compressor to act after the threshold has been passed.

Question 8

What is the release?

Answer 8

The time it takes for the compressor to STOP reducing the signal after the volume falls below the threshold again.

Question 9

What can be used to boost the whole signal after the dynamic range has been reduced?

Answer 9

Output/make-up gain

Question 10

What is a limiter and what are some key features of one?

Answer 10

A limiter is a compressor with extreme settings.
• sharply cuts off once it reaches the threshold
• extremely short attack & release
• very high ratio (15:1 +)
• mostly used for ear & equipment protection

Question 13

What is an expander and what is it user for?

Answer 13

Opposite of a compressor- REDUCES signal levels below set threshold, expanding the dynamic range
• commonly used as a noise reduced for vocalists to get rid of background noise when they’re not singing