As a podcaster or a voice-over actor, you always want your audio to sound clear and professional. Compression is one tool that can help you achieve this. A compressor ensures that your audio has a consistent volume level, reducing the difference between the loudest and quietest parts of your recording. This increases intelligibility and overall perceived quality.
The six essential features of an audio compressor are ratio, threshold, attack, release, lookahead, and make-up gain. Understanding these features is crucial to getting the best out of your compressor.
Ratio
Ratio is the amount of compression that will be applied to your audio. It is expressed as a ratio, for example, 2:1 or 4:1. A 2:1 ratio means that if the input audio level goes over the threshold by 2 decibels (dB), the output level will only go up by 1 dB. A 4:1 ratio means that if the input audio level goes over the threshold by 4 dB, the output level will only go up by 1 dB.
(side note: a limiter is a compressor with an infinite ratio.)
Threshold
Threshold is the level at which the compressor starts to work. If the input level goes above the threshold, the compressor will activate and start reducing the volume. The threshold is usually set in decibels, and a lower threshold means more compression.
Attack
Attack is the time it takes for the compressor to start working once the input level goes above the threshold. A fast attack time means that the compressor will start working immediately, while a slower attack time means that the compressor will start working after a short delay. This allows more of the transient through. On instruments, this can make things more punchy. On voice it may sound unnatural, faster attack times are more ideal.
Release
Release is the time it takes for the compressor to stop working once the input level goes below the threshold. A fast release time means that the compressor will stop working immediately, while a slower release time means that the compressor will continue working for a short time after the input level goes below the threshold.
Types
There are different types of compression that can be used in audio production, including peak, RMS, and multiband compression. Peak compression is used to control the loudest peaks in the audio, while RMS compression is used to control the overall volume level. Multiband compression is a more advanced technique that allows different frequency bands to be compressed independently, allowing for more precise control over the sound. Each type of compression has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of which to use depends on the specific needs of the audio production.
Lookahead
Lookahead is a feature that allows the compressor to analyze the audio before it reaches the compressor. This helps the compressor be proactive in its processing, lowering the overall level a few milliseconds *before* that reaches the compressor. This results in an incredibly smooth and transparent type of compression. One of the stages of compression built into SOAP utilizes this style of compressor.
Make-up Gain
Make-up gain is the amount of gain that is added to the output signal after the compression has been applied. This is necessary because compression reduces the overall level of the audio, so make-up gain is used to bring the level back up to the desired level. Our ears naturally perceive louder things to be better. So ensure when processing recordings you are actually making it better not just louder.
Compression is an essential tool for podcasters and voice-over actors. We spent a year finely tuning SOAP's compression algorithm specifically for this application.
Comentarii