
#SIDECHAIN COMPRESSION LMMS FULL#
A completely “hard” knee uses the threshold as a sharp “on/off” switch for compression, while a “soft” knee fades in the compression – such that signals below the threshold are gradually attenuated, while the full ratio isn’t reached until above the threshold. Knee: determines the onset of the compression.In Live 10’s meters, peak is shown in dark green while RMS is shown in bright green. While RMS (root mean square) is a representation of the general loudness, peak responds immediately to current peaks.
Peak / RMS: this determines how the compressor perceives the loudness of the trigger signal. A limiter is simply a compressor with a ratio of infinity:1, such that the signal never rises above the threshold. At a ratio of 10:1, that same signal will be attenuated by 1.8dB. For example, at a ratio of 2:1, a signal that is 2dB above the threshold will be attenuated by 1dB. Ratio: the intensity of the compression for signals above the threshold. Threshold: the dividing level – sounds louder than this level are attenuated according to the ratio, while sounds softer than this level are left alone. If you’re new to using compression or just want to review, here are some of the key terms: By making loud sounds softer, the compressor allows a producer to boost the level of a track, thus narrowing the dynamic range. Combine wide dynamic range (the gap between the loudest and softest sounds) with high noise floors of vinyl and tape media and you’d often have brilliant singers delivering unusable takes.Įnter the compressor. Consistency in vocal takes isn’t easy – performers need to maintain the right position in relation to a stationary microphone and be mindful of volume, both of which run counter to delivering an animated performance.
And the ficklest instrument of all is the human voice. In the early days of recording, before DAWs and before even multitrack tape, recordings were done live, with the only kind of editing amounting to doing another take. Dynamics processing – especially compression – is so ubiquitous now that it’s almost novel to take a step back and look at where it came from.