compressor/expander

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darknailblue

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allright... im not clear on the differences between a compressor and an expander.... to my knowledge a compressor makes signals below a set threshold louder, and sigals above a set threshold quieter.... am i right so far? so if thats true.... what the hell is the use for an expander? or am i just totally confused?

~dn
 
In an expander the quietest part of the waveform is made quieter and the loudest part is potentially made a bit louder so as to exaggerate the dynamic differences between the soft and loud parts.

Think the opposite of a compressor.
 
Yo darknail! Welcome to the board! A compressor is set for a threshold, with a ratio, attack and release. When the signal reaches the threshold, the amount of gain beyond that point is attenuated according to the ratio. For instance, if your ratio is 3:1, for every 3 dB's of gain above the threshold, the compressor will allow one. Some compressors can be set to not allow any gain beyond a set point, and when that feature is engaged, the compressor becomes a limiter. The attack determines how fast the compressor will act to limit gain, and the release determines how quickly the effect will disengage when the input drops below the threshold. About expanders, I can't tell you diddly, I've never used one.-Richie
 
well, many people use at least one kind of expander: it's called a gate.

A gate compared to an expander is sort of like a limiter is to a compressor.

One use of an expander is to force low level signals (like the noise floor) even lower so as to be inaudible.
 
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