Update Dynamics

This commit is contained in:
Alexandre Prokoudine 2022-04-16 09:35:45 +03:00
parent 9614ec8d82
commit d654cca601
12 changed files with 87 additions and 92 deletions

Binary file not shown.

Before

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 307 KiB

Binary file not shown.

Before

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 36 KiB

Binary file not shown.

Before

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 34 KiB

Binary file not shown.

Before

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 307 KiB

Binary file not shown.

Before

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 23 KiB

Binary file not shown.

Before

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 33 KiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 73 KiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 61 KiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 40 KiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 172 KiB

Binary file not shown.

After

Width:  |  Height:  |  Size: 227 KiB

View File

@ -2,133 +2,128 @@
title = "Dynamics" title = "Dynamics"
chapter = false chapter = false
weight = 6 weight = 6
#pre = "<b>1. </b>"
+++ +++
One of the problems you may encounter in a Mix is that the loud parts One of the problems you may encounter in a mix is that, depending on the
are too loud, and/or the quiet parts are too quiet. material, the loud parts are too loud, and/or the quiet parts are too quiet.
This kind of problem cannot be easily solved using Faders to adjust the Levels alone. You may This kind of problem cannot be easily solved using faders to adjust the levels
set the Levels so high that they clip, or you may add unwanted alone. You may set the levels so high that they clip, or you may add unwanted
background noise by simply turning Levels up. These are all problems background noise by simply turning levels up. These are all problems with what
with what is called the **Dynamic Range**, i.e., the difference between is called the _dynamic range_, i.e., the difference between the loudest and
the loudest and quietest parts of your Session. There are several types quietest parts of your session. There are several types of tools for adjusting
of tools for adjusting the Dynamic Range available as **Plugins** the dynamic range available mostly as third-party plugins within Ardour,
within Ardour, including **Limiting**, **Compression** and **Gating**. including _limiting_, _compression_, and _gating_.
## Limiting ## Limiting
A **Limiter** is a tool that prevents the volume of a Track from going A _limiter_ is a tool that prevents the volume of a track from going over a
over a certain Level, usually the Peak Level (0dB) or something close to certain level, usually the peak level (0dB) or something close to it. Many
it. Many Limiters have the option to boost the Levels of the incoming limiters have the option to boost the levels of the incoming signal before they
signal before they are Limited, and in this way you can "close the gap" are limited, and in this way you can "close the gap" between the loudest and
between the loudest and quietest parts of your Mix. A Limiter can be quietest parts of your mix. A limiter can be used on the _Master_ bus to prevent
used on the Master Bus to prevent the overall Mix from Clipping. the overall mix from clipping. Limiters are almost always used post-fader.
Limiters are almost always used Post-Fader.
In the example below, a Plugin named "*Fast Lookahead Limiter*" is used (if you don't find that specific one among your installed plugins, look for any other called "Limiter"). To In the example below, a plugin named _Fast Lookahead Limiter_ is used (if you
set how much it limits, simply adjust the don't find that specific one among your installed plugins, look for any other
"*Limit (dB)*" slider. The Fast Lookahead Limiter literally "looks called "Limiter"). To set how much it limits, simply adjust the _Limit (dB)_
ahead" in the signal by a few milliseconds, and when it sees that the slider. The _Fast Lookahead Limiter_ literally looks ahead in the signal by a
signal is about to go over the limit you have set, it automatically few milliseconds, and when it sees that the signal is about to go over the limit
turns the Levels down. you have set, it automatically turns the levels down.
![limiter](en/Ardour4_Limiter_Fast_Lookahead.png) ![limiter](en/ardour7-fast-lookahead-lmiter.png)
The "*Input Gain (dB)*" slider determines how much the Levels are The _Input Gain (dB)_ slider determines how much the levels are increased before
increased before they reach the Limiter, and the "*Attenuation (dB)*" they reach the limiter, and the _Attenuation (dB)_ meter on the right-hand side
meter on the right-hand side shows how much the Levels are being reduced shows how much the levels are being reduced at any given moment. While the
at any given moment. While the reduction in volume is reduction in volume is nearly-instantaneous, the _Release time (s)_ slider
nearly-instantaneous, the "*Release time (s)*" slider determines how determines how long it takes the limiter to return to 0dB of _Attenuation_.
long it takes the Limiter to return to 0 Decibels of **Attenuation**.
Note that the "harder" one drives the Limiter (by increasing the Input Note that the "harder" one drives the limiter (by increasing the input gain
Gain and/or decreasing the maximum Peak Limit allowed), the more and/or decreasing the maximum peak limit allowed), the more reduction the
reduction the Limiter is forced to make, and the more likely it is that limiter is forced to make, and the more likely it is that artifacts of the
Artifacts of the processing will occur (such as Distortions or erratic processing will occur (such as distortions or erratic changes in volume). On
changes in volume). On the Master Bus, it is generally best to avoid the _Master_ bus, it is generally best to avoid excessive limiting.
excessive Limiting.
## Compression ## Compression
A **Compressor** boosts the overall volume of a sound, but then A _compressor_ boosts the overall volume of a sound, but then "squeezes" it
"squeezes" it depending on how loud it is. This can make vocals sound depending on how loud it is. This can make vocals sound more even or drums
more even or drums sound fuller and louder. The end effect is similar to sound fuller and louder. The end effect is similar to how a limiter can reduce
how a Limiter can reduce the range between the quietest and the loudest the range between the quietest and the loudest sound, however the effect is
sound, however the effect is more selective when using a Compressor. more selective when using a compressor.
The simplest Compressor has relatively few controls, such as the A typical compressor will have these obligatory controls:
"*Simple Compressor*" Plugin shown below. Here, the "*Threshold*"
sets the Level at which the Compressor will start to act, and the
"*Compression Ratio*" controls how much the Compressor will "squeeze"
the sound. The "*Attack*" and "*Decay*" parameters control how quickly
the Compressor affects the sound.
![simple compressor](en/Ardour4_Compressor_Simple.png) **Threshold**
: Sets the level at which the compressor will start to act.
A more complex Compressor, the "*SC1 Compressor*" Plugin, is show below. **Ratio**
: Controls how much the compressor will "squeeze" the sound.
![sc1 compressor](en/Ardour4_Compressor_SC1.png) **Attack** and **Release**
: Control how quickly the compressor affects the sound.
It has three main buttons: ![ACE Compressor](en/ardour7-ace-compressor.png)
- "*Threshold level* (dB)" sets the level at which the Compressor will compress or squeeze the sound. The _ACE Compressor_ plugin on the screenshot above has two additional controls:
- "*Ratio* (1:n)" controls how much it will squeeze when it reaches the threshold.
- "*Makeup gain (dB)*" boosts the whole signal after the Compression occurs.
To soften out a vocal, for example, you could set a "Threshold level" of 10dB or so **Threshold level** (in dB)
and a "Ratio" of 2.5, and then bring the volume back up with the "Makeup : Sets the level at which the compressor will compress or squeeze the sound.
gain".
The other three controls — "*Attack time (ms)*", "*Release time (ms)*" and **Makeup gain** (in dB)
"*Knee radius (dB)*" — allow you to control the shape of the Compression. : Boosts the whole signal after the compression occurs.
For soft vocal Compression, you would want a semi-fast "Attack time" so To soften out a vocal, for example, you could set _Threshold level_ of 10dB or
that the Compressor catches the beginning of each word, a slower so and a _Ratio_ of 2.5, and then bring the volume back up with the _Makeup
"Release time" to let the voice ring out, and a soft "Knee radius" to gain_. The other three controls — _Attack time_, _Release time_, and _Knee_
create a gentle form of compression that isn't too noticeable. allow you to control the shape of the compression.
If you want to make drums sound big, you might try a slow "Attack time" so that For soft vocal compression, you would want a semi-fast attack time so that the
you don't Compress the pop of the drum, a fast "Release time" so that compressor catches the beginning of each word, a slower release time to let the
the Compressor can catch the next hit of the drum, and a large "Ratio" voice ring out, and a soft knee radius to create a gentle form of compression
to make the Dynamics between the beginning and end of the drum hit that isn't too noticeable.
similar.
Below is a screenshot of a similar Compressor from the If you want to make drums sound big, you might try a slow attack time so that
[Calf Plugins Package](http://calf.sourceforge.net/plugins.html): you don't compress the pop of the drum, a fast release time so that the
compressor can catch the next hit of the drum, and a large ratio to make the
dynamics between the beginning and end of the drum hit similar.
![sc1 compressor](en/Ardour4_Compressor_Calf.png) Below is a screenshot of a similar compressor from the [LSP plugins
suite](https://lsp-plug.in/):
![LSP Compressor Mono](en/ardour7-lsp-compressor-mono.png)
## Gating ## Gating
The simplest kind of **Gate** allows a signal to pass through when it is The simplest kind of a _gate_ allows a signal to pass through when it is over a
over a certain Level, and blocks the signal when it is lower than that. certain level, and blocks the signal when it is lower than that.
Gates are often used as a kind of noise reduction. For example, the Gate Gates are often used as a kind of noise reduction. For example, the gate on a
on a microphone channel might only open while the singer is singing, microphone channel might only open while the singer is singing, preventing other
preventing other background noises from coming through as well when she background noises from coming through as well when she is not singing. Gated
is not singing. Gated drums are also a very well-known studio production drums are also a very well-known studio production trick to make them sound
trick to make them sound "sharper". "sharper".
Here, the "*Hard Gate*" Plugin displays a single control Here, the _Hard Gate_ plugin (from a suite of LADSPA plugins called
parameter, the "*Threshold*" at which the Gate will open and let the [CMT](https://www.ladspa.org/cmt/overview.html)) displays a single control
signal through. parameter, the _Threshold_ at which the gate will open and let the signal
through.
![gate](en/Ardour4_Hard_Gate_Plugin.png) ![Hard Gate](en/ardour7-hard-gate.png)
Other kinds of Gates, such as the Calf Gate Plugin, are Other kinds of gates, such as the _LSP Gate_ plugin on the screenshot below, are
more complex. They have independent control over how quickly the Gate more complex. They have independent control over how quickly the gate opens
opens (the "*Attack*") and closes (the "*Release*"), as well as other (_Attack_) and closes (_Release_), as well as other parameters quite similar to
parameters quite similar to those described for the SC Compressor above. those described for the SC Compressor above.
![gate2](en/Ardour4_Gate_Calf.png) ![LSP Gate](en/ardour7-lsp-gate-mono.png)
## Continuing ## Continuing
Now that we've explored some tools for getting the Dynamic Range exactly Now that we've explored some tools for getting the dynamic range exactly where
where you want it, it's time to look at adjusting the balance of you want it, it's time to look at adjusting the balance of frequencies present
Frequencies present in each individual Track and in your overall Mix. In in each individual track and in your overall mix. In the next chapter, we'll
the next chapter, we'll learn how to use the **Equalizer** to do just learn how to use the equalizer to do just that.
that.
Next: [EQUALIZING](../equalizing) Next: [EQUALIZING](../equalizing)