Why You Need A Compressor
A remarkable feature of the human ear is that it can detect an extremely wide range of amplitude changes - from the slightest whisper to a deafening clap of thunder. If one tries to record or reproduce this wide spectrum of sound with the help of amplifiers, cassette recorders, records, or even digital recorders, one is immediately restricted by the physical limitations of electronic and acoustic sound reproduction technology.
The useable dynamic range of electronic audio equipment is limited as much at low levels as at high levels. The thermal noise of electrons in the components results in an audible noise floor and thus rep- resents the bottom limit of the transmission range.
The upper limit of useable dynamic range is determined by the levels of the internal operating voltages; if they are exceeded, audible signal distortion is the result. Although in theory the useable dynamic range sits between these two limits, it is considerably smaller in practice, since a certain reserve must be main- tained to avoid distortion of the audio signal if sudden noise peaks occur. Technically speaking, we refer to this reserve as
The need therefore arises for a fast acting automatic gain control system which will constantly monitor the signals and which will always adjust the gain to maximize the
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