Sound Definitions

Techniques : audio level compression : multi band compression

Multi band compression in general

Multi band compressors are compressors that can act differently on different frequency bands. It is as if each band has its own compressor with its own threshold, ratio, attack, and release. They are primarily an audio mastering tool, but their inclusion in digital audio workstation plug-in sets is increasing their use among mix engineers.

Dance music application

Dance music compression is particularly useful in nightclub applications. Limiters and normal compressors affect the whole spectrum of the sound, deteriorating the overall sound-scape. Often as the case may be, dance tracks tend to have a beat with lots of bass and power surrounding the 35 - 130 Hz frequency range. To prevent clipping in the speakers and driver fatigue in the woofers, a more intelligent approach is to apply compression and possibly even limiting in this lower bass zone. Implementing this technique, insures that even when the DJ drives the bass into the red (especially during mix-ins), the output to the speakers still remains within the safe threshold.

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