An assignment that explains the concept behind dynamic processors and describes their parameters: threshold, ratio, attack and release.

1. Introduction to Music Production
Coursera

2. Week 4- Assignment
“Dynamic processors-threshold,
ratio, attack and release”

3. On this fourth assignment I will try to explain to
you the concept behind dynamic processors and
also describe threshold, ratio, attack and release

4. DYNAMIC PROCESSORS
As we start manipulating dynamic range during the post
production process we are most likely to do these two
things:
Compression: reducing dynamic range (most common)
Expansion: emphasizing dynamic range
Main rule: If the sound gets too loud , bring it down, if the
sound gets too quiet bring it up.
To accomplish this we use dynamic processors

5. DYNAMIC PROCESSORS
Dynamic processors are rule- based gain
controls, which are divided in two segments:
- Analyze (side chain or key section)
- Volume Fader
All dynamic processors what they do is
changing volume by analyzing the signal
itself and then responding to it.

6. Dynamic processors are:
- Expanders
- Gates
- Compressors
- Limiters
And they are all nonlinear devices
DYNAMIC PROCESSORS

7. DYNAMIC PROCESSORS PARAMETERS
1) Threshold
2)Ratio
3)Attack
4)Release
These major parameters are the same for all
processors but the rules are different, each time.

8. THRESHOLD AND RATIO
Threshold is the level at which the processor
starts to function (when the signal is below the
threshold nothing happens).
Ratio is the amount of compression once the
signal crossed the threshold. Ratio is expressed as
INPUT:OUTPUT
Example
1:1 ratio= the dynamic
processor does nothing
2:1 ratio= processor’s output
is half the input above the
threshold
The higher the Ratio the
more extreme the dynamic
processing.

9. ATTACK AND RELEASE
Attack is how fast the ratio moves when signal
is above threshold.
Release is how fast the ratio moves when
signal is below the threshold.
In other words attack and release control how
fast the processor reacts.
In a DAW, the
lower attack and
release are, the
faster the volume
fader will move.

10. IN CONCLUSION
 It is very important in music production to know
and understand how dynamic processors work and
how they affect our signal, so that you can also be
able to use them musically in your work.
 Course forums are a great place to take topics to,
so that you can discuss them with your classmates
and explain some issues that complicate you.
 Do not hesitate to look for outside resources
about dynamic processors, so that you can
constitute a more complete knowledge about them.

11. •Thank you very much for attending my presentation!