First of all, I'm not pretending to be an expert. But, from my own research and experimentations I can't totally agree with you. Of course if u can point me out to some reading material and/or examples about the subject I'd be glad to read them. I'm always happy to learn :-)
d-rokc wrote:so according to you codecks, makeup gain is used to raise the gain 'after' the compression takes place? why would it need to? at that time the peaks will be back to their highest level anyway.
This is what I found on the net. Source:
http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/word.p ... MakeupGain
I found the same kind of description on various other sites but this one was pretty clear:
"Makeup gain is really nothing more than a gain stage in a device where you can amplify the level. What makes it makeup gain is the context, as it is usually employed in devices where some other process occurs that reduces the level. The most obvious and common example is compressors.
After your signal undergoes the gain reduction process of compression you need some way to
bring the average overall level back up so that the signal sits in the mix appropriately. This can be done many different ways, however, it's very easy and straight forward when the compressor has a
final gain stage with a level control so the signal can be adjusted before it leaves the unit. This gain stage and its associated control are usually referred to as makeup gain."
d-rokc wrote:no. makeup gain works during the time compression works, its part of it. so what happens is - loud peaks get quieter, soft dips get louder, AND the makeup gain brings the peak to the level it was when uncompressed. hence the increased percieved loudness.
I never read somewhere a compressor was making soft dips louder. To me, this is a side effect. Indeed, if loud peaks get quieter, you can raise up the global volume using the make-up gain.
d-rokc wrote:the other thing thats happening in between is that, when a waveform gets 'pressed' or 'squashed' even with very little amounts, harmonics occur in the waveform. but thats synthesizing 101 so lets not go there. that is the saturation/distortion Torque is talking about.
As for the harmonics, they are not affected by compression in the way you mean. A compressor doesn't add or remove harmonics from a sound. It is not made for that.
i once happened to work in an environment for a while where there was a blackfaced UREI 1176. feeling blessed eversince, im smiling as i read now
ez
I did some googling, and found out that many compressors do add some low frequency/noise harmonics to the processed sound. They often speak of it as a feature. So I take my words back on that one. Btw I'd like to hear some examples of sounds where a compressor added those harmonics. Anyone ?
Greetz,
Dimitri