Maximum loudness, 4 maximum loudness – Sonnox Oxford Dynamics User Manual
Page 16
4.6 General Programme Compression
4 COMPRESSOR
above approaches, in order to achieve a superior result. The following graphs illustrate
suggested settings to achieve some interesting dynamic results from the plug-in, by using
a combination of the above approaches.
4.6.4 Maximum Loudness
This graph shows one method to achieve maximum loudness and presence for
programme where dynamic range is unwanted (ie. pop music, spoken commentary etc.).
The intention is to get the prominent parts of the programme as loud as possible without
incurring too many compression artefacts that would require long time constants to fix.
The gain is set to maximum (+24 dBr), the ratio is set to 1000:1 (limiting) and soft ratio is
selected at 15 dB. The threshold is then reduced (to around –25 dBr) until the maximum
level is achieved.
The idea is to compress the programme material to ever-greater degrees as it gets louder,
until it is fully limited at maximum output. The selection of the 15 dB soft ratio curve is a
compromise between unwanted compression artefacts, available gain and total
loudness.
It should be noted that, as the top 10 dB of programme has virtually no dynamic
information at all, this sort of approach is likely to gain favour within the current popular
music idiom. It can also be very useful in situations where fast and smooth action is
required on a vocal, with minimal distortion.