Sonnox Oxford Transient Modulator - Manual (Page 8)

2.7 Level
Control
and
Overdrive 2 OPERATION
from silence may produce a large initial overshoot.
2.7 Level
Control
and
Overdrive
Although the TransMod process works to maintain constant average signal levels in the
programme, the process can produce significantly larger peak levels if positive ratio
values are used. With highly percussive sounds and long overshoot settings, the peak
levels can potentially increase up to +24dB greater than in the original programme. This
effect will be seen on the peak meters provided in the output section of the plug-in.
Since most workstation applications provide no headroom above the peak level operating
target that most users aim for, the extra transient information provided by the TransMod is
highly susceptible to clipping in the application environment. If this occurs, the transients
are lost forever and cannot be recovered in the mix by level control further down line (ie.
your mix faders etc.). Therefore care must be taken to set appropriate gain settings to
avoid clipping.
2.7.1 Overdrive
Processing
The overdrive process is included to allow a degree of relief from premature clipping if
high modulation levels are required, by providing a method for the harmonic content of
peak information above digital max to be included in the final output of the TransMod
process.
When set to maximum (100%) the overdrive process will allow peak information up to 6dB
greater than max to be included without the sound of hard clipping, whilst avoiding digital
overloads entirely. Overdrive processing will also change the harmonic content of the
programme to provide warmth and richness to many programme types.
2.7.2 Loudness
Enhancement
When used with negative ratios, the TransMod can provide an efficient method to increase
the loudness of programme by reducing very short transients that may otherwise cause
overloads. In many cases, very short transients may not be a prominent part of the
programme sound, and can be reduced without damaging the sonic character of the
results. If very short-term peaks are reduced, more modulation gain can be achieved
without overloads. Since the look-ahead process timing can act on the signal before it
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