Compression and Limiting
Abstract
This chapter introduces concepts of dynamics in music and audio and explains how graphical views and envelope shapes show a sound’s relative dynamics. The constituent parts of a sound’s envelope are described. The fundamental goals of dynamics processing are presented, including how to connect and implement compressors and their adjustable parameters and controls. Different compression techniques are discussed, so that the reader can appropriately apply those techniques. A section on how to avoid novice mistakes explores the problems created by over-compression.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Music Technology and Sound Studies
Music and Audio Processing
Speech and Audio Processing
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Focal Press eBooks
- Pages
- 128–140
- Publication date
- 6 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter