Dynamic Processing/ Effects

Dynamic Processing is the use of hardware or plug-ins to control the signal levels of groups of tracks or single tracks during the mixing process. There are five most common forms of dynamic processor: 

• Compressors- These are arguably the most common form of dynamic processor, they ensure that the louder the signal is coming in, the less level it would provide coming out. A target level in the compressor is set called a 'threshold' which means that any signal coming in which is exceeding that level will be reduced. 
• Limiters- Ensure that the level doesn't exceed the threshold at all. This means that it must rely on certain functions which compressors don't have due to the extreme amount of compression. 
• Expanders- Has a threshold set at a certain level which means that quieter the signal is coming in, the lower the level which comes out. This means that quiet signals will be made quieter.  
• Noise Gates- Like expanders, noise gates also have a threshold, however, anything below this will be made inaudible. Due to the extremeness, noise gates will require different designs to normal expanders.  
• Side Chain- During side chaining, a compressor will determine how much it will reduce gain on an output signal by using the volume level of an input signal. This is used by disc jockeys for 'ducking' which is where the volume level of a track they're playing will reduce depending on how loud they are speaking.  
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Effects/FX- Here are some effects which we have learned about to be used during the mixing process either creatively or remedially: 

• Reverb- This effect can recreate the acoustics of a certain environment in order to make your track sound as if it wasn't a recorded in a normal studio environment. Some different types of reverb environment effects are: Room, Hall, Chamber, Spring and Plate. Reverb is a time-based effect, the time it takes for a signal to drop by 60 dB is called the reverberation time. Some effects are created by recording a click sound in each environment and then collecting the sonic information and applying this information to your recording.  
• Delay- This effect is also time-based and works by making a copy of the signal and then playing it after the original. Delay can be used as an alternative to reverb to create a similar effect by using shorter delay times. A resonant effect can be created by using high feedback and shorter delay times, ideal for guitars especially. Delaying a sound in time with your track's tempo can also help to add more rhythmic qualities to your mix. 
• Flanger- This effect creates exaggerated peaks and troughs on waveforms by taking a copy of the signal and feeding it back into itself in order to modulate the original signal. 
• Phaser- Modulates the speed of a copy of the signal so that when placed with original signal a phaser effect is created. 
• Chorus- Modulates the pitch of a copy of the signal slightly in order to give the effect of signal being played in multiple versions at the same time.  
• Distortion- This is a dynamic based effect which achieves the distortion by pushing the signal level up. To avoid to high a volume it also limits/compresses the signal.  
• Bit Crusher- This is where the resolution of the audio signal is reduced in order to achieve distortion. The signal is forced to distort within a smaller sample size by adjusting the bit depth/ sample rate of the signal.