Modeling Dynamic Range Compression in the Digital Domain

Abstract

Dynamic range compression is a common and practical tool used to reduce the dynamic range of an audio signal and increase the final loudness. Compression has a long history of use in audio recording and broadcast and has been implemented through a variety of methods in the analog and digital domain. In this paper, the basics of compression are discussed, along with some drawbacks of the technology and the means of implementing dynamic compression technologies in the digital domain.