In the realm of music production, the mastery of dynamics is not just a technical necessity; it’s an art. Many of us are familiar with the concept of compression, particularly downward compression. However, there’s another, less-discussed technique that can revolutionize the way we approach dynamics in our mixes: upward compression. In this article, we’ll delve…
Equalization (EQ) is one of the most important tools when it comes to audio mixing. EQ, when used correctly, will have a place in nearly all signal chains, working to improve the overall quality of the audio and the mix itself. In this complete guide to audio equalization, we’ll be discussing EQ in great depth,…
From dedicated audio equalizers to tone controls on stereos and instruments, shelving EQ filters are commonplace components in both analog and digital audio devices. In this article, we’ll discuss shelving EQ filters in detail, discussing how they work, how they’re designed and how they show up in audio devices. We’ll also consider some uses of…
When studying and practicing music production or audio engineering, you will likely come across band-stop filters. Band-stop filters are powerful tools that are used in equalization and in general audio design. In this article, we’ll have a detailed look at band-stop filters, covering how they work, how they’re designed and how they’re used, not only…
If you’ve read my other articles on dynamic range compression, you’ll know how important the process is in audio production. In addition to the typical threshold, ratio, attack and release time and makeup gain parameters, a compressor may very well benefit from a lookahead feature. In this article, we’ll deepen our understanding of compressor lookahead…
Dynamic EQ is a powerful and intriguing audio process/effect that should at least be understood (if not regularly used) by audio professionals and amateurs alike. In this article, we’ll discover what dynamic EQ is and how it works. We’ll consider the best practices of using dynamic EQ and the situations that call for it. We’ll…
Dynamic range compression is easily one of the most-used essential audio effects/processes. The attack and release parameters of compressors aren’t always the first to be mentioned, yet they are critical to the compressor’s performance. In this article, we’ll discuss the attack and release time parameters of compressors to deepen our understanding of compression and how…
Among the many different types of compressors, the pulse width modulation compressor is often overlooked. That being said, this powerful type of compression is worth knowing about and understanding. In this article, we’ll discuss PWM compression in detail, covering the technology and theory involved and also go over some characteristics and applications for this type…
The terms “phase” and “polarity” are often used interchangeably in audio, though they technically mean different things. If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between phase and polarity, you’ve come to the right place to find out. In this article, we’ll define polarity and phase more clearly to better understand the differences between the two…
Linear phase EQ is a powerful audio effect/process that deserves to be understood by audio professionals and hobbyists alike. This tool can be used to great benefit regardless of how experienced we are with EQ. In this article, we’ll learn all there is to know about linear phase EQ and how it compares to the…
The VCA (voltage-controlled amplifier) compressor is one of the most common types of hardware compressor (or plugin emulation) on the market and should be understood on our way to audio mastery. In this article, we’ll learn about how VCA compressors work; have a look at some examples of VCA compressors, and consider their strengths, weaknesses…
Though equalization is an incredibly common practice/process in the world of audio, there are not a whole lot of passive EQ units on the market, making passive EQ rare and intriguing. In this article, we’ll discuss passive EQ in great detail, comparing it to its active counterpart. We’ll look at a few examples of passive…
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