The Dynamics effect provides a set of controls that can be combined or used independently to adjust audio. Use either the graphical controls in the Custom Setup view, or adjust values in the Individual Parameters view. This effect is available for 5.1, stereo, or mono clips.

AutoGate

Cuts off a signal when the level falls below the specified threshold. Use this control to remove unwanted background signals in recordings, such as a background signal in a voice-over. Set the gate to close whenever the speaker stops, thereby removing all other sounds. The LED display colors indicate the gate’s mode: open (green), attack or release (yellow), and closed (red). Use the following controls for Gate:

Threshold

Specifies the level (between –60 and 0 dB) that the incoming signal must exceed to open the gate. If the signal level falls below this level, the gate closes, muting the incoming signal.

Attack

Specifies the time the gate takes to open after the signal level exceeds the threshold.

Release

Sets the time (between 50 and 500 milliseconds) the gate takes to close after the signal level has fallen below the threshold.

Hold

Specifies the time (between 0.1 and 1000 milliseconds) the gate stays open after the level has fallen below the threshold.

Compressor

Balances the dynamic range to create a consistent level throughout the duration of the clip by increasing the level of soft sounds and decreasing the level of loud sounds. Use the following controls for Compressor:

Threshold

Sets the level (between –60 and 0 dB) that the signal must exceed to invoke compression. Levels that fall below the threshold are unaffected.

Ratio

Sets the ratio by which compression is applied, up to 8:1. For example, if the ratio is 5:1, and the input level increases by 5 dB, the output increases by only 1 dB.

Attack

Sets the time (between 0.1 and 100 milliseconds) that the compressor takes to respond to a signal that exceeds the threshold.

Release

Specifies the time (between 10 and 500 milliseconds) it takes for the gain to return to the original level when the signal falls below the threshold.

Auto

Calculates the release time based on the incoming signal.

MakeUp

Adjusts the compressor’s output level (between –6 and 0 dB) to account for loss in gain caused by compression.

Expander

Reduces all signals below the specified threshold to the set ratio. The result is similar to the gate control but is more subtle. Use the following controls with Expander:

Threshold

Specifies a level in which the signal must fall to activate the expander. Levels that exceed the threshold are unaffected.

Ratio

Sets the rate at which signals are expanded, up to 5:1. For example, if the ratio is 5:1, a level decrease of 1 dB is expanded by 5 dB, resulting in a much faster decrease of the signal.

Limiter

Reduces clipping in audio clips that contain peaks in the signal. For example, by leveling out peaks that exceed 0 dB in an audio file, the overall level of the audio doesn’t have to be reduced below 0 dB to avoid clipping. Use the following controls with Limiter:

Threshold

Specifies the maximum level of the signal, between –12 and 0 dB. All signals that exceed the threshold are reduced to the same level as the threshold.

Release

Specifies the time (between 10 and 500 milliseconds) required for the gain to return to the normal level after a clip occurs.

SoftClip

Reduces clipping similar to Limiter but doesn’t use hard limiting. This control adds an edge to some signals to better define them within an overall mix.