Loudness FAQ: Dynamic compression

I like compressed sounds. Can I still use dynamic compression?
 

Yes, as much as you like, but it won't make you sound much louder. The more you compress, the lower the fader will have to be to reach the same Loudness target level (-23 LUFS). So you can use dynamic compression, but not misuse it to gain loudness.

 

 

Do you encourage the use of a lot of dynamic compression?

 

No. We believe dynamic compression is used too much in current practice, reducing the quality of productions. The good news is that by using loudness normalisation, audio engineers who compress less are not 'punished' by losing loudness. So it encourages the artistic use of the available dynamic range, without pre-describing the amount of dynamic compression that can be used.
 

 

Are there tools to measure the loudness range of my signal?
 

Yes, see EBU Tech 3342 for a technical description and EBU Tech 3343 for advice on how to use it.

Loudness Workshop Dec 2011

 

Click on the icon to go to the presentations & videos that are available from the Dec 2011 EBU Loudness Workshop.