Explanation of how this new compressor works.
First, I need to tell you that it's based upon techniques to control water pressure. To visualize what happens, imagine a pressure vessel where the instantaneous 'gass pressure' is actually the (absolute) sample value.
Traditional compressors usually have an attack phase (a too loud sample comes in and the level gets lowered) and a release phase (sample value is low). There are a few things about this that I don't like. For example, a single sample value that is loud is almost inaudible, but it has a big effect on the behavior: You go from release mode to attack mode, even if it's only for a single sample, and then you usually first end up in release hold before the release continues again. On top of that, I generally dislike "if this then ... else ..." decisions in processing, which is exactly what this is. This also means that a sound that has large spikes will come out much softer than - for example - clipped audio.
What this means: If you respond immediately to a sample that triggers attack, you basically will never get perfect loudness control.
So, back to the pressure vessel.
Code:
_______
/ | \
| | |
| | |
| | |
+----+----+
| |
| audio |
___________
The horizontal bar which separates the thing that pushes down from the 'gas' (audio sample values) moves, but not with infinite speed (attack/release time), and changing the movement takes time (which makes the output level very constant). Also, you can adjust the maximum speed at which it can move (think of doors that close automatically, if you push they don't close any faster).
If the movement is going in a direction, it will (if adjusted properly) not really slow down until it gets very close to the target level. So, it will reach the target level quickly (the old compressors were slowing down a lot, unless you used Inertia in the current one). If you let it move too far, it can over overshoot and attack or release further than it should and then bounce back (you can even get it to resonate). So, be careful with that
I have basically tried to match everything that happens to something that exists in real-life, which doesn't contain digital technology. It might work or it might be really bad, I don't know what to think yet.
When compressing based on RMS levels the bass has too much effect (it does't sound loud but still pushes the compressor down; when working peak-based that is far less the case because bass is usually symmetrical and looks like a sine wave or something even flatter, most other sounds don't).
O, and if Speed is set too high it pushes bass down even further! So, when you've found the settings that you want, lower Speed until things start to change.
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