Effects Reference

48 Chapter 3 Dynamics
Expander
The Expander is similar to a compressor except that it increases, rather than reduces,
the dynamic range above the Threshold level. You can use the Expander to add
liveliness and freshness to your audio, specifically by emphasizing the transients of
highly compressed signals.
Expander Parameters
 Threshold slider and field: Sets the level above which the Expander expands the signal.
 Ratio slider and field: Sets the ratio by which the signal is expanded when it exceeds
the threshold.
 Attack knob and field: Sets the amount of time it takes for the expander to react
when the signal exceeds the threshold.
 Release knob and field: Sets the amount of time it takes for the expander to stop
expanding the signal when the signal falls below the threshold.
 Knee knob and field: Sets whether the signal is slightly expanded at levels just below
the threshold.
 Gain slider and field: Sets the amount of output gain.
 Auto Gain button: When selected, Auto Gain compensates for the increase in gain
produced by expansion.
 Expansion display: Shows the expansion curve applied to the signal.
 Peak/RMS buttons: Turn on one or the other to set whether the Expander uses the
Peak or RMS method to analyze the signal.
Because the Expander is a genuine upward expander (as opposed to a downward
expander that increases the dynamic range below the Threshold), the Ratio slider
features a value range of 1:1 to 0.5:1.
When using the Expander with Auto Gain active, the signal will sound softer even
when the peak level remains the same; in other words, the expander decreases
loudness. If you dramatically change the dynamics of a signal (by setting higher
Threshold and Ratio values), you may find that you need to reduce the output level
using the Gain slider to avoid distortion. In most cases, turning on Auto Gain will adjust
the signal to the correct level.