Common Questions Regarding Dynamics Processing…(关于动态效果的一般问题)
What is dynamic range?(什么是动态范围)
Dynamic range can be defined as the distance between the loudest possible level to the lowest possible level. For example, if a processor states that the maximum input level before distortion is +24dBu and the output noise floor is -92dBu, then the processor has a total dynamic range of 24 + 92 = 116dB.
动态范围能被定义为:最高有效电与最低有效电平之间的电平差异。例如,如果一个处理器(例如声卡)在输入为最大电平数且不失真的情况下为+24dBu,而输出的底噪是-92dBu,那么这个处理器(例如声卡)的总动态范围就是24+92=116dB。
However, the average dynamic range of an orchestral performance can range from - 50dBu to +10dBu on average. This equates to a 60dB dynamic range. 60dB may not appear to be a large dynamic range but do the math and you’ll discover that +10dBu is 1000 times louder than -50dBu!
不过,管弦乐演出时的一般情况下平均动态范围从-50dBu到+10dBu。这就相当于达到了60dB的动态范围。60dB不一定会被认为是大动态范围,但是从数字字面上你会发现+10dBu永远比-50dBu大声(这个好像有点废话,但这里的管弦乐的平均动态范围是60dBu,是否可以和REVERB中的RT60拉上一点关系呢?大家可以找找GOOGLE)。
Rock music on the other hand has a much smaller dynamic range, typically - 10dBu to +10dBu, or 20dB. This makes mixing the various signals of a rock performance together a much more tedious task.
另一方面,ROCK MUSIC就具有小动态范围的特征,-10dBu到10dBu,或者到+20dBu,这样就使得在混缩ROCK 演奏中不同信号时候,让工作变得非常烦闷,另人生厌。
Why do we need compression?(为什么我们需要压缩)
Consider the previous discussion: You are mixing a rock performance with an
average dynamic range of 20dB. You wish to add an un-compressed vocal to the mix. The average dynamic range of an un-compressed vocal is around 40dB. In other words a vocal performance can go from -30dBu to +10dBu. The passages that are +10dBu and higher will be heard over the mix, no problem.
思考一下以前的讨论:你在20dB的平均动态范围下MIXING一个ROCK的演奏。你想在MIX中加入一个没有压缩的人声。而这个没有压缩的人声的平均动态范围是40dB。换句话说,人声的的动态范围能从-30dBu到+10dBu。一些语句能在MIX中被听到,因为他们都达到了+10dBu或者更高(上面说的是平均动态范围,说明还有更高的峰值。很多朋友都说人声和伴奏无法融合,其实这个动态范围的控制也是其中一个十分重要的问题,大家还是要小心处理的)。
However, the passages that are at - 30dBu and below will never be heard over the roar of the rest of the mix. A compressor can be used in this situation to reduce (compress) the dynamic range of the vocal to around 10dB. The vocal can now be placed at around +5dBu. At this level, the dynamic range of the vocal is from 0dBu to +10dBu. The lower level phrases will now be well above the lower level of the mix and louder phrases will not overpower the mix, allowing the vocal to ‘sit in the track’.
可是,一些语句在-30dBu甚至更低的情况下,会被MIX所覆盖而导致无法听到。压缩器就能在这个情况之下被应用到,他能降低(压缩)人声的动态范围,达到10dB左右。这个时候人声就大概在+5dBu附近。在这个级别上,人声的动态范围是从0dBu到+10dBu。那么人声中最小声的词句就会在MIX中最小声的电平之上,而最大声的词句就不会超过甚至压倒MIX的声音,那么人声就融入到录音中了(这里的MIX是指人声以外的录音,可以看作伴奏,在运用压缩控制动态范围的同时,压缩也是能提高整体的响度的,这个大家必须考虑在内)。
The same discussion can be made about any instrument in the mix. Each instrument has it’s place and a good compressor can assist the engineer in the overall blend of each instrument. This brings our discussion to a another good question…
这个用法当然也能用于乐器,在MIX中,乐器与乐器之间的平衡也是可以通过压缩来处理的,现在我们来讨论一下关于乐器的压缩。
Does every instrument need compression?(所有的乐器都需要压缩吗?)
This question may lead many folks to say ‘absolutely not, overcompression is horrible’. That statement can be qualified by defining ‘overcompression’. The term itself, ‘overcompression’ must have been derived from the fact the you can hear the compressor working. A well designed and properly adjusted compressor should not be audible! (Of course this can make a well designed compressor difficult to demonstrate!) Therefore, the overcompressed sound is likely to be an improper adjustment on a particular instrument.
这个问题可能所有朋友都会这样回答:“不是所有乐器都需要压缩的,压缩过度是非常可怕的事情”。上面的陈述勉强合格地定义了“过度压缩”。而“过度压缩”的本身,实际上是指你真实听的听到压缩器在工作,那么就被成为过度压缩了。一个好计划或者适当的调节之下,亚撒器是不会被听到的(就是你无法听到压缩器工作,单压缩器的确在工作的情况下,你的压缩就够了。当然一个很好的参数设置是非常难举例说明的,必须阁下自己多练习),因此一个过度压缩就是在特定的乐器上使用了错误的压缩参数所出现的情况。(压缩最重要的不是THR和VATIO这两个参数,而是ATTACK 和 RELEASE,这两个参数能让你更深刻的体会到什么是过度压缩,什么是听不见压缩器在工作,其实这个理论能用在大部分的傚果器上,例如EQ和REVERB,如果你的EQ加得太厉害,就可能出现某些声音特别明显,而变得不自然了;而太多得REVERB就会出现澡汤音等等不好得声音,所以在某些意义上可以这样说:当你听到傚果器在工作得时候,你已经是傚果器运用过度了,在没有必要得情况下,或者是没有必须营造得音乐特效下,保持声音得自然,是先行得,必须重视得。)
Why do the best consoles in the world put compressors on every channel?
(为什么世界上最好的控制台都把压缩器放在每一个通道上?)
The answer is simply that most instruments need some form of compression,
oftentimes very subtle, to be properly heard in a mix.
答案是:学多乐器需要压缩,这些都是非常微妙的,如何才是合适,就只有靠你的耳朵去聆听MIX咯。TRUST YOUR EARS!
不要太相信所谓得傚果器标准设置,这些都是参考,都需要用你自己得耳朵去测试,去聆听。压缩最终作用不是用来限制电平的上限,而是用来控制动态范围。