Expander is similar in concept to a compressor, but increases, rather than reduces, the dynamic range above the threshold level. You can use Expander to add liveliness and freshness to your audio signals.
Threshold slider and field: Set the threshold level. Signals above this level are expanded.
Peak/RMS buttons: Determine whether the Peak or RMS method is used to analyze the signal.
Attack knob and field: Set the time it takes for Expander to respond to signals that exceed the threshold level.
Expansion display: Shows the expansion curve applied to the signal.
Release knob and field: Set the time it takes for Expander to stop processing the signal after it falls below the threshold level.
Ratio slider and field: Set the expansion ratio—the ratio of signal expansion when the threshold is exceeded.
Note: Because Expander is a genuine upward expander—in contrast to a downward expander, which increases the dynamic range below the Threshold—the Ratio slider features a value range of 1:1 to 0.5:1.
Knee slider and field: Determine the strength of expansion at levels close to the threshold. Lower values result in more severe or immediate expansion—hard knee. Higher values result in a gentler expansion—soft knee.
Gain slider and field: Set the amount of output gain.
Auto Gain button: Turn on to compensate for the level increase caused by expansion. When Auto Gain is active, the signal sounds softer, even when the peak level remains the same.
Note: If you dramatically change the dynamics of a signal (with extreme Threshold and Ratio values), you may need to reduce the Gain slider level to avoid distortion. In most cases, turning on Auto Gain adjusts the signal appropriately.