Audio dynamics processing control system with integration release window

Abstract

An improved dynamics processing control system incorporates an integration release window to virtually eliminate ripple in the final control signal used to control a Voltage Controlled Amplifier in a signal processor. The input audio signal is level detected using a logarithmic level detector and filtered to provide a very fast time constant. The fast release time constant signal is clamped at a maximum level equal to the user defined threshold and filtered by a second filter providing a very long release time constant. The long release time constant is dynamically varied by the fast time constant to provide an adaptive slow time constant. The fast time constant signal modifies the adaptive slow time constant when the difference between the fast time constant and the slow time constant exceeds a predefined integration release window. The integration release window is based on a minimum number of decibels which is larger than the maximum possible ripple in the fast time constant signal. The integration release window tracks the adaptive slow time constant signal to maintain the integration release window over the entire release range of the adaptive slow time constant decay. Once the difference between the fast time constant signal and adaptive slow time constant signal is less than the integration release window, the slow release signal reverts to the un-altered slow time constant release response.