022 - Loudness Limiting and Drums

DSP
BOB DENNIS ON DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING

022 - Loudness Limiting and Drums
Digital formats (compared to analog formats) tend to sound weak until limiting is applied in the mastering stage of production. Keeping clarity with a drum sound that has both body and impact involves careful setting of the limiting parameters. Here’s a guide.

Transient Energy

Loudness to the ear has to do with average level and distortion of a digital recording has to do with peak level. When you are recording percussive sources, such as a snare drum, there is a burst of energy as the stick initially contacts the drum. This "transient" occurs over about the first 25-30 ms, as shown in figure 1. This transient peak goes as much as 20 dB over the "average" level of the sound.

Fig 1 - Snare Hit

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Bob Sr.