multibandkompression
Multiband compression, also called multibandkompression in German, is a form of dynamic range processing that applies compression independently to several frequency bands of an audio signal. The signal is first routed through a mask of filters (crossover) that split the spectrum into bands, such as lows, lows-mids, highs, etc. Each band passes to its own compressor, with its own threshold, ratio, attack, release, and knee. The compressed signals are then summed back into a single output. The goal is to control dynamics more precisely than a single broadband compressor, shaping loudness and transients per spectral region.
Implementation and controls: typical configurations use 2 to 4 bands; crossover frequencies are chosen to separate
Applications: in mastering, multiband compression helps tighten bass, smooth mids, and raise perceived loudness without squashing
Limitations and considerations: because the bands interact through the sum of their outputs, phase shifts and
History and development: multiband processing emerged from early dynamic processors and became widely used in analog