Dynaround integrates a sophisticated variable compressor, an expander and a very fast brick-wall limiter. All 3 stages operate indepently. An extensive metering system offers total transparency about the operation of the different stages.

Two common problems are connected with the use of dynamics processors for surround sound signal. Problem no. 1 is, that multichannel, high quality, analog compressors are very rare. To use analog dynamics, very often mono or stereo devices are coupled together or even used in uncoupled mode. If a coupling of several devices is possible, it is a fixed, non variable coupling of all channels almost all the times. For the treatment of surround signals, this way of coupling in not approriate. Though the 3 channels must be strictly coupled as well as the 2 surround channels, it is very often necessary to modify the coupling between the front and the surround channels. Since the surround channels often contain almost only reverb signals and spatial components but no direct signals, the regulation determined by the level of the front channels modifies the spatial impression. In most cases it is approriate to reduce the coupling of the surround channels, to maintain the original 'surround' feeling. Of course, this principle is not valid for the limiter section, that has to force all the channels to the threshold level if necessary. The expander requires a different setting too. In addition, a special problem is always the integration of the LFE channel.

The Realization
For the realization of a 5.1 dynamic processing system, Dynaround offers the following solution. All elements operate independently for the front and surround channels. The adjustments of threshhold and ratio are transferred from the regulation of the front channels to the surround channels. Two additional SHIFT controls can be used to offset the settings of the front channels to the surround channels. With this procedure the front and surround channels can be processed separately and the measure of coupling or offsetting can be determined as needed.

Dynaround has taken this principle further with two additional COUPLE controls. When placed in the center position, front and surround channels operate as independent regulation amplifiers. When turned to the right, a mixing of the control signal of the front channels and surround channel takes place; all to the right, the front control signal is completely coupled to the surround signal. If turned to the left, a mutual interconnection of both rule signals take place. At end position left, the system works as a normal multi channel rule amplifier with even evaluation of all 5 channels. The SHIFT controllers for threshhold and ratio work independently of this feature. All three processors of the DYNAROUND dynamic system operate on this principle.

The Surround Compressor Section

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