ABSTRACT
Expanders are very common in mixing environments, although not so common in mixes. Expanders are the opposite of compressors in that they expand dynamic range rather than compress it. An expander is said to make quiet signals quieter. The ratio, just like with compressors, is expressed with the input-output notation. Expanders rarely provide a soft-knee option, which means that the transition between treatment and no-treatment at the threshold point can be quite harsh. As with compressors, one way to reduce this artifact is to use the attack and release. The very common hold function on an expander can be implemented in two different ways: the compressor style or the gate style. While the technical descriptions above might seem somewhat complex, the principal usage of expanders in mixing is very simple - a softer alternative for gates. Upward expanders might be the most suitable tool when it comes to making things louder.
