Dynamic Plugin Essentials Glossary - Logic Pro

After becoming tired of all the different sources to look through, even user manuals, just to get a clear definition of what certain plugins do, I decided to make this. Currently this is for compressing, limiting, expanding, gating, and equalizing. I will make more if you find this helpful. Please contact me to let me know!

Downloadable PDF:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12339167/Dynamic%20Plugin%20Essentials%20Glossary.pdf

Compressor

Compressing: Reduces the dynamic range.

Peak: Compression of the instant signal level.

RMS - Root Mean Square: Compression of the average signal level.

Threshold: The acting point. Compressors activate above the threshold.

Knee: Time it takes for the set ratio to be reached.

Hard: Instant increase of the ratio.

Soft: Gradual increase of the ratio.

Ratio: The ratio of signal suppression above the threshold.

Attack: Time it takes to activate the compressor after the threshold has been reached.

Release: Time it takes to return to unity* gain after the signal has fallen below the threshold.

Gain: Changes the output signal to compensate for the gain reduction.

Circuit Type: Simulations of electrical circuits that detect the level of incoming signal.

Opto - Optical: Consists of a light source where the brightness is proportional to the input signal.

FET - Field Effect Transistor: Emulate tube circuitry. They have a higher signal to noise ratio.

VCA - Voltage Controlled Amplifier: Detect the signal's voltage. Very fast, or smooth and slow.

Platinum: Logic's original compressor, fairly transparent (unnoticeable).

Limiter

Limiting: Defining the boundary at which the signal cannot pass. Example - No signal higher than -0.1 dB.

Gain: Boost or cut the incoming signal.

Lookahead: How quickly the limiter will respond to sudden peaks in the audio signal.

Release: Time it takes the gain reduction to return to zero.

Output Level: Sets the maximum output level.

Softknee: Rounds off the peaks of the signal to allow hotter* levels without clipping.

Expander

Expanding: Increases the dynamic range.

Threshold: The acting point. Logic's Expander activates above the threshold.

Peak/RMS: Analyzes the peak or average signal.

Attack: Time it takes to respond to signals that pass the threshold.

Release: Time it takes to stop processing the signal after it has fallen below the threshold.

Ratio: The ratio of signal expansion above the threshold.

Knee: Time it takes for the set ratio to be reached.

Hard: Instant increase of the ratio.

Soft: Gradual increase of the ratio.

Gain: Changes the output signal to compensate for the signal increase.

Noise Gate

Gating: Suppresses unwanted noise. Used to remove background noise, low-level hum, etc.

Threshold: The acting point. Signal is heard above the threshold.

Reduction: Sets the amount of signal reduction.

Attack: Time it takes to fully open the gate after the signal exceeds the threshold.

Hold: Amount of time the gate is kept fully open after the signal falls below the threshold.

Release: Time it takes to reach maximum reduction after the signal falls below the threshold.

Hysteresis: Sets the difference (in dB) between the threshold values that open and close the gate.

Lookahead: Sets how far ahead the gate analyzes the incoming signal.

Monitor: When no external side chain is selected, the input signal is used.

High Cut: Cuts high frequencies starting at the chosen frequency.

Low Cut: Cuts low frequencies starting at the chosen frequency.

Equalizer (EQ)

Equalization: Process of boosting or cutting the level of frequencies between the source and output.

Parametric EQ: Multi-band EQ that allows control of the amplitude, center frequency, and bandwidth.

Band: Short for Bandwidth, it is the range of frequencies affected by the central frequency chosen.

Frequency: Determines the center frequency of the selected band.

Gain: Sets the overall output of the EQ.

Q: This will widen or narrow the bandwidth of the selected center frequency.

Bell Curve: The classic parametric EQ bandwidth filter shape.

Low Pass/High Cut Filter: Cuts high frequencies starting at the chosen frequency.

High Pass/Low Cut Filter: Cuts low frequencies starting at the chosen frequency.

High Shelf Filter: Applies equal gain changes above the chosen frequency.

Low Shelf Filter: Applies equal gain changes below the chosen frequency.

*Unity Gain: The input and output signal between two devices are the same level.

*Hot Signal: A high signal level.