Warmth, 9 warmth – Sonnox Oxford Dynamics User Manual
Page 35
9 WARMTH
9 Warmth
The WARMTH process
confers additional loudness, punch and
definition to the sound of the dynamics
section. The operation of this process is to
impose a harmonic profile onto the signal
that increases the density of higher value
samples within the programme, in order
to boost average modulation levels without
an increase in peak levels or the risk
of digital clipping. The Warmth function is
engineered to achieve this without the loss of dynamic information within the programme
material.
Another very important purpose of the Warmth function is to accommodate internally
generated levels up to 6 dB greater than notional digital maximum, without causing
increased peak levels or hard clipping. The main advantage is that short term level peaks
and overshoots, resulting naturally from the artistic use of compression, can still provide
harmonic information to the programme even though they may represent levels above
maximum digital modulation, that would be subjected to hard clipping if left
untreated.
The process also adds subtle warmth to the programme material that is reminiscent of
valve systems, and is similarly tolerant of overloaded or previously clipped signals,
avoiding much of the harshness associated with these conditions. Significant artistic
effects may therefore be achieved by deliberately overdriving the Warmth processing by
increasing the compressor gain make-up beyond normal levels and allowing the Warmth
processing to control the peak signal levels. When selected, the Warmth function
operates on the complete signal chain of the dynamics plug-in, and is therefore applied to
the signal even if no compression functions are operative. The AMOUNT control varies
the contribution of the effect from 0% (no effect) to 100% (max effect). Full advantage of
the clip removal will occur only at maximum effect contribution, but harmonic
enhancement may be achieved at all settings above zero.