Upward expansion is a human-made dynamic-range processing technique that increases the gain of a signal when its level falls below a threshold, thereby expanding the perceived dynamic range. Parameters: (1) threshold — level below which expansion occurs; (2) expansion ratio — amount of gain increase per decibel below threshold; (3) attack/release times — how quickly the gain changes; (4) knee — softness of threshold transition. Mechanism of persistence: it persists as DSP algorithms implemented in audio plugins and hardware dynamics units, documented in signal-processing literature and maintained through engineering practice. [formal: expansio | substrate: mind | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
upward-expansion
Upward expansion is a human-made dynamic-range processing technique that increases the gain of a signal when its level falls below a threshold, thereby expanding the perceived dynamic range. Parameters: (1) threshold — level below which ex…
Definition
Why it is in scope
human-made audio dynamics technique that increases gain for signals below a threshold to expand dynamic range, built to persist through DSP implementations and engineering practice
Names and aliases
- upward-expansionen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrexhlpr0185g8vup2dwm91hDEPENDS_ON →
Upward expansion operates by increasing gain for signals below a threshold level. Remove threshold concept and the expansion trigger has no operational reference — the technique cannot determine when to engage. Present-tense constitutive dependency per Law 8b.
- gainDEPENDS_ON →
upward-expansion DEPENDS_ON gain: the accepted definition states it 'increases the gain of a signal when its level falls below a threshold.' The removal test passes — remove gain (the measure of amplification factor) and upward expansion ceases to operate: it has no mechanism to manipulate, no parameter to change. This is not a meta-level dependence; it's the core operational mechanism of the technique.
- audio-effectINSTANCE_OF →
Upward expansion is a specific kind of audio effect: it intentionally alters a sound signal by increasing gain below a threshold, changing perceptual character. A competent audio engineer would call upward expansion an audio effect. Nearest kind per Law 11e is audio-effect.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Sep 9, 2026, 4:04 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 1febccace9fe31cb13687591ca3f69b12a67fa2c97e52251e964cc8fae678fda