2.1.18. Linear Release

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The linear release parameter allows you to directly specify the rate of change in gain amplification applied to the source signal. Release refers to the “release” of the limiter’s gain reduction. More generally, release refers to gain amplification since it isn’t always necessary for the limiter to “attack” prior to “release” and the two are not always correlated.

The linear release parameter is different from traditional ballistic parameters. The actual rate of change in gain reduction with the traditional controls is dependent on both the attack or release time and the residual between target gain reduction and current gain reduction. This means the alterations made to the source signal are a complicated combination of the audio’s dynamics. For linear release, the actual rate of change is constant.

This setting can be configured to apply directly, completely overriding the release ballistics, or as a limit to the rate. The former can be a way to get extremely fast response, while the latter can serve as a barrier to prevent the limiter from releasing too rapidly during extreme fluctuations in source loudness.