Si4712/13-B30
26
Rev. 1.1
5.6. Audio Dynamic Range Control
The Si4712/13 includes digital audio dynamic range
control with programmable gain, threshold, attack rate,
and release rate. The total dynamic range reduction is
set by the gain value and the audio output compression
above
the
threshold
is
equal
to
Threshold/(Gain + Threshold) in dB. The gain specified
cannot be larger than the absolute value of the
threshold. This feature can also be disabled if audio
compression is not desired.
The audio dynamic range control can be used to reduce
the dynamic range of the audio signal, which improves
the listening experience on the FM receiver. Audio
dynamic range reduction increases the transmit volume
by decreasing the peak amplitudes of audio signals and
increasing the root mean square content of the audio
signal. In other words, it amplifies signals below a
threshold by a fixed gain and compresses audio signals
above     a     threshold     by     the     ratio     of
Threshold/(Gain + Threshold).   Figure 18   shows   an
example transfer function of an audio dynamic range
controller with the threshold set at 40 dBFS and a
Gain = 20 dB relative to an uncompressed transfer
function.
Figure 18. Audio Dynamic Range Transfer
Function
For input signals below the threshold of 40 dBFS, the
output signal is amplified or gained up by 20 dB relative
to an uncompressed signal. Audio inputs above the
threshold are compressed by a 2 to 1 dB ratio, meaning
that every 2 dB increase in audio input level above the
threshold results in an audio output increase of 1 dB. In
this example, the input dynamic range of 90 dB is
reduced to an output dynamic range of 70 dB.
Figure 19 shows the time domain characteristics of the
audio dynamic range controller. The attack rate sets the
speed with which the audio dynamic range controller
responds to changes in the input level, and the release
rate sets the speed with which the audio dynamic range
controller returns to no compression once the audio
input level drops below the threshold.
Figure 19. Time Domain Characteristics of the
Audio Dynamic Range Controller
5.7. Audio Limiter
The 4712/13 also includes a digital audio limiter. The
audio limiter prevents over-modulation of the FM
transmit output by dynamically attenuating peaks in the
audio   input   signal   that   exceed   a   programmable
threshold.   The   limiter   threshold   is   set   to   the
programmed audio deviation + ten percent. The
threshold ensures that the output signal audio deviation
does not exceed the programmed levels, avoiding
audible artifacts or distortion in the target FM receiver,
and complying with FCC or ETSI regulatory standards.
The limiter performs as a peak detector with an attack
rate set to one audio sample, resulting in an almost
immediate attenuation of the input peak. The recover
rate is programmable to the customers preference, and
is set by default to 5 ms. This is the recommended
setting to avoid audible pumping or popping. Refer to
AN332: Universal Programming Guide.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Input [dBFS]
70
Threshold
= 40 dB
M = 1
80
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
90
M = 1
Gain
= 20 dB
Compression
2:1 dB
No
Compression
Attack
time
Threshold
Release
time
Audio
Input
Audio
Output