I'm looking for the audio feature used in some software or amplifiers to prevent sudden jumps in volume. For example, movies often make dramatic scenes much louder than dialogue for emotional impact. I'd like to keep the overall volume more consistent, both for comfortable listening and to avoid disturbing neighbors. What is this feature called, and is there a Linux application that can provide it?
2 Answers
The feature you're looking for is dynamic-range compression. It reduces loud peaks and can raise quieter parts, making the overall volume more consistent. EasyEffects is probably the simplest Linux option; you can add a compressor effect there. PipeWire can also use LV2 effects such as those from the LSP suite.
Some players call a related feature volume normalization. VLC has a volume-normalization filter, but normalization and compression aren't exactly the same: normalization mainly adjusts overall level, while compression actively narrows the difference between quiet and loud sounds. For movie dialogue and action scenes, a compressor is usually the better match.
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