Concepts of Compression

Harvey Dillon
National Acoustic Laboratories. CRC for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovations

ASA Brisbane, 2001

Outline: Concepts of Compression

Basics Rationales for using compression Evidence for the benefit of compression

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Why do we need compression, and what is it ?

Too Loud
Intense Moderate
Weak

Too Soft

Norm
Too Loud
Intense Moderate Weak
Intense Moderate Weak

Too Loud

Too Soft

Too Soft

Sam

High Level
7 7 6

Whole Range
7 6
5 4 3 2 1 0

Low Level
Output Level
5 4 3 2 1 0

Output Level

6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Weak Intense Moderate

Output Level

Weak

Intense Moderate

Weak Intense Moderate

Level detecting device

Input

Output

Feedback point
Variable gain amplifier

Rules
Input Output

Feedback point
Variable gain amplifier

Compression, Expansion, Gain and Attenuation

110

30 20 10

Output (dB SPL)

100 90 80 70 60 50 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

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Input (dB SPL)

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Compression, Expansion, Gain and Attenuation

110

30 20 10

Output (dB SPL)

100 90 80 70 60 50 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

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Input (dB SPL)

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Seven Rationales for Using Compression

1. Avoiding discomfort and distortion 2. Increasing comfort 3. Reducing inter-syllabic level differences 4. Reducing long term level differences 5. Normalising loudness

6. Empirical evidence
7. Maximising speech intelligibility
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Rationale 1:

Avoid Discomfort, Damage, and Distortion

by Controlling maximum output (SSPL) using compression limiting
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Avoid Discomfort, Damage and Distortion

Aims:

Avoid discomfort
SSPL < LDL

Avoid damage
Peak SPL < 143 dB SPL Mean SPL < ?? may depend more on gain

Avoid distortion
compared to peak clipping
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Avoid Discomfort, Damage and Distortion

Compression parameters:

AGCo, not AGCi

High compression ratio (>10 ?)

Fast attack time (<5 ms) Fast, or adaptive, release time (<100 ms)

Peak clipping for very profound losses

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Rationale 2:

Increase comfort

by high level gradual comression

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Increase comfort

Aims:

Increase comfort

Decrease need for volume control

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Increasing comfort

Output dB SPL

linear

Compression

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65

Input dB SPL Pierce Lee/

Increase comfort

Compression parameters:

Fast or slow attack and release

Medium compression threshold

Single channel or multi-channel
compression
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Increased comfort

Disadvantages:

Decreased signal to noise ratio for

sequential signal and noise

(Distorted envelope cues)

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Rationale 3:

Increase Audibility of Soft Phonemes

by fast acting wide dynamic range compression

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Increase audibility of soft phonemes

Aims:

Increase intelligibility

Decrease need for volume control

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Effect of compression on waveform

Linear time

Compressed time

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CVR increased

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Increasing audibility

Output dB SPL

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65

Input dB SPL Pierce Lee/

Increase audibility of soft phonemes

Compression parameters:

AGCi (not AGCo)

Release time < 50 ms Low (enough) compression threshold

Single channel or multi-channel

compression
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Increased audibility of soft phonemes

Disadvantages:

Increased risk of feedback

Decreased signal to noise ratio for

sequential signal and noise

(Distorted envelope cues)

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Preferred Threshold

14 12

No of people

10 8 6 4 2 0

40 dB SPL
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66 dB SPL

don't know

statistically significant Pierce Lee/

Preferred Threshold

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

60%

No of people

31%

9%

46 dB SPL
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62 dB SPL

don't know

statistically significant Pierce Lee/

Summary: High CT preferred to a low CT

because its clearer

Output dB SPL

CT46

CT6 2
65

Input dB SPL

Summary: High CT preferred to a low CT

because its clearer

2:1 compression preferred to linear

because its more comfortable
linear Output dB SPL CT46

CT62

65

Input dB SPL

Rationale 4:

Reduce Long Term Level Differences

by slow acting automatic volume control

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Reduce Long Term Level Differences

Aims:

To avoid (or reduce) the need for volume

control adjustments

To improve intelligibility in quiet

environments
(compared to linear amplifier with no volume control)
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Reduce Long Term Level Differences

Method:

Slow acting compression

Release time > 1 sec ?

Low compression threshold

< 55 dB SPL ?

Single channel or multi-channel

compression
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Reduce Long Term Level Differences

Disadvantages:

Noise increases during long gaps May not react sufficiently quickly to sudden
changes in overall level

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Rationale 5:

Normalise Loudness

by compressing most at low levels and high frequencies

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Normalise loudness

Aims:

Achieve normal overall loudness

perception

Achieve normal balance of loudness

across frequencies

Hence to improve intelligibility and

naturalness of sound
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Loudness Scale

Uncomfortable Very Loud Loud Loud but Comfortable Comfortable Soft but Comfortable Soft Very soft Inaudible
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Uncomfortable Very Loud Loud Comfortable Soft Very Soft Inaudible

Normal Hearing (average) Hearing Impaired (individual)

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90 100

Input-output curve to normalise loudness

100
Output (dB SPL)

80

60

40 20
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40 60 Input (dB SPL)

80

100
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Basis of Loudness Normalisation

ULhi

Output (dB SPL)

THhi

THn Input (dB SPL)

ULn

Loudness normalisation - procedures

FIG6 DSL[i/o] IHAFF (Contour test and VIOLA) Scaladapt LGOB

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Normalise loudness

60 50

50

Gain (dB)

40 30 20 10 0 -10

TILL
90

0.1
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0.2

0.5 1.0 2.0 Frequency (kHz)

5.0
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Normalise loudness

+
3

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Normalise loudness

Compression parameters

Greatest compression ratio at low levels

Greatest compression ratio at high
frequencies (for most losses)

Release times fast or slow Two or more channels (or even one)
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Normalise loudness

Disadvantages:

Increased risk of feedback

Increased noise in gaps (if fast
compression)

Sub-optimal intelligibility
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Rationale 6:

Empirically Determined Compression

by using whichever compression works best in experiments

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Empirically determined compression

Aim:

To use the form of compression that gives

the best intelligibility or quality, as indicated by empirical experiments.

Conclusion: WDRC for the LFs, especially for

people with sloping losses and big dynamic ranges

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Rationale 7:

Speech intelligibility maximization

by NAL-NL1

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Experimental evidence: The effect of compression on intelligibility

Conclusions

1. Fast acting compression probably does not significantly increase intelligibility compared to linear at optimal level.

2. Fast acting compression probably does not significantly decrease intelligibility compared to linear at optimal level.

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Comparison of linear and non-linear

Output level

Input level
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Comparison of linear and non-linear

Output level

Input level
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Comparison of linear and non-linear

Output level

Input level
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Comparison of linear and non-linear

3. Compression (many sorts) maintains intelligibility as input level is decreased below typical levels.

Output level

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Input level

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Comparison of linear and non-linear

4 Compression (many sorts) maintains loudness comfort as input level is increased above typical levels.

Output level

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Input level

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Conclusions (cont)

5. More compression: (high CR, or low CT):

increases comfort range without v/c adjustment increases feedback risk increases pumping of noise

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Questions
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References

Dillon, H. (1996). Compression? Yes, but for low or high frequencies, for low or high intensities, and with what response times? Ear & Hearing, 17, 287-307.

Byrne, D. (1997). Hearing aid selection for the 1990s: Where to? J. Amer Acad Audiol, 7:377-395.

harvey.dillon@nal.gov.au
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Dillon, H, Storey, L. The National Acoustic Laboratories procedure for selecting the Saturated Sound Pressure Level of Hearing Aids: Theoretical derivation. Ear & Hearing, August, 1998.
Storey, L, Dillon, H, Yeend, I, Wigney, D. The National Acoustic Laboratories procedure for selecting the Saturated Sound Pressure Level of Hearing Aids: Experimental validation. Ear & Hearing, August, 1998. Dillon, H, Storey, L, Grant, F, Phillips, A, Skelt, L, Mavrias, G, Woytowych, W, and Walsh, M. Preferred compression threshold with 2:1 wide dynamic range compression in everyday environments. Aust. J. of Audiol., May, 1998.

Question and answer

I am really looking forward to this stupid quiz: True/false False I will write my answers down anyway: True/False True

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Question and Answer

1. The major purpose of compression is to: Fit a big dynamic range of sound into a small dynamic range of hearing 2. Compression is the opposite of gain: True or False? False 3. Compression makes speech more intelligible than linear amplification when speech ..... is soft 4. Compression makes speech more comfortable than linear amplification when speech ..... is loud 5. TILL amplification makes feedback more likely: True or False? True
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Question and Answer (cont)

6. A gradual form of compression is significantly better than linear amplification + compression limiting: True or False? True 7. Manual volume controls are not needed on automatic hearing aids: True or False? False 8. Compression threshold should be as low as possible without feedback occurring: True or False? False 9. SSPL selection is more critical for people with a mild loss than for people with a profound loss: True or False? False 10. Compression limiting is always better than peak clipping: T/F?
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Question and Answer (cont)

6. A gradual form of compression is significantly better than linear amplification + compression limiting: True or False? True 7. Manual volume controls are not needed on automatic hearing aids: True or False? False 8. Compression threshold should be as low as possible without feedback occurring: True or False? False 9. SSPL selection is more critical for people with a mild loss than for people with a profound loss: True or False? False 10. Compression limiting is always better than peak clipping: T/F? False
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Question and Answer (cont)

11. Measuring UCL or LDL is critical to accurate prescription of SSPL: True or False? False 12. NAL-NL1 restores the normal loudness balance across frequency: True or False? False 13. Increasing audibility increases intelligibility except when: ................. SL or SPL is too large 14. NAL-NL1 is the only validated non-linear selection procedure: True or False? False
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Question and Answer (cont)

11. Measuring UCL or LDL is critical to accurate prescription of SSPL: True or False? False 12. NAL-NL1 restores the normal loudness balance across frequency: True or False? False 13. Increasing audibility increases intelligibility except when: ................. SL or SPL is too large 14. NAL-NL1 is the only validated non-linear selection procedure: True or False? False
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