Dynamic range compressor

A dynamic range compressor of a subband type, comprising an input for receiving a broadband input signal for carrying out a dynamic compression thereon,

• a subband splitting device for splitting the broadband input signal into K narrowband subband signals (SSB1, . . . SSBk, . . . SSBK), where K is an integer larger than 1,
• an amplifier unit for amplifying each of the K subband signals by a respective amplification factor (A1, . . . AK) to obtain K amplified subband signals,
• a subband combining device for combining the K amplified subband signals to obtain a broadband output signal, which is a dynamically compressed version of the broadband input signal,
• an envelope detecting device for generating for each of the K subbands a respective one of K envelope signals,
• an amplifier control device for generating in response to the K envelope signals K amplifier control signals, each of the K amplifier control signals being representative of one of the K amplification factors, said amplifier control device is adapted to generate an amplification control signal in response to more than one of the K envelope signals,
• wherein the amplifier control device comprises:
• K inputs (111.1, . . . , 111.k, 111.K) for receiving the K envelope signals,
• K divider units (211.1, . . . , 211.k, 211.K), each having an first and a second input (212.k, 213.k) and an output (214.k),
• K lowpass filter units (215.1, . . . 215.k, . . . , 215.K), each having an input (216.k) coupled to a respective one (211.k) of the K inputs of the amplifier control device, and an output (217.k) coupled to a respective one (213.k) of the second inputs of the K divider units (211.k),
• a signal combination unit having K inputs, each input (218.k) being coupled to a respective one (217.k) of the outputs of the K lowpass filter units (215.k), and an output, the signal combination unit being adapted to generate a combination signal in response to the signals received via its inputs,
• K multiplication units (222.1, . . . , 222.k, . . . , 222.K), each having a first input (223.k) coupled to a respective one of the K inputs of the amplifier control device, a second input (224.k) coupled to the output of the signal combination unit , and an output (225.k),
• K outputs (112.1, . . . , 112.K) for supplying the K amplifier control signals representative of the amplification factors, each of the K outputs (112.k) being coupled to a respective one (225.k) of the outputs of the K multiplication units.