What is the term for gradually increasing or decreasing audio volume?

What is the term for gradually increasing or decreasing audio volume?

• A. Noise Gate.
• B. Audio Fade.
• C. Limiter.
• D. Compressor.

Answer: (B)

Changing the volume gradually over time is called an audio fade. A fade-in starts from silence or a very low level and ramps up to the desired loudness, while a fade-out ramps down from the current level to silence. This time-based envelope is what creates smooth transitions in and out of scenes or between clips. It’s different from a noise gate, which mutes sounds below a threshold and doesn’t produce a controlled ramp; a limiter, which caps peaks to prevent clipping, and a compressor, which dynamically alters levels based on signal loudness rather than a deliberate time-based fade. A fade is the explicit tool for shaping how the audio enters or exits, or for crossfading between clips.

Changing the volume gradually over time is called an audio fade. A fade-in starts from silence or a very low level and ramps up to the desired loudness, while a fade-out ramps down from the current level to silence. This time-based envelope is what creates smooth transitions in and out of scenes or between clips. It’s different from a noise gate, which mutes sounds below a threshold and doesn’t produce a controlled ramp; a limiter, which caps peaks to prevent clipping, and a compressor, which dynamically alters levels based on signal loudness rather than a deliberate time-based fade. A fade is the explicit tool for shaping how the audio enters or exits, or for crossfading between clips.