Companding is a method used in telecommunications to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of audio transmitted over limited bandwidth. The system compresses the dynamic range of the analog signal at the source, amplifying quiet sounds and attenuating loud ones, then expands it back to its original form at the destination. This minimizes the effect of noise introduced during transmission or analog-to-digital conversion.
If the companding settings mismatch between the two gateways, the voice audio will sound heavily distorted.
Also heard as
- compression-expansion
Do not mix it up with
- Compandor: Companding is the process or technique itself, while a compandor is the physical hardware or circuit that performs the operation.
Related terms
Compandor
A device that compresses and then expands an analog signal to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
Voiceband
The specific range of audio frequencies transmitted over a traditional analog telephone network.
Signal
An electrical or electromagnetic variation that transmits data or voice from one point to another.