headroom

name = "podcast"

description = "Spoken-word playback (podcasts/audiobooks): even narration loudness, smooth and unfatiguing."

# one-way narration (cf. speech = fast duplex voip): moderate agc, steady loudness

[agc]

enabled = true

target_lufs = -16.0

attack_ms = 1000.0

release_ms = 600.0

silence_threshold_lufs = -65.0

max_boost_db = 18.0

max_cut_db = 6.0

# rms with slower release than speech — smooth even narration

[compressor]

enabled = true

detector = "rms"

threshold_db = -24.0

ratio = 3.0

knee_db = 6.0

attack_ms = 15.0

release_ms = 200.0

makeup_db = "auto"

rms_window_ms = 120.0

[limiter]

ceiling_dbtp = -0.5

lookahead_ms = 2.0

release_ms = 60.0

hold_ms = 4.0

oversample = 4

link = "stereo"

# moderate psr cap: tames plosives/laughter without squashing speech

[limiter.soft]

max_psr_db = 10.0

static_ceiling_dbtp = -8.0

attack_ms = 3.0

release_ms = 150.0

[meters]

publish_hz = 20.0

[[rules]]

match = { process_binary = ["ardour", "reaper", "qpwgraph", "carla", "bitwig-studio"] }

route = "bypass"

# podcast/audiobook playback rides browser or media players

[[rules]]

match = { process_binary = ["mpv", "vlc", "firefox", "chromium", "google-chrome"] }

route = "processed"

[default_route]

route = "processed"