Re: Digital Audio...
Hi bimbla.
You tackle that behavior exactly as you mentioned: with a compressor.
But its use is not a must as you asked.
Using the compressor, the loud and soft passages or REAL music would not be there, just as listening to typical FM broadcast.
One of the advantages of digital audio is exactly that, the capability of reproducing a DESIRED much wider dynamic range of nearly 90 deciBels, just as standing in front of an orchestra. That is real fidelity sound. Interesting you do not desire that.
Compression has its artificial conveniences, as loudspeakers cannot reproduce the REAL audio as for example in war movie when soldiers have a dialog while shooting... The shot volume cannot be reproduced at its real level by a speaker.
When the program material is punk rock, the dynamic range is very small, and the level is uniform, and you do not perceive the need for compression, but for many, that is not exactly perceived as music either.
Miguel