Abstract: An audio level dynamic range compression circuit 1 comprises a variable gain amplifier 6, an audio signal level averaging stage 8, an analog-to-digital converter 10, and a digital processor 12. The output from the averaging stage 8 is passed to the analog-to-digital converter 10 which has as its output a digital value representative of the level of the averaged audio signal. This digital value is then passed to the digital processor 12 which processes the digital value relative to a predetermined level of the averaged audio signal to produce a gain control output which varies in response to the digital value and which is passed to the variable gain amplifier 6 in order to compress the dynamic range of the output audio signal when the digital value is above the predetermined level. The gain control output is more rapid when the level of the averaged audio signal is rising than when the level of the averaged audio signal is falling.