Companding (Compression + Expanding) is a nonlinear technique used in PCM systems to:
- Apply a nonlinear transformation before quantization (compression).
- Reverse the transformation at the receiver (expanding).
Purpose:
- Low amplitude signals get more quantization levels → lower noise.
- High amplitude signals get fewer levels but already have higher energy → noise less noticeable.
Common companding laws:
- μ-law (used in North America)
- A-law (used in Europe)