Concept for combined dynamic range compression and quided clipping prevention for audio devices

The invention provides a concept for combined dynamic range compression and guided clipping prevention for audio devices. An audio decoder for decoding an audio bitstream and a metadata bitstream related to the audio bitstream according to the concept comprisesan audio processing chain configured to receive a decoded audio signal derived from the audio bitstream and to adjust characteristics of the audio signal in order to produce an audio output signal, the audio adjustment chain comprising a plurality of adjustment stages including a dynamic range control stage for adjusting a dynamic range of the audio output signal and a guided clipping prevention stage for preventing clipping of the audio output signal; anda metadata decoder configured to receive the metadata bitstream and to extract dynamic range control gain sequences and guided clipping prevention gain sequences from the metadata bitstream, at least a part of the dynamic range control gain sequences being supplied to the dynamic range control stage, and at least a part of the guided clipping prevention gain sequences being supplied to the guided clipping prevention stage.