Release Control
The RELEASE control sets the time the Compressor/Limiter takes to increase the gain after the input level
drops.
Longer settings maintain the dynamics of the input signal, while shorter settings reduce the dynamics.
Shorter settings will also increase the apparent reverberation, and at extreme gain reduction settings, lead to
“breathing” artifacts
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Gain Reduction LED Meter
The GAIN REDUCTION meter displays the Compressor/Limiter’s attenuation action. The meter covers a very
large range while offering high resolution.
The large yellow LED at the right-hand end of the meter indicates Expander or Gate action. The brightness of
the LED indicates the amount of gain reduction for the Expander function. Since the Gate is either ON or OFF,
there is no brightness variation.
Expander/Gate Switch
This switch allows the selection of the Expander or the Gate functions. Both are useful in reducing unwanted
background noise in the audio signal.
In the “OUT” position the Expander function is selected. Use this mode to gradually reduce background noise
and maintain some of the input dynamics. This is useful for instruments with gradually decaying amplitude
envelopes.
Depress this switch to select the Gate mode. This mode quickly cuts off the noise as the input signal drops.
Expander/Gate Threshold Control
The Expander/Gate action begins below the level indicated by the EXPANDER/GATE THRESHOLD control.
The EXPANDER/GATE THRESH. LED in the GAIN REDUCTION display will light when the Expander or Gate
attenuates the input signal.
The Expander/Gate Threshold detector has built-in hysteresis, which causes the unit to trigger “ON” at a
higher level than the level required to trigger back to the “OFF” state.
The Expander slope is about 1:1.5. This is subtle enough to maintain the decay envelope of the source
material and still lower the noise as the input signal drops. The EXPANDER/GATE THRESH. LED will light
dimly for the first 5dB of gain reduction, and then glow brightly as the attenuation increases above this level.
The Gate function has an intelligent detector with a fast “attack” and “release”, coupled with a program
dependant “hold”. The hold time is longer for sustained passages and shorter for transients. As the input drops
below the threshold and the input signal is muted, the EXPANDER/GATE THRESH. LED lights brightly.
You can turn off the Expander/Gate function by setting the THRESHOLD control fully counterclockwise to
“OFF”.
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“Breathing” is the sound of the Compressor/Limiter turning up the gain so quickly you can hear breathing noises between words
during vocal processing.
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