1.2. What about the Comp DIODE-609?
There are many reasons to use a compressor/limiter. For example, it can be used to protect
a recording (and your ears) from excessive peaks that can sound distorted and potentially
damage your speakers (or your hearing). Also, reducing the loudest parts of a recording can
make for a far more pleasing listening experience. This is because listeners can turn up the
volume and hear the softer parts without fear of earache when the louder parts come. This
is especially true in music with dynamic instruments that can produce sudden loud peaks
like a drum kit or the human voice. Compressors can even be used creatively, to shape and
contour sounds in pleasing ways. This flexibility is what makes compressors one of the most
popular tools in a recording engineer's toolkit.
In a mix bus, it is more a matter of sculpting the tone to what better suits your taste (or the
taste of the author, if you are working for someone else), or of adapting to the style of music
you are aiming for. There are many different types of compressors. That's why we can say
that we can never have too many compressors.
Arturia already proposes a pack of
modeled after vintage units
from the past. The Arturia Comp DIODE-609 completes that package, while also beautifully
fitting the FX Collection 2. This is a stereo bus compressor unit inspired by classic designs
first seen in vintage mixing desks of a very famous British manufacturer. These classical
mixing desks may be seen in prestigious recording studios everywhere around the world.
Some devices made after the design of its individual modules have been manufactured and
are still sold today.
This was exactly the case of the hardware compressor being emulated here. It was a
compressor/limiter unit inspired by the modules that were featured in the mentioned
consoles. These modules present a very smooth and creamy dynamics processing, which
adds weight and color to instrument groups and individual tracks. Using a diode‑bridge
topology, they have separate compression and limiting circuits and are perfect for sculpting
the tone while applying dynamics control to any source. That's why later on these circuits
were featured in this compressor/limiter unit that became also famous.
Using this plug-in means you will get the richness given by the old analog discrete circuits
coupled with a modern design and features adapted to the modern studio and the working
environment of the computer.
The distinctive sound of the devices this software is modeled after, their much sought-after
"glue factor" and their colorful, rich British compression character, allows you to have that
"polished/expensive record" sound in your individual tracks and stereo buses.
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Arturia - User Manual Comp DIODE-609 - WELCOME