1
18
1,5
3,0
5,0
12
16
20
1,0
2,0
4,0
6,0
8,5
9,5
11
14
7,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
16
18
20
3,0
4,0
5,0
6,0
7,5
8,5
9,5
11
12
14
Soft Clip
Gain Reduction
M/S Mode
Active
Channel Link
Mix
Dir
10
%
20
30
60
70
80
90
Com
100
50
Gain
0
0,5
dB
1,5
2,0
4,5
6,0
8,0
10
12
11
3,5
EQ Freq
Hz
20
22
30
40
140 170
500
220
300
2k0
1k0
SC Gain
dB
LP
-12
-5
-2
-1
-0,3 -0,3
-2
-5
-12
HP
SC Freq
Hz
30
40
50
80
280 340
430
2k0
3k3
EQ Gain
Lo
2,7
2,2
1,6
1,0
0,3
1,6
2,2
2,7
Hi
dB
0,3
Auto Fast
Feed Forward
On
Auto Fast
x10
On
Transformer
Direct
Compressed
On
Thresh
+20
+18
dB
+15
+11
0
-3
-6
-9
-13
-12
+4
Attack
0,01
2,0
ms
7,0
13
28
50
70
110
150
130
24
Release
60
75
ms
100
150
430
570
800
1k1
1k8
1k5
300
Ratio
1,1
1,2
1:X
1,3
1,4
1,7
1,8
1,9
2,1
2,4
2,2
1,6
Soft Clip
25
24
dB
21
19
14
11
8,0
5,5
3,0
16
4,0
Mix
Dir
10
%
20
30
60
70
80
90
Com
100
50
Gain
0
0,5
dB
1,5
2,0
4,5
6,0
8,0
10
12
11
3,5
EQ Freq
Hz
20
22
30
40
140 170
500
220
300
2k0
1k0
SC Gain
dB
LP
-12
-5
-2
-1
-0,3 -0,3
-2
-5
-12
HP
EQ Gain
Lo
2,7
1,0
0,3
1,6
2,2
2,7
Hi
dB
0,3
Auto Fast
Feed Forward
On
Auto Fast
x10
On
Transformer
Direct
Compressed
On
Thresh
+20
+18
dB
+15
+11
0
-3
-6
-9
-13
-12
+4
Attack
0,01
2,0
ms
7,0
13
28
50
70
110
150
130
24
Release
60
75
ms
100
150
430
570
800
1k1
1k8
1k5
300
Ratio
1,1
1,2
1:X
1,3
1,4
1,7
1,8
1,9
2,1
2,4
2,2
1,6
Soft Clip
25
24
dB
21
19
14
11
8,0
5,5
3,0
16
4,0
SC Freq
Hz
30
40
50
80
280 340
430
2k0
3k3
500
800
18
1,5
3,0
5,0
12
16
20
1,0
2,0
4,0
6,0
8,5
9,5
11
14
7,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
16
18
20
3,0
4,0
5,0
6,0
7,5
8,5
9,5
11
12
14
Soft Clip
Gain Reduction
M/S Mode
Active
Channel Link
Mix
Dir
10
%
20
30
60
70
80
90
Com
100
50
Gain
0
0,5
dB
1,5
2,0
4,5
6,0
8,0
10
12
11
3,5
EQ Freq
Hz
20
22
30
40
140 170
500
220
300
2k0
1k0
SC Gain
dB
LP
-12
-5
-2
-1
-0,3 -0,3
-2
-5
-12
HP
SC Freq
Hz
30
40
50
80
280 340
430
2k0
3k3
EQ Gain
Lo
2,7
2,2
1,6
1,0
0,3
1,6
2,2
2,7
Hi
dB
0,3
Auto Fast
Feed Forward
On
Auto Fast
x10
On
Transformer
Direct
Compressed
On
Thresh
+20
+18
dB
+15
+11
0
-3
-6
-9
-13
-12
+4
Attack
0,01
2,0
ms
7,0
13
28
50
70
110
150
130
24
Release
60
75
ms
100
150
430
570
800
1k1
1k8
1k5
300
Ratio
1,1
1,2
1:X
1,3
1,4
1,7
1,8
1,9
2,1
2,4
2,2
1,6
Soft Clip
25
24
dB
21
19
14
11
8,0
5,5
3,0
16
4,0
Mix
Dir
10
%
20
30
60
70
80
90
Com
100
50
Gain
0
0,5
dB
1,5
2,0
4,5
6,0
8,0
10
12
11
3,5
EQ Freq
Hz
20
22
30
40
140 170
500
220
300
2k0
1k0
SC Gain
dB
LP
-12
-5
-2
-1
-0,3 -0,3
-2
-5
-12
HP
EQ Gain
Lo
2,7
1,0
0,3
1,6
2,2
2,7
Hi
dB
0,3
Auto Fast
Feed Forward
On
Auto Fast
x10
On
Transformer
Direct
Compressed
On
Thresh
+20
+18
dB
+15
+11
0
-3
-6
-9
-13
-12
+4
Attack
0,01
2,0
ms
7,0
13
28
50
70
110
150
130
24
Release
60
75
ms
100
150
430
570
800
1k1
1k8
1k5
300
Ratio
1,1
1,2
1:X
1,3
1,4
1,7
1,8
1,9
2,1
2,4
2,2
1,6
Soft Clip
25
24
dB
21
19
14
11
8,0
5,5
3,0
16
4,0
SC Freq
Hz
30
40
50
80
280 340
430
2k0
3k3
500
800
SC
EN
A
RI
O
S
–
M
/S
U
nl
in
ke
d
&
U
pw
ar
d
Le
ve
lin
g
M/S Unlinked
The true strengths of an M/S compressor will not be revealed until it is switched into unlinked M/S
mode. Depending on the mix and the style of music, the dynamics and loudness in the middle
and side channel can be completely different from each other. Take a heavily pumping bass drum
right in the middle and 100 % stable strings in the sides, for example – just try this with any other
compressor ;-) Thus it can make perfect sense to set strongly differing values of threshold, attack,
release and ratio for the middle and the sides. In order to achieve a better evaluation of the results,
it is advisable to listen to the processed channel solo for a start. Please remember to deactivate the
direct and compressed buttons of the other channel for this. Using the audio filters, which can also
be set completely different from each other now, can help to additionally enhance the tonal bal-
ance of a mix. Once you have discovered the potentials of the M/S mode, lots of formerly difficult
mixes can be controlled much better, resulting in audibly better effects.
Upward Leveling
Upward Leveling – this describes the possibility to make only the low signal parts louder and leave
the louder changes in dynamics unprocessed. The settings shown above are suitable for classical
music, for example, where ‚typical‘ compression is objectionable. The compressor works in linked
stereo mode, the attack time is set at maximum and the release time is at 150 ms. Under these
conditions the alpha compressor will function as a leveler. In feed forward mode the attack time
is twice as long compared to feedback mode and therefore amounts to 300 ms. The ratio charac-
teristic corresponds to a limiter, and the make up gain is about 6 dB. The result of these settings:
Quieter passages that do not produce any gain reduction will be boosted by 6 dB, whereas loud
signals will be limited by the compressor. Now the special trick is to set the mix controller to 50 %.
By adding the original signal the initial dynamics will be saved, and the bottom line is that only the
quieter signals will be turned up.